Its handbag time in Grimsby

THE creation of a new taxi drivers' organisation will result in a damaging split between local cabbies, according to the chairman of the North East Lincolnshire Hackney Carriage Association.

Dave Atkin claims that the emergence of new group, Taxis For Change, will undermine the "unified voice" provided by the association and weaken the position of drivers in the borough.

As reported, Taxis For Change (TFC) was established last year by drivers who were disillusioned at what they saw as the HCA's failure to represent their interests.

According to chairman Susan Barss, the group already has 72 members.

However, this number is questioned by Mr Atkin, who claims that TFC does not have a mandate to represent drivers' views to the local licensing authority.

He said: "It is our view that they do not have a mandate to represent the Hackney Trade, as they have not put themselves forward for election at any time; they have simplyappointed themselves into the role.

"It is true that there is nothing to stop anyone approaching the council on any subject they wish. What is in doubt is the support that TFC has from the majority of drivers."

However, Mrs Barss, who was voted in as chairman of TFC when it was formed in December, believes the two groups can happily co-exist, and said: "Seventy-two drivers' signatures can't be far wrong."

Mr Atkin also accused TFC of "misinforming" its members about the role played by the HCA in recent years.

However, Mrs Barss denied this, saying that several of its new members were disillusioned former members of the HCA, whose view was: "What have they ever done for us?"

Mr Atkin said the HCA had successfully campaigned for a cap on the number of Hackney Carriage licences, extra rank spaces on Bethlehem Street in Grimsby town centre, and against plans to make all taxis wheelchair accessible.

He added that the association was currently in talks with the council about allowing cheaper "mobility" vehicles to be used as wheelchair accessible vehicles and creating extra rank spaces in the town centre.

Mr Atkin told the Grimsby Telegraph that TFC had agreed to a ballot of all drivers, asking them to decide which organisation should represent their views, only to change their mind.

He said: "One organisation should represent the drivers and that organisation should be chosen by the drivers, not by people stepping forward and appointing themselves to the role.

"We still make the offer of a ballot. I would urge Taxis For Change to think again and consider the interests of all the drivers."

However, Mrs Barss said Taxis For Change would "not be backing down".

She said she had initially agreed to the ballot because she was under the impression that the council would only deal with one organisation. However, she was assured by the council that this was not the case.

"Everybody has different opinions about how things should be run. As long as the council are happy to work alongside two parties then we will carry on doing what we are doing in the interests of our members."

North East Lincolnshire Council's licensing manager, Adrian Moody, said: "Ultimately it is up to the drivers themselves to decide how they are represented and who will speak on their behalf.

"We're happy to deal with more than one group at our regular meeting, but they must be able to demonstrate that they are a properly constituted body with a mandate to represent the interests of their members."
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Guildford taxi drivers have threatened rolling roadblocks that could see the A3 and town centre grind to a halt.

A dispute is ongoing between the Guildford Hackney Association (GHA) and Guildford Borough Council about fees for issuing licences, taxi rank space and illegal touting by private hire drivers.

This week, the GHA gave the council until the end of March to "deal effectively" with these matters.

If the deadline is not met, drivers have threatened to withdraw services late in the night at weekends and 
to carry out rolling roadblock protests.

Mark Rostron, secretary of the GHA, described the action as "unfortunate", saying drivers do not want to have to take action.

A council spokesman said work had been completed on the taxi rank at the bottom of North Street and that there was a long process involved with gaining consent for further spaces.

Spot checks and patrols have been introduced to cut down on illegal touting and Mr Rostron has been invited to spend time with the licensing team to see how the work is costed.


Surrey Police has not been formally notified of any protests but a spokesman said officers would ensure any protests remained peaceful and lawful and did not compromise public safety.