Locals in Cirencester, Cotswold, have highlighted public safety concerns saying there’s a shortage in taxis in the area. Councillor Clair Wardell experienced the problem first hand after a night out with friends at the weekend.
No Taxis at Peak Times
After calling four taxi firms Councillor Wardell was told that it would be at least a two hour wait for a cab. She commented: “I was waiting with at least six different individuals who couldn’t get cabs either. For some reason, we have an overload in the daytime but hardly anything at night. It’s rubbish for Cirencester – it’s a small town but there’s plenty of popular bars and pubs open until late.”
“I just can’t help thinking about these young girls walking around Cirencester in their heels.”
Councillor Wardell is particularly concerned over the safety of the young female residents who are left stranded without means of getting home after a night out. She added: “I worry about young girls having to walk home at night. I’m a 40-year-old woman but I just can’t help thinking about these young girls walking around Cirencester in their heels.”
Social Media Uproar
Other residents took to Facebook to share their concerns and personal experiences of the situation. Rebecca Dunnaway wrote: “Anything after 11.30pm and you’re told there’s a two-hour wait, it’s terrible. Of all the 90 taxis we have in Cirencester only a few of them seem to work nights.” Another local, Melanie Scrivens, commented: “I was coming back from London a couple of months ago and due to delays on my coach I got into Cirencester at around midnight. I couldn’t get hold of a taxi after trying five different taxi firms.”
Trade Response
Taxi drivers in the area are, of course, defending their trade saying that they would happily welcome more drivers but that the council needs to look at the current licensing costs as well as considering a fare rise.
“I’m screaming out for night drivers and can’t get them. Maybe if it wasn’t so expensive to be a driver then more people would do it.”
Owner of A2B Taxis, Lee Green, commented: “I’m screaming out for night drivers and can’t get them. Maybe if it wasn’t so expensive to be a driver then more people would do it.”
To become a driver in Cirencester you’re required to pay approximately £440 per year to the council in fees and one driver estimated that he pays around £1,600 in insurance. An unnamed driver commented on the fare freeze: “We haven’t had a metre rise in over ten years now. Fuel has trebled since then and insurance has doubled.”
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