Rossendale taxi drivers in peaceful protest

CABBIES will be protesting outside the council offices in Bacup at noon today (THURS) over planned changes to their licences.

The taxi drivers say if Rossendale Borough Council won't halt the ongoing consultation and agree to discuss the changes with them they will go on strike.

They are particularly concerned over new wording which says that if the council ‘presume’ the taxi driver isn’t working in Rossendale their licence can be revoked.

Up to 150 Hackney Carriage drivers are expected to attend the protest between 12pm and 1pm. The Rossendale drivers claim the planned changes 'threaten their livelihoods'.

"We voted unanimously to protest outside Futures Park. If we do not start to get some answers and the council opens a general line of communication we will go on strike," said David Lawrie, chair of Rossendale Taxi Association, who called a crisis meeting in Stacksteads on Tuesday night. He said they will protest between noon and 1pm today; if the council aren't forthcoming they will then hold another meeting to discuss strike dates.

"We hope the council see sense," said David. "This is all about communication between the council and the taxi drivers failing and this protest has nothing to do with safety checks and inspections. I just want to make that clear," he said.

Rossendale Council’s consultation document also wants drivers to carry first aid kits again and outlines plans for an undisclosed fee for the recovery of a suspended taxi.

They are particularly concerned over new wording which says if the council 'presume' the driver isn't working in Rossendale their licence can be revoked.

In 2010 most of Rossendale's 320 Hackney Carriage taxi drivers went on strike for four days; now there are more than 2,628 licensed drivers from as far afield as Manchester to Birmingham.

The Rossendale Taxi Association say the changes being consulted on, some of which could start from July 15, are being brought in to reduce the number of taxi licences as the council doesn't currently cap them.

A spokesman for the council said: "These are early proposals and are subject to change. We encourage taxi drivers, taxi users and other interested parties to talk to us and give us their views."

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