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Publication Date: May 18 2009
Westminster recently introduced a new mobile phone/credit card based parking system, ripping out the old pay as you go meters. At the same time a number of public conveniences close to black cab ranks have been closed down by Westminster City Council.
As a result, taxi drivers are being forced to pay the minimum parking charge of £3 an hour just to dash in and use the public toilet or risk a fine of £80. Westminster have introduced a limited number of taxi-only bays at £1 an hour but these are inadequate and drivers have pointed out that they are a great earner for the Council as they only need to stop for a few minutes and Westminster gets a pound every time.
RMT are calling on Westminster City Council to waive parking fees for ten minutes for black cabs on bays close to public toilets to enable the cabbies to take a leak without getting ripped off or risking a fine.
“Black taxis drivers provide an essential service for Londoners and Westminster should play fair and cut our members some slack with the parking enforcement to enable them to park up and do the necessary,” RMT general secretary Bob Crow said today.
“Westminster is right at the hub of London and the last thing that anyone wants is to drive the black cabs away and open up another opportunity for the illegal and dangerous taxi touts. This is an issue that can be easily resolved and we expect Westminster City Council to take our members protest seriously and reach an agreement with us,” Bob Crow said.
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