Taxi and private hire drivers to protest in Glasgow
Currently, there is a limit of 3450 private hire cars and 1420 for taxis.
(Image: Newsquest)
After lobbying from city centre nighttime economy businesses, who say a lack of taxis is preventing people from visiting the city centre at night, the council decided to review the cap.
Private hire drivers, taxi drivers and their representatives have spoken out against any plan to lift the cap, stating there is not enough work to go around and they fear drivers will be unable to earn a living if more are allowed.
READ MORE:
Coffee shop to close and reopen as American-style diner
They argue the reason the nighttime economy is suffering is down to changes in how and when people socialise and not the number of taxis or private hire cars.
Uber is in favour and wants a free-for-all all with no cap on the number of drivers.
Councillors are expected to make a decision on the cap when they return after the summer recess.
Sharon Graham, Unite general secretary, said: 'The cap in place for private hire vehicles is about protecting a fair, safe, and accessible transport system.
'The demonstration and petition being handed in by Unite's taxi membership raises really important issues not just for the drivers but for everyone in Glasgow.
'The drivers will have their union's full support in the fight to Keep the Cap.'
Eddie Grice, the General Secretary of the SPHA, said: "Maintaining the plate caps isn't just about protecting driver incomes; it's fundamentally about public safety.
'The trade faces many challenges and drivers are feeling a financial strain. If that worsens then drivers will inevitably be forced to work longer hours and more shifts leading to fatigue.
'This puts everybody at risk. Scrapping the cap would lead to an oversupply of vehicles and would fire the starting pistol on a race to the bottom, where corners are cut on vehicle standards, driver welfare, and ultimately, public safety.
"These overprovision policies are essential for so many reasons, but the most important one is they stop an excessive number of vehicles from flooding the market, which would drive down driver earnings to unsustainable levels.
"The only voice seriously pushing for the cap to be scrapped is that of massive companies like Uber, who have vowed to flood the city with hundreds more cars. It's not sustainable and it's not safe and it must not be allowed to happen."
(Image: Newsquest)
A spokesperson for Glasgow Council said: 'Taxi and private hire car services have undergone a period of considerable change in recent years.
'Committee members therefore wished to reflect on whether the policies that regulate these services remain proportionate and necessary.
'The recent consultation on the number of taxi and private hire cars eligible to operate in Glasgow was open to all and has drawn in a wide range of opinion on this matter.
'A report on the findings of the consultation will be brought forward in the near future.
'Committee members will determine the approach to be taken following consideration of this report.'
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Economist
7 hours ago
- Economist
AstraZeneca's falling out with Britain
Illustration: Klaus Kremmerz I N A COUNTRY struggling to find reasons for cheer, British life sciences offer a ray of hope. The £108bn ($145bn) industry employs more than 300,000 people, many in high-value jobs, and Britain is a genuine global power. No wonder ministers like to boast about it. Sir Keir Starmer, the prime minister, has said it could be 'the rocket fuel for our stagnant economy'. Victory in the European Championship is a rare moment of national joy But the men seem to benefit more Torness is closing in on its 40th birthday No. But that might not be the point Despite signs of American misgivings A mighty rise in electricity costs has complicated the drive for clean power
Rhyl Journal
12 hours ago
- Rhyl Journal
Grade II listed Abergele house on market for £845,000
Glan Aber is described as an "exceptional" period residence and, according to the listing, is located on one of Abergele's most "prestigious and sought-after" addresses. The property is freehold and falls under Council Tax Band H. (Image: Prys Jones & Booth) Accessed by secure electric gates, the property features a stone-chipped driveway that leads to a pillared entrance. The front garden has landscaped lawns and planted borders. Entry is through a solid oak front door, which opens into a hallway with marble-effect tiled flooring, carpet, and a staircase with decorative spindles. Beneath the stairs, there is access to a traditional basement or cellar, which is suggested as a wine store or for storage. (Image: Prys Jones & Booth) Four reception rooms are found on the ground floor. The dining room has a slate-hearth fireplace with marble surround. The lounge features original timber flooring, panelled walls, coving, and a multi-fuel stove. A curved bay window provides views over the rear garden. A snug or family room includes built-in bookshelves and a fireplace. Another reception room at the front of the property could be used as a breakfast room or office and has a box bay window, ornate fireplace, and access to a separate boiler and drying room. (Image: Prys Jones & Booth) The kitchen combines traditional and modern elements, with granite worktops, timber cabinets, an Aga, and a historic serving box. There is also a pantry, utility room, cloakroom, and porch. A Victorian-style atrium or garden room overlooks the grounds and is described in the listing as a "sunlit retreat". Upstairs, a split-level landing with a feature window leads to four bedrooms. According to the listing, bedrooms have cast iron or marble fireplaces and period detailing. The main bedroom includes a fitted bed surround, wardrobe alcove, fireplace, and double doors to a dressing room with views over woodlands. Other bedrooms have features such as walk-in wardrobes, bay windows, or access to a private balcony. (Image: Prys Jones & Booth) The family bathroom includes a freestanding roll-top bath, bidet, rainfall shower, floating sink, and traditional pull-chain WC. One bedroom has an en suite. There is potential to expand into the second floor, subject to planning. Gardens surround the house, with stone walls, lawns, flowering borders, and seating areas. Several historic outbuildings are used as storage, a home gym, and games rooms, with further potential for conversion, subject to consents.
Leader Live
14 hours ago
- Leader Live
Carbon capture system installed at Parc Adfer, Deeside
enfinium's Parc Adfe plant, on Deeside Industrial Estate, opened in 2019 and processes around 200,000 tonnes of waste a year – turning it into energy, powering 170,000 homes. Society produces significant amounts of residual unrecyclable waste – material that remains after efforts to reduce, reuse and recycle. Before facilities like Parc Adfer, it used to end up in landfill sites. It works by burning waste at high temperatures, producing high pressure steam in a boiler. The steam drives the blades of a turbine generator to generate electricity. Residual ash, produced from the waste-to-energy process, is then used in the construction of roads, and metals are removed during the process and recycled. The next challenge at Parc Adfer is to decarbonise the residual waste stream – and the solution has been to install a CCS (Carbon Capture and Storage) facility as a pilot project. Carbon capture will not only decarbonise the waste sector, it will transform plants like Parc Adfer into significant Carbon Removals sources. Over 50 per cent of the residual waste processed at Parc Adfer is biogenic – meaning that the carbon this waste releases was recently present in the atmosphere (from food, plants ect). If captured and permanently stored, this will result in a net removal from the atmosphere. The carbon capture facility at Parc Adfer. (Image: Newsquest) enfinium hopes the CCS will remove 120,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide each year, which is roughly equivalent to removing 89,000 cars from the road. The company is waiting on the outcome of its bid to UK Department for Energy Security and Net Zero to make Parc Adfer part of the Hynet Cluster project – which will see carbon captured from the region's industry and transported via an underground pipeline to Liverpool Bay where it will be held in depleted oil and gas fields in the Irish Sea. Mike Maudsley, CEO, of enfinium, said: 'By piloting carbon capture technology at our Parc Adfer facility, we're not only progressing our plans to deploy the technology at scale here in North Wales, but we're demonstrating the critical role our sector can play in Wales's transition to a circular, decarbonised economy. 'Waste to energy facilities fitted with carbon capture have a superpower – an ability not only to decarbonise society's unrecyclable waste, but to use this to actively remove carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. "With CCS installed, Parc Adfer will become the largest carbon removals project in Wales, creating and supporting skilled jobs, generating lasting growth in the region, and supporting Wales's world-leading efforts to create a sustainable, circular economy.'
