Wolverhampton taxi drivers plan another 'go slow' protest

Wolverhampton Private Hire Drivers Association (WPHDA) has said its members are to carry out a further 'go slow' protest this Friday, following an initial protest that took place on October 20.

This time, the drivers say they are responding to what they claim is the council's lack of communication with them since the last protest.

• MORE: Horns blare in Wolverhampton as drivers are delayed by go-slow taxi protest

Chairman of the association, Raheel Shah, said: "Since the last protest, we have tried to contact the council several times to arrange a meeting, but they say they are not able to meet with us until around the end of November."

The previous protest saw around 300 drivers progress at a snail's pace from Coxwell Avenue, near Wolverhampton Science Park to the city centre, causing delays for motorists in evening rush hour traffic.

The aim of the action was to highlight what the association see as lenient tests for new drivers and too many licences being given out by the council, which they say leads to not enough work being available.

It comes as almost 800 people have signed a petition to reintroduce harder tests for private hire taxi drivers in the city.

The WPHDA said that it has launched the petition in the interests of public safety, to raise standards and raise the profile of the trade.

The association hopes that the petition will also lead to a focus group being set up as well as less licences being given out by the council, which in turn will mean there is more work available to existing drivers.

Councillor Alan Bolshaw, chairman of the council's licensing committee, said: "We have already written to the association and told them we are open to their suggestion to form a specific focus group between them and us." We will make it the main agenda item on the next regular working group meeting between the trade and the council."

For more information on the petition click on the link.