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Issue 784
24-30 OCTOBER 2014
Remember! The clocks go back by 1 hour on Sunday 26th October at 3am.
El Altet install license plate readers to monitor ‘foreign’ taxis AS ELCHE Taxi drivers strive to cut out as much competition as possible for airport fares, a license plate reader is about to be installed to seek out ‘black’ taxis. by Keith Nicol
Rebecca Holt
An Evening of Song and Dance in aid of AMMA THERE WILL be a charity concert on Sunday 2nd November at 7.30pm in the Pilar Cinema in aid of AMMA. This is a new charity that aims to assist people who suffer from Alzheimer’s or other debilitating illnesses or traumas, such as strokes. Read the full story on page 52.
The National Commission of Spanish Airports and Air Navigation (AENA) has approved the installation of a license plate reader to control the entry of what they term ‘foreign taxis’ at the airport in Alicante-Elche, which is limited to six monthly services. A foreign taxi is decreed to be any taxi not from Elche. At the moment, the Elche police force is in charge of trying to control and to respond to requests for permission by foreign taxi drivers who wish to pick up at the airport, but Elche’s Councillor for Transportation, Justino Delgado noted “you can not keep track of this ‘very comprehensively’, all year long.” Such a facility already exists at Barcelona-El Prat and Delgado added: “this is going to solve a historical problem that has cost a lot of money to our drivers.” The licence plate reader costs about 7,000 euros, which will be paid for by the Elche council, who will also be responsible for its maintenance. It’s expected to be installed by the end of next month. However, Barcelona is Spain’s largest city and very few ‘foreign’ taxis have ever had a major presence there.
Adding to their protectionism, Elche’s Department of Transportation will be starting disciplinary proceedings against those taxi drivers who they accuse of exceeding the limitation of six services per month. This limitation was launched last May following a consensus decision by the Department of Transportation, the Elche council and the Association of Auto-Taxi Elche. At this time, Elche taxi drivers slashed tyres, smashed windows, broke off mirrors, verbally abused and threw raw eggs at ‘foreign’ taxis and their drivers. The Elche Taxi association noted that before May 2014, “the level of intrusiveness in the airport was about 40 foreign daily drivers, mainly from Torrevieja, Benidorm, Murcia and Cartagena versus 82 from Elche.” These figures should almost be expected because approximately 85% of those travelling through the airport are foreigners, with just a tiny percentage of these owning property in or around Elche. Elche taxi drivers have often been accused of wishing to travel south by the AP7 rather that the N332, as the route is longer and more expensive. Continued on page 8