City crisis over black cab rule

Angry cabbies still claim they cannot afford the expensive black cabs and will be forced out of business.

The unrest follows Newport council's ruling, in 2001, that from April 2007, all city hackney carriages will have to be London-style black cabs with disabled facilities.

Existing drivers wishing to change their car before April 2007 will now have to replace it with a black cab which can cost up to £32,000. Council bosses say the black cabs will be safer, easily recognisable and more disabled-friendly.

But Newport's hackney carriage drivers told the Argus the move will force them off the streets and into private-hire, resulting in a mass shortage of cabs that are able to pick passengers up without being pre-booked.

Thomas Talbot has driven his hackney carriage around Newport for more than 20 years. He said: "We are against this. It just won't work. Lots of people don't like black cabs. In fact, some passengers specifically request not to have one.

"It's better if passengers have a choice. Also, the cheapest cabs are £22,000. How are we supposed to afford that?"

A recent survey held by the city's hackney carriage drivers found that at least 80 per cent of them would not buy London-style cabs and would instead choose to operate as private-hire taxis. The cabbies say the move will also result in more private hire vehicles illegally picking up passengers from the streets.

A petition against the council's decision has already been signed by hundreds of drivers and passengers.

A council spokesman said: "The aim of the policy is to ensure Newport's hackney fleet is more accessible for disabled people and safer for both the public and drivers.

"The policy was introduced in 2001 following widespread consultation, allowing drivers six years to prepare. During that time the number of purpose-built hackney carriages in Newport has increased and there has been a positive response from the public."