TooManyTaxis in Norwich ?

Taxi drivers in the city have called for the city council to step in to help them – because they claim the recession has led to Norwich’s streets being flooded with wannabe cab drivers.

The drivers say over the past few months more people are turning to taxi driving in a bid to earn a living after losing their jobs in the recession.

They claim the city is becoming saturated with taxis meaning cab drivers are often waiting up to two hours before getting a single fare.

Ian Clod, 57, from Sprowston, has been a black cab driver in the city for more than 20 years.

He said: “I have never seen things as bad as they are at the moment. There are just too many taxis in the city.

“What is also happening, because day-time taxi drivers are not earning enough, they are staying on until nighttimes trying to make-up their fares, encroaching on night-time fares.

“Sometime you can be waiting hours before getting fares. What is needed is regulation by the council, because the city just has too many taxis at the moment.”

Paddy Keenaghan, 44, from Hellesdon, added: “It means cab drivers are not earning enough, they are working longer hours, in some cases 16 hours a day, and it is causing traffic congestion, with taxis fighting for spaces and more cabs are driving round, which is adding to pollution.”

In Norwich from July 2007 – 2008 there were 302 Hackney carriage vehicles licences issued and the number has increased to 326 this year.

In terms of private hire vehicles, 501 have been issued from July 2008- 2009 compared to 407 from July 2007 – 2008.

Hackney carriage licenses cost £115 a year and private hire, £98.

Ian Streeter, head of licensing at Norwich City Council, said: “We take our lead from the Department for Transport which has issued guidance to local authorities on the licensing of taxis. In that guidance the DfT believes it is best practice that quantity restrictions should not be placed on the licensing of taxis.

“This guidance is offered because when restrictions are imposed, vehicle license plates can command a premium if they are sold between two parties who enter into a private agreement over their sale.

“This indicates there are people who want to enter the taxi trade and provide a service to the public but who are being prevented from doing so by the quantity restrictions.”
Source: Norwich Evening News

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