CABBIES in Rossendale are to meet to discuss strike action over council proposals to introduce a penalty points system.

Taxi drivers in the Valley are unhappy at Rossendale Council’s plans to bring in the scheme, which would see Hackney cab and mini-cab drivers hit with penalty points if they commit one of 34 minor breaches.

Under the scheme, sounding a horn to announce arrival at an address would land the driver with four points; parking on the kerb would see them hit with three points; and urinating or defecating in public would result in eight points.

If a driver accrues 20 points within a year, they could have to re-sit their test or have their licence revoked.

The rules would apply to the 160 Hackney cabs and nine minicab vehicles in operation in the borough.

Members of Rossendale’s Taxi Association and Independent Taxi Drivers’ Association are angry at the proposal.

David Lawrie, who is the spokesman for independent taxi drivers in the borough, said: “We are having an association meeting on Monday at which point we will decide what action to take and when to take it, but it should be within two weeks.

"The whole idea of a penalty points system is illegal because they are trying to apply points to licences without any convictions.”

A consultation period for people to provide feedback on the proposed scheme was started on September 20 and runs until November 2.

Rossendale’s business director Stuart Sugarman said: “The penalty points system deals with minor transgressions that do not justify the immediate loss of a driver’s license, but an accumulation of points over a year would be a sign that the driver may not be fit and proper.”