A Teesside taxi driver has called for a cap on private hire vehicles - saying he has to work a 40-hour a week before earning a single penny.

Private hire firms are flooding Teesside's roads with cars, sending drivers "spiralling into debt as they struggle to make ends meet", he has claimed.

The driver from Middlesbrough, who did not want to be named for fear of losing his job, said he's had a black eye and been beaten by passengers over the years, battling depression as he feels stuck in a job that pays a pittance.

He's calling for a limit on the number of licences issued - but Middlesbrough Council says there is no current legislation to enforce such a cap.

'I pay £70 before getting into the car'

The driver said: "I have to do a 70-odd hour shift just to make a couple of hundred pounds.

"The first 41 hours, you give it to the company. I pay £65 to £70 a day before I even get in the car.

"The car costs £260 in rent. The licence is £300 every three years.

"It's £120 in diesel a week. You're out doing six to 12 hour shifts and still not covering your money."

But the driver said there's "no unity", and although others are angry "nobody sticks together".

He added: "So what can you do? You just have to plod on.

"It stresses me out, there's no other job out there where you have to work 40 hours for them rather than yourself.

"We don't get sick pay, holidays, I could quit the job but what would I do.

"The council gets money for every car on the road, they should stop issuing badges but it's business for them.

"Middlesbrough doesn't need any more drivers."

https://bit.ly/2UnHCSo
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PLYMOUTH

Hundreds of taxi drivers have taken to the streets of Plymouth to protest against a planned hike in licence costs.

Cabbies are holding a drive slow protest through the city centre from Milehouse Park and Ride.

The planned changes, unveiled by the council's licensing department, would cover holes in the authority's budget.

For hackney drivers, it's proposed that a one-year black cab licence jumps from £210 to £324 and a one-year driver’s licence - which they also need to apply for - goes from £112 to £165.

A one year private hire cab licence for private hire drivers - those employed by a private firm - is proposed to jump from £117 to £170 with a one-year driver’s licence going from £82 to £120.


But cabbies are uniting this weekend to stage a 'peaceful protest' over the proposed increases - although Plymouth City Council say the fee hike is still at the consultation phase.

Jason says his licence is set to increase by 95 per cent if it goes ahead.

The private hire taxi driver said: "We are all protesting this extreme rise. It's more outage than we're getting innage.

"It's  hard to make a living as it is . We want them [the council] to know we are sticking together. we are being forced to make a stand. A 95 per cent rise is unfathomable.

"There have been quite a few taxi drivers who have said they aren't going to renew [their licences]."

https://bit.ly/2TjH2EU