Cabbies in strike over trade reform
CHARLOTTE GREEN
VALLEY taxi drivers have voted to take their cars off the roads in strike action over Rossendale council proposals to reform the trade.
Members voted unanimously to indefinitely withdraw their services within Rossendale at a meeting of the Rossendale Taxi Association on Tuesday, November 8.
Council bosses say they want to work positively with cabbies, and have warned other local authorities and the NHS of possible disruption to regular taxi contracts.
The trade are up-inarms in opposition to plans by the council to add a host of new requirements to licensed taxis, including the introduction of uniformly coloured vehicles, reduced vehicle ages and mandatory CCTV in cabs.
The draft proposals, which will go before the council’s licensing committee on Tuesday, November 15, are in addition to the existing intended use policy passed in February which sets out the requirements and restrictions on licensed taxi drivers.
David Lawrie, chairman of the Rossendale Taxi Association, said: “As of the meeting there will be no Rossendale taxi service and until the council see sense we won’t be coming back. It will cease altogether.
“If even half of these proposals get voted through by the licensing committee it will be the end of the local trade within months. We simply will not be able to afford to survive.
“The draft proposals that have been published are even worse than we first thought. There are 40-odd changes listed for the trade.”
Association member Glen Bulcock added: “The meeting was massive - every driver in Rossendale was there. We agreed unanimously to fight the proposals the council’s proposing to bring in.
“They have only left us one option which is to withdraw our service from every company in Rossendale - it’s a complete lockdown.”
He added: “It was a difficult decision but we’ve agreed an indefinite strike and we’ll stay out as long as we need to be. It’s very well supported by the public.”
A spokesperson for Rossendale council said it is unclear how long the strike will last.
They said: “As many will be aware we have recently been consulting on proposed changes to our taxi licensing policy and at the forefront of our work on this has always been, and will always be, public safety.
“Whilst we want to work positively with the trade, ●● Taxi association chairman David Lawrie the council also has a duty to ensure public safety, something this council takes seriously.
“We are sure the public understand this.
“The consultation was extensive and we have taken the advice of a licensing lawyer on the recommendations we propose following the consultation results.
“Any changes that come in will be fair in that they apply to all licences, not just local ones, as the trade are reporting.”
They added: “Although we do not know the potential length of the strike we are working hard to inform the NHS and Lancashire County Council so they can make alternative arrangements regarding any contracts with taxis for those in need who require transport by this method.” AN investigation has been launched into a suspected arson attack on two commercial recovery vehicles on Burnley Road in Bacup on Bonfire Night.
Crews were called to the incident on Saturday, November 5, shortly before 7.30pm. Firefighters extinguished the fire using two hose reels.
Firefighters also attended a commercial container fire on Hud Hey Road in Haslingden on the same night at around 6.20pm. The cause of this fire is uncertain.