We as drivers are the biggest stakeholders, but we must accept our fair share of the blame. For too long we have sat back and watched as our rights have been trampled, too busy complaining about everything but at the same time not lifting a finger to change our lot in life. Historic grievances and animosity between private hire and hackney trades have allowed companies like Uber to exploit the vacuum and take a slice of the local market at our expense.

The council have been treating us with utter contempt and getting away with it! They have been charging us some of the highest licensing fees in the land and in return what do we get? More ways to squeeze us for cash by making us pay for unnecessary roof signs and putting us on endless courses. When it comes to tackling the core issues like out-of-town drivers and Uber who have been operating in the town without licensing oversight, they don’t have the bottle to do anything and blame legislation when other authorities have successfully dealt with issues like this. Don’t get me wrong, I think these courses are a necessary evil but why aren’t they making sure these out-of-town drivers operating in the town are forced to take these same courses to keep working in the area? One rule for us and none for them, this is uncompetitive and distorts the market in their favour!

The operators have been playing fast and loose with our rights by taking advantage of the disunity amongst our ranks. They have made changes that have impacted us without the courtesy of consulting with us first. Any business organisation needs to nurture and develop a healthy mutually beneficial relationship with its workers to survive.

The current Associations representing our interests have at best been less than effective. This is down to not being given enough support or funding for the task in hand. Fragmentation with many different associations representing their narrow interests have also diluted our voice and widened the disunity between us.