GLASGOW City Council has become the first local authority in Scotland to introduce a cap on private hire car and taxi licenses.

A survey carried out by Local Transport Projects on behalf of the local authority found that between 2008 to 2013 the number of private hires across the city reduced from 2805 to 2638 but had risen to 3759 by 2018.

The number of taxis on the road was already limited to 1420.

The study also showed that during week days only 60 percent of private hires were in use but 90 percent of cars were needed on Friday and Saturday nights.

Read more: Glasgow Taxis's Stephen Flynn speaks out after news of his suspension

Throughout the consultation researchers engaged with private hire and taxi firms, Glasgow Association of Mental Health and the general public. Overall taxi companies seemed to have a better reputation.

Despite concerns that people may waiting longer for a cab during peak time members of the licensing committee agreed to restrict the number of taxis on the road.

They have introduced an upper limit of 1420 and and a lower limit of 1278 taxis. At the time time they agreed an upper limit of 3759 and lower limit of 3383 for private hire cars.

There are still 228 private hire car licence applications pending consideration. Private hire car companies as well as taxi firms backed the move.

John Cassidy of Network said: “We are pushing for this. Our full time drivers need to be able to make a living. This will help.”

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Steven Grant, secretary of Glasgow Cab Section, said: “Members made the right decision today. This is what’s best for our trade and our city.

“It will help tackle air pollution and congestion in the city. The main concern is public safety and this will hopefully cut down pirating where private hires pick up off the street illegally.”

Dougie McPherson, Glasgow Taxis Ltd chairman, said: “Overall this is a positive step for the city in creating a more level playing field for providers and ensuring the customer continues to benefit from sufficient supply and choice.”

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 GLASGOW LEVC

TAXI drivers in the west of Scotland can now make the switch to electric power more easily, after the opening of Glasgow’s first official dealer this week.

The TX electric taxi is now available at LEVC Glasgow, sited at the Taggart’s Volvo showroom in Hillington Park.

And to celebrate the new dealership, LEVC Glasgow will pay the £2500 deposit on a new TX in an exclusive offer for taxi drivers available until April 30.

To support the roll-out of electric taxis in the region, the Energy Saving Trust, funded by Transport Scotland, will provide interest-free loans of up to £120,000 to replace traditional hackney cabs, regardless of age.

LEVC already have one Scottish dealership in Edinburgh and expansion into Glasgow comes at a time when Scotland is investing heavily in improving air quality and an electric vehicle strategy.

LEVC Glasgow boss Derek Muir said: “We are delighted to announce the opening of our new business. Our dedicated team are on hand to provide information on the amazing technology behind the TX and look forward to welcoming taxi drivers.”

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 EDINBURGH

A TAXI boss has warned rail chiefs against trying to charge cabs for picking up passengers at the revamped Waverley 
station.

He said most taxis would refuse to pay any levy which Network Rail tried to impose for using the Capital’s main train station if proposals for a massive redevelopment of the site go 
ahead.

A draft masterplan unveiled last month does not include much detail about taxi arrangements in the new layout, though one option is to create a street-level rank off Market Street by building up land within the current New Street car park.

Tony Kenmuir, of Central Taxis, said another idea floated was to use a ramp from Market Street down into the New Street car park.

The Calton Road entrance is also expected to become busier as part of the revamp.

Mr Kenmuir said he had an open mind about the proposals, but voiced fears a new rank could be on the “wrong side” of the station.

He said: “Most people when they come out of Waverley are heading north, south or west. If someone gets off the train and the taxi pulls out of New Street, we would have to drive around it – people could be in the taxi for five or ten minutes with £6 on the meter and still be looking at Waverley 
station.”

And he said he had made clear his company would not be paying to use any 
rank.

“If the project is a wheeze to try and take money off the taxi trade, I don’t see why we would drop people off, drive empty to the wrong side of the station and pay for the privilege of getting in.

“I don’t charge them for delivering passengers to them. Why should they charge me for picking them up? We pay our licence for the privilege of picking up anywhere in the licensing area.

“Some taxi drivers individually might decide to pay but the majority will not.”

The taxi rank inside the station was removed in 2014, causing an outcry from disabled people and others who said the move made access more 
difficult.

Mr Kenmuir said: “They kicked us out of the station and said it was for security reasons. Now they apparently want to let us back in, but charge us for it.

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