April 26, 2007
Peace hopes in taxi battle
By Samrana Hussain
Cabbies' spokesman Glen Bulcock at the taxi rank in Lumb Scarr, Bacup, which the drivers claim is poorly lit and unsafe
CRISIS talks between council bosses and taxi drivers in Rossendale look to have averted further strike action.
Last week striking cabbies brought traffic to a halt, but now Rossendale Taxi Driver's Association have agreed a timetable of action with the council to deal with their concerns.
Last Monday, cabbies staged a go-slow in the centre of Rawtenstall as a vote of no confidence in the council's licensing department.
But Glen Bulcock, vice- chairman of the association, said the council must deal with the safety concerns over the new location of the taxi rank in Lumb Scarr, in Bacup.
He raised concerns about the lack of lighting, CCTV and signage at the new taxi rank in Friday morning's meeting.
He said: "One of the main issues raised was the new taxi rank in Lumb Scarr. This was recently introduced and we believe it is dangerous.
"There's no lighting, no CCTV and no signage to tell the public where it is. We do not think it's a safe rank and we are asking the council to look at this issue urgently."
Mr Bulcock said further strike action had been halted because the council was now prepared to listen to their concerns over matters like the introduction of new badges and plates.
He said: "The meeting went very well and the council are listening to us and we are a lot more confident that they are hearing us rather than fobbing us off.
"They took on board what we were saying and have set up a timetable to get in touch with us."
Rossendale Council said the talks had been successful and would hopefully lead to a halt to any further action.
A spokesman said: "We welcomed the opportunity to discuss the drivers concerns with them face to face and have agreed to respond formally to a number of the issues they have raised, some of which they have only brought to our attention five days after taking action."
"The drivers have left the meeting without making any further threats of strike action. We hope that they will now reflect on this meeting and decide not to take any further action."
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