News / Bristol
Taxi drivers strike at Bristol Temple Meads
Striking taxi drivers brought traffic around Bristol Temple Meads to a standstill on Monday morning as they protested against new waiting conditions.
Under Network Rail’s latest rules, the number of allocated hackney carriage spaces have been reduced from 46 to 30 for all of the 300 permit holders who each pay almost £500 a year to operate from outside the station.
The taxi drivers argue there have been problems with congestion for years and yet, despite the thousands of pounds they contribute annually, Network Rail has done nothing to address ongoing issues.
is needed now More than ever
Protest organiser and taxi driver Mohammed Hanief Aslam said Network Rail’s latest clampdown and reduction in taxi ranks is putting further strain on an already tough job, as drivers are forced to circle around with no passengers due to the lack of waiting space.
Protest organiser Mohammed Hanief Aslam
The peaceful protest saw the blue cab drivers circling in and out of the station without picking anyone up from 8am to 11am on Monday to make a point about how the rules are hitting their business.
British Transport Police officers attempted to keep vehicles moving as freely as possible, but this did not stop major disruption in the centre of Bristol as motorists tried to navigate rush hour traffic.
Aslam, who is also a member of the National Taxi Association, said the majority of permit holders were behind the action and expressed hope that talks with Network Rail will lead to a satisfactory solution for all.
If this fails, he said strikes will take place twice weekly to hit rush hour traffic in the mornings and evenings.
“We are fighting for space,” he said. “It has been congested for many years but they have done nothing. They have now only given us 30 allocated spaces and there are 300 permit holders.
“We need space because we are squashed in like sardines. We can only hope that something will be done. We want to solve the problem and the only way we can do this is to sit at a table and see what’s offered. There is no point us buying a permit if we cannot work here.”
He added that disabled passengers who need a taxi will be picked up, but anyone else will be refused service between the strike hours.
Aslam said the drivers are losing money by striking, but they need the situation to change so they can continue to work at the station.
Inspector Shawn Taylor from the British Transport Police was at Bristol Temple Meads with officers to direct traffic and attempt to ease the congestion caused by the taxis continuously piling in and out of the station.
He said: “It is causing chaos around central Bristol. I’m just trying to ensure the safety of everyone using the station and keep traffic as free flowing as possible.”
Christian Cranfield is a regular traveller to Bristol, who was forced to wait until after the strike finished at 11am to get a taxi.
He said he does have some sympathy for the hackney carriage drivers having to compete with companies such as Uber, but added that he has never felt there was a big issue with waiting at Temple Meads due to the fast flow of passengers,
A Network Rail spokesman said: “Network Rail is aware of action taken this morning by taxi drivers at Bristol Temple Meads station and are working with them to find a solution.
“In the meantime, we are working with the British Transport Police to ensure that safe access to the station is maintained for all station users.”
Read more: ‘Bristol has become car blind’
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