Preston hit by taxi strike

Preston hit by taxi strike




http://www.lep.co.uk/news/Preston-hit-by-taxi-strike.4097135.jp




Taxi drivers were refusing to work on Monday in protest at plans to slash the size of one of Preston's busiest ranks.
Cabbies were staging the one-day strike over plans to enforce a 12-taxi limit outside Preston station.

Passengers were left stranded at the railway station and traffic ground to a halt as the ADVERTISEMENT


drivers refused to work and carried out a slow-moving protest.

Parvesh Vatcha, spokesman for the drivers, said: "Virgin say one thing and do another. We are willing to negotiate but both sides have got to move."

Cabbies were refusing to pick up fares throughout Preston until 6pm.

Now Preston Council's licensing committee has promised to look again at the number of rank spaces in the city centre.

Coun David Hammond, met with drivers yesterday to discuss what the council can do to help.

Pete Tyson, of the Preston Hackney Carriage Association, was at the meeting. He said: "We've received some assurances that they are looking at the number of rank spaces in the city centre, and we would welcome that.

"Unless we see some action we are two weeks away from traffic chaos. Drivers will be left to roam the streets."