Black cab drivers in Edinburgh have a new voice to fight for their rights – the Edinburgh Licensed Taxi Partnership (ELTP).
And they have reason to celebrate, with the lifting of a ban on black cabs travelling through the city’s Holyrood Park.
The new Partnership has been formed by three of the city’s biggest firms, City Cabs, Central Radio Taxis and ComCab.
According to the group, the 5,000 people the taxi trade employs is around the same as the Scottish Government and more than double the number in Lothian Buses.
Black Cabs Join Forces
The recession and increasing fuel costs have brought a few hard years for cabbies. Many firms have cut taxi contracts.
However, creation of the new taxi partnership has already helped bring positive news on the easing of the Holyrood Park ban.
Some black cabs had received fines after driving through the royal park without passengers and it was unclear if cabs with advertising were allowed in.
Now, taxis are again free to use the park.
Green Light for Black Cabs
An ELTP spokesman said it would provide a collective voice on these kinds of issues. He explained: “ELTP will strive to gain greater recognition for the trade, the role that black cabs play in a modern capital city and for the staff who so often provide service above and beyond the call of duty.”
Meanwhile, a spokeswoman for Historic Scotland cleared up the Holyrood Park rules. She said: “When we were carrying out a review of the traffic regulations in Holyrood Park, we were originally advised by the procurator fiscal that taxis were not permitted to drive through the park if they were empty or carrying advertising.
“Taxis are now permitted access to the park in those circumstances. The only restriction that remains is that they must not display their for hire sign in the park.”