Just one taxi firm to be allowed to pick up from UHW

WALES’ largest hospital is set to allow just one taxi firm onto the site to pick up patients as part of stricter parking measures.

But taxi drivers say the decision could affect their livelihoods and will be detrimental to patients and visitors to the University Hospital of Wales.

Cardiff and Vale University Health Board has put a contract out to tender which will give one company full access to pick up patients and use the six-space rank.

Any other firms seen parking at the Heath site will be fined if they are caught by the automatic number plate recognition cameras.

At present, the health board claims too many taxis are parking in an area outside the main concourse which is proving a safety hazard.

Yousef Jama, a hackney carriage driver, has objected to the measure and said: “That rank is the busiest in Cardiff because so many people go in and come out of the hospital.

“It’s a place where we can get regular fares and people are rarely rude or bad mannered. If they are going to tender this out and take away that rank for us to use then it will be a big loss to drivers.”

Another taxi driver said: “People who have been in hospital or gone for an appointment will no longer be able to just walk out straight into a taxi.

“Now everybody will have to book a taxi to come and collect them. This is Wales’ busiest hospital so I’m not sure how it is going to go down with patients, particularly those who have been waiting all day. I can see this is going to be a bad idea.”

Twenty-nine taxi drivers met with Cardiff politicians on Saturday to express their fears over the impending changes to the taxi arrangements.

Cardiff North AM Julie Morgan said the taxi drivers were “very worried” about the measures.

“Their main concern at the moment is that they don’t feel they have been consulted about what’s happening,” she said. “I have been in touch with the health board and I have asked for things to stay as they are before we can assess what impact this has.

“I’m concerned about the taxi drivers’ livelihoods and about whether patients will be getting the best taxi service possible.”

Anna McMorrin, MP for Cardiff North, added: “Over 30 hackney carriage drivers have appealed to me for support after informally being told they will no longer be able to pick up passengers from the hospital. They are all very worried about their livelihoods. I have contacted the Cardiff and Vale Health Board and will be raising these concerns with them.”

A spokesman for Cardiff and Vale University Health Board said: “The health board is currently out to tender for a taxi company to provide a taxi service at UHW. The tender closes on June 19 and therefore no decision on the award of contract has been made.

“The area outside UHW concourse, and surrounding road, is extremely busy and presents challenges regarding how we control the area and health and safety. The risks are compounded by the fact that hackney carriages consistently exceed the allocated number of spaces available to them.

“They have six allocated spaces but the number of hackney carriages in the concourse area is consistently well into double figures. They also double park, park in drop zones, and are in constant circulation of the area.

“The franchising of the taxi rank, together with the new parking enforcement arrangements from June 5, will introduce greater control of the area thereby managing current health and safety risks. The taxi tender will also ensure that only approved and appropriately vetted taxi drivers are permitted to use the rank to deliver services to patients and visitors to UHW.

“Anyone parking and waiting on the site without permission will be fined £70.”