Dundee City Council has announced plans to introduce a new taxi marshal scheme to the city amidst rumours that the taxi trade will have to absorb any costs associated with the scheme. Not surprisingly, this has not been received well by local cabbies.
Cabbie’s Response
Taxi drivers in the city have hit out at the council saying that they already struggle to make ends meet without this cost being added on.
They claim that the costs connected with being a hackney taxi driver are forever increasing and that the trade is in such a state that it’s even seeing cabs being repossessed.
President of union, GMB Dundee’s wheelchair accessible taxi branch, Stuart Elder, said: “We already pay in excess of £100,000 a year to Police Scotland for a cab enforcement unit that should be policing the taxi ranks. It’s hard to make money out there as it is.
“There are drivers having their taxis repossessed. I know of three drivers who lost their livelihoods at the end of last year.
“It costs me £1,300 each month before I make any money – that’s between tax, insurance and office fees.”
Council Reassurance
Dundee City Council has responded to the fears of the cabbies, stating that the idea is very much just in the planning stage and no decision will be made until they have delved into the idea further.
Licensing Convenor, Councillor Stewart Hunter, assured the drivers they would be consulted on the proposal and confirmed that the idea was put forward by a local taxi group.
He said: “At the moment the council hasn’t taken any decision. This has been a suggestion by one of Dundee’s taxi groups.
“We’ve got to say: is it practical? Is it financially viable? If both these things are met, it’s something that we would consider.
“There’s still work to be done on this before anything comes through to the licensing committee. We will listen to both sides and make a decision based on what is best.”