LOCAL taxi drivers claim a new penalty points system to be introduced by the council will make their jobs impossible.

Airport drivers are particularly upset and have signed a petition calling on the council to scrap the proposed system.

Many claim the new rules are inflexible and could force them out of business

Under the scheme, penalty points are awarded against a driver if they fail to honour a booking, prolong a journey or play the radio without the passenger's consent.

"If this points system is introduced there will be no airport passenger services in about two years," said Mike Bruce of Airport Connect. "These proposals have been discussed behind closed doors and, although they might look OK on paper, they show no understanding of the job we do. There's one about failing to honour a booking but what about accidents on the motorway, vehicle failure or the customer giving you the wrong time. These things happen and we try to deal with them as best we can. We don't need penalty points and our licences taken off us."

Mr Bruce also explained that picking up passengers from airports was particularly difficult.

"Flights are very often delayed, in one case it was delayed for five days, customers can give the wrong return flight information and because we are not allowed to wait inside the terminal we give passengers a receipt with a phone number on that they can call so we can pick them up. Sometimes they lose that receipt, we don't get the call and we end up not collecting the customers at all. The penalty points system is bureaucratic and unworkable. We often work long and unsociable hours for little reward and we are no longer prepared to pay excess fees to the council just to get increased stress. Enough is enough."

Cllr Mark Turner was adamant that new guidelines to regulate local taxis were needed but added: "The penalty points system is out for consultation and, if taxi drivers have anything to say, then they are free to air their views.

"However, I do want to send out a clear message that we won't tolerate taxis that fail to serve the public properly."

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