GMB Cab Members Abandon West End To Touts
Friday 13th January 2012
GMB COMPLAIN THAT WESTMINSTER COUNCIL
IS DETERRING PRIVATE HIRE CABS FROM ACCEPTING WORK IN THE WEST
END
As drivers earn £60 a day a parking
fine incurred while waiting to pick up a customer leads to the loss
of a full day’s pay which members cannot risk so West End abandoned
to the illegal touts says GMB
GMB is complaining that Westminster City
Council’s increased parking restrictions is deterring licensed
private hire drivers from accepting jobs in the West End as they
risk losing their living if fined while waiting for customers.
Terry Flanagan of the GMB Professional Drivers
Branch said, “Westminster Council’s parking restrictions is
deterring licensed cab drivers from operating in the West
End. This in turn is exacerbating an already dangerous
problem as even more unlicensed touts operate picking up
unsuspecting passengers from clubs, pubs, theatres and music venues
that are the lifeblood of the West End’s economy.
Legitimate cab drivers are licensed.
They have had criminal record checks, medical and topographical
tests. Their cars have been properly checked and they are properly
insured for passenger transport".
These drivers struggle to make £120 a
day. Half of that will go on rent to the proprietor, petrol,
passenger carrying insurance, maintenance and other overhead costs.
That leaves the driver earning £60 net for the day. So if a parking
fine is incurred while waiting to pick up a customer the day’s pay
is gone. As the drivers have to pull up to pick up customers there
is no alternative but to abandon the West End to the
touts.
Many drivers will simply not risk a
Westminster pick up. This means more and more unsuspecting, and at
times very vulnerable passengers accepting lifts from touts posing
as legitimate drivers."
What this means is that unlicensed
drivers in uninsured and in many instances unroadworthy cars, who
have not been criminal record checks could have other motives other
than ripping the travelling public off. GMB believes that the
attacks on lone women passengers that have taken place over the
years could increase as a result of the outrageous decision of
Westminster council to extend it's night time and weekend parking
restrictions.
GMB members have the support of
Westminster Councillor Dimoldenberg and GMB backs the Labour
opposition’s calls for the Leader of the Council to
resign.”
Ken Livingstone, London Mayor candidate said,
'I believe Westminster council’s plan to massively increase
the number of double yellow lines and introduce huge parking charge
increases will make it harder for licensed mini-cabs to operate in
the West End. Where the legitimate cab trade cannot work we know
that illegal touts will prosper, putting Londoners at risk.
'Westminster council’s parking policy seems designed to fill
council’s coffers rather than catering for the needs of businesses
and residents. Its time for the council to drop it's plans which
are going to make it harder for people to get home safely and
threaten real damage to the private hire and black cab
trades."
Ends
Contact: Terry Flanagan, GMB Branch Secretary
on 07958 275339 or Paul Campbell, GMB Organiser on 07974 249754 or
GMB Press Office: 07921 289880 or 07974 251823.