Inverness taxi drivers losing trade to outsiders

A COUNCILLOR has hit out at taxi drivers from other parts of the Highlands descending on Inverness and grabbing trade from the city’s cabbies.

Allan Duffy says opportunist drivers from elsewhere are pitching up in the Highland Capital and warned it was badly affecting the local taxi trade.

He demanded a limit be imposed on the number of new taxi licences issued by the Highland Licensing Committee.

But Councillor Duffy’s call, which was made during a debate about taxi fare increases this week, was rejected by the committee which said it was a free market.

“A lot of Highland drivers, from Thurso, Wick and elsewhere, are coming down to Inverness and staying overnight because it is better for them to go around here,” said Councillor Duffy, who added independent city drivers were struggling to make a living.

But the committee’s clerk Alaisdair Mackenzie interjected and told the SNP councillor his proposal was a “non-starter”.

“I am sorry, councillor, but the committee licence Highland-wide,” he said.

“You don’t licence Inverness or Fort William-wide.

“You can’t stop them doing that. A cap would not work.”

There are currently 786 licensed taxi drivers in the region.

The committee’s convener Maxine Smith said she regularly saw drivers from other parts of the region enter her Cromarty Firth ward to pick up cruse ship passengers.

“When you are in Invergordon and a cruise liner comes in, I can assure you that there are drivers from all over the Highlands touting for business,” she said.

Councillor Duffy’s calls for a limit on licences comes after the Inverness Taxi and Private Hire Association twice threatened to go on strike in 2011 and 2009 in protest at what it felt was the over-provision of licences.

It said members were struggling to make ends meets because new drivers were coming in to the city and only working lucrative Friday and Saturday nights.

Meanwhile, the committee has proposed a 30p fare increase for passengers when they are first picked up by taxis in the “flag fall” – the initial amount on the meter.

It is currently £2.50, £3 and £3.60 for weekdays, nights and weekends and festive holidays, respectively.

It would be the first taxi fare hike in 18 months but it is subject to a 28-day public consultation before councillors make a final decision in April.

source: http://www.highland-news.co.uk/