25th November 2015
INSIDE THIS WEEK’S ISSUE... NEWS
PAGE 3
Sir Brian Leveson pays a visit to LJMU library
LIFEextra
PAGE 7
Grad Watch: Josie Timms’ year in censorship
SPORT
PAGE 12
LJMU women’s rugby continues winning start
TAXIS IN TURMOIL By AMY COLE The leader of a Liverpool taxi organisation this afternoon branded the man who will decide on plans for an increase in fares as being “hell-bent on destroying black cabs”. Jimmy Bradley, of the Taxi Alliance Liverpool, which represents the industry, was scathing about Ron Odunaiya, Director of Community Services for Liverpool City Council, who will have the final say tomorrow morning on whether the fares increase. Mr Bradley fears the increase will be given the go-
FARES INCREASE COULD ‘DESTROY’ BLACK CABS ahead at tomorrow’s meeting and he’s concerned this will have a detrimental effect on taxi drivers. Unite the Union are urging an increase in fares for black cabs in Liverpool as hackney fares are currently 12% lower than the national average. However, Mr Bradley said: “We are objecting this in the strongest term possible.” According to Mr Bradley, if these plans were to be enforced, Unite the Union member taxi drivers would
increase to the new fares and Taxi Alliance member drivers would stick to the old ones. This would cause great confusion within the city and they might have to resort to car window stickers to let people know what they are paying. In Private Hire and Taxi Monthly magazine, Liverpool ranked 303 out of 365 for most expensive taxi rides for September. A typical two mile ride
would cost, on average, £5, whereas in Chester, an average two mile ride would cost you £6. Tommy McIntyre, chairman for Liverpool’s Hackney Unite, said: “There hasn’t been an increase in fares for four years. I don’t think we are dear. We are talking about a 20p increase, that’s all. “You know the traditional black cabs you see out there, last year that cost £34,000, an astronomical price. This year they have gone up to £39,000.
I don’t think we are asking for an awful lot.” Cab drivers around the city are unsure how this will impact on them. Competition is fierce for black cabs already, especially after the arrival of private hire company Uber. John Powell, a black cab driver, said: “No one is sure what is going on at the moment. “We all know of the situation but no one has told us the details. We don’t know
what the prices will be yet.” A spokesman for Liverpool City Council said: “This is a formal request which has been made by Unite, which represents a large proportion of the hackney taxi trade in Liverpool, rather than the city council itself. “Following the submission of this request, it is being considered by the council on Thursday morning. It would be inappropriate for us to comment when a decision has yet to be made.”