Cabbies' battle is at an end (From Burnley and Pendle Citizen)

Cabbies' battle is at an end

6:24pm Friday 16th March 2007 in News By Andrew Hewitt

TAXI drivers have dropped their legal action against Burnley Council over the deregulation of the number of licences it hands out.

The borough's Hackney Carriage Association launched a lawsuit against the council after it voted to scrap the limits on the number of black cabs allowed to operate in Burnley.

Previously only 34 Hackney Carriage licences were handed out.

But following a review, councillors voted to open up the market despite drivers claiming there was not enough custom to support the plans.

The drivers employed Aubrey Isaacson, of Manchester-based Aubrey Isaacson Solicitors, to take up their fight.

Mr Isaacson warned the authority it faced having to pay at least £130,000 because he said it had ignored expert advice saying there was insufficient demand for the move.

However, the Hackney Carriage Association has now dropped its case because members believe it would be too expensive to overturn the decision.

Mr Isaacson said drivers still believed the council was wrong to abolish the limit.

He also called on council bosses to publish the findings of the survey that ruled there was no demand for extra drivers.

Mr Isaacson said: "Those persons will be investing thousands of pounds on a new cab only to find that they cannot earn a living by driving it."

Burnley Council carries out a review of Hackney Carriage licences every three years.

It decided to deregulate black cab licences following its latest review in September in which the Government recommended limits should not be set.

In January about 25 Hackney Carriage drivers took part in a go-slow through the town centre in protest against the decision.