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Taxi plates frozen to help struggling drivers

7:20am Thursday 24th September 2009

Southend Council’s cabinet has agreed to freeze the number of taxi licences in the town for the next three years to help struggling drivers.

In recent years, it has been the council’s policy to have a small increase in the number of plates available each year.

However, a survey carried out by consultants for the council showed there was no unmet demand.

Ian Robertson, Tory councillor responsible for public protection, said: “Taxi drivers are small businesses. In fact you could hardly get a smaller business than one person and a car, and they deserve our support.

“This survey clearly shows there is no demand for more taxis in the town and I would strongly recommend that we freeze the number of plates at the moment and have another unmet demand survey in three years time.”

Council leader Nigel Holdcroft said: “It would be ludicrous if we had an unmet demand survey and then decided to just completely ignore its findings.

“We are fortunate in having an excellent taxi service in Southend and I am confident this decision will support this service.”

Andrew Moring, councillor responsible for support services said his only concern was that if no new plates were issued a black market could develop in plates being sold when drivers retired.

WELL DONE AND THANKS TO DAVE CLIFF FOR ALL HIS HARD WORK.