TAXI-drivers told of their fears for the industry in Lancaster and Morecambe this week.

They were motivated to contact the Citizen after last week's story about a local taxi firm who went bust leaving holiday makers stranded at Manchester Airport.

The Independent Hackney Owners' Association, which has broken away from the Lancaster City Taxi Owners' Association, claim that standards in the industry were falling.

A spokesman for the break-away group argued that:

safety had declined since the council cut back on a full-time inspector

some private companies regularly break the law and make pick-ups when they should be pre-booked only.

taxi markings did not properly indicate whether a taxi was a Hackney or private cab.

the public don't know if they are to have a council approved and inspected cab or not.

He added: "When I first started 11 years ago we would have a proper full time licensor coming to inspect Hackney cabs. If he saw anything wrong at all he would just say 'get it sorted now or you're out.' Now they only have a part timer - I've only seen him twice in years.

"It may sound trivial but it's the public's safety at stake. We are part of the public transport system and want to provide a good service without ripping anybody off. There are some very good private companies and taxi drivers but unfortunately there are also some dodgy operators."

He added: "It is illegal for a private hire to pick up without being pre-booked. They are not licensed or insured for this. Unfortunately, there are more and more private hire and Hackneys in the same company and no one, except a minority, seem to care."

A council spokesman said that they were working closely with Trading Standards to investigate this matter.

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