Taxi drivers protest at council proposals (From Bucks Free Press)

Taxi drivers protest at council proposals

5:37pm Monday 28th January 2008 in

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TAXI drivers worried about proposals to deregulate Hackney Carriages at a council meeting demonstrated peacefully outside Wycombe District Council's offices this evening.

Twenty taxis parked outside the offices on Queen Victoria Road for around fifteen minutes in protest at plans that could see the number of taxis working in High Wycombe balloon.

Police officers maintained a low profile at the protest, but taxi drivers moved along again when other vehicles attempted to gain access to the council car park.

The Regulatory and Appeals Committee will consider the proposed change new policy at the meeting tonight, with taxi drivers planning to attend.

Joanne Mass, communications officer for Wycombe District Council, said: "The decision to deregulate was taken further to the Transport Act, which requires that local authorities cannot refuse Hackney Carriage vehicle licences unless it can be proved that there is no demand for them that is not currently met."

For more details on the protest, see tomorrow's Midweek.