Taxi drivers will protest outside a council meeting over fears that Uber has an “unfair advantage” and is poaching customers.
Drivers say that since the ride-sharing firm started advertising at Gatwick Airport and introduced Uber reserved bays, taxi drivers in Crawley have been pressed out and are struggling to make a living.
The Argus reports that the situation has led to an influx of London-based Uber cars into Crawley which are then parking up to poach business.
Now, cabbies want the council to protect the taxi trade in the town and are calling for a crackdown.
Unite union’s Dominic Rothwell said: “Crawley council needs to protect the local taxi trade, which is vital to Crawley’s economic wellbeing, by enforcing its own laws against Uber.
Crawley council needs to protect the local taxi trade, which is vital to Crawley’s economic wellbeing, by enforcing its own laws against Uber.
“The council needs to release its promised investigation into Uber’s behaviour and crackdown on both the company and Gatwick airport, both of which are responsible for setting up a business model that is a direct contravention of the council’s licensing laws.
“The totally unfair practice of London-based Uber cars picking up fares booked while they are parked up in Crawley must end.”
Under licensing laws, Crawley taxi drivers cannot pick up fares outside of their specific area. But London-based Uber drivers can circumvent these rules, coming to the town and picking up passengers.
Unite says that Crawley cabbies are heavily dependent on trade from Gatwick and fear that Uber could push them out and threaten their livelihood.
Taxi drivers will protest outside Crawley Borough Council’s meeting today, Tuesday, June 18 at 6.15pm at The Create Building.
Source: https://www.theargus.co.uk/news/24393649.crawley-taxi-drivers-protest-gatwick-airport-uber/
Police have released a CCTV image of a man they would like to speak to after a taxi driver was allegedly racially abused and assaulted following a row over a fare.
Fears were shared that some taxi drivers could be “priced out” of Cambridge if they faced higher costs to operate in the city.
It is reported that the driver of a white taxi was involved in a confrontation with a man who was in possession of a hammer.
An East Cambridgeshire taxi driver has had his licence to drive a taxi revoked on appeal after four incidents, which included narrowly missing a pedestrian and her dog.
Cabbies across the rest of the nation are not affected with many flying the flag to show support for the Three Lions’ campaign in Germany.
Many drivers are aware of the amount of time and energy that trade reps give to support the trade, so it's nice to be able to share some positive news to reward these efforts.
People travelling during the festive period are set to be hit by higher taxi fares in North Ayrshire but most charges will remain the same after councillors agreed new draft plans for the next year.
The introduction of LTN (low traffic neighbourhood) cameras in Oxford has prompted a taxi cab group to praise the divisive measures despite concern they are making streets more "dangerous".
The free taxi rides, courtesy of Extra Gum, will run on Thursday (June 20) to coincide with England’s match against Denmark, and again next Tuesday (June 25) for the game against Slovenia.
Letters are to be sent to Transport for London, the Department for Transport and Gatwick Airport Ltd about Uber drivers ‘touting for business’ at the airport.