REDUCED SPACE: Black taxi drivers set to protest over paid permit Cardiff Central train station rank access

Black cab drivers in Cardiff will stage a protest tomorrow in response to a ban on waiting outside Cardiff Central train station for taxi rank spaces they pay to use. They argue this move will severely impact their livelihoods.

The protest is scheduled from 10.30am to 1.30pm on Thursday 27 June 2024, at St Mary Street, Cardiff. A second protest is planned for the same time and location on Monday 1 July.

Previously, black cab drivers with permits for the Saunders Road rank at Cardiff Central had access to around 24 spaces. However, following the redevelopment of the transport hub, this has been reduced to just 11 spaces for 103 permit holders.

Cardiff Council had initially promised a feeder rank on St Mary Street to accommodate the overflow of taxis. This allowed taxis to wait outside the station to access the rank. However, according to union leaders, the council recently informed drivers that with the opening of the new bus station on 30 June, taxis will be fined if caught waiting to access the rank. Additionally, the promised feeder rank will no longer be implemented.

Taxi drivers have been instructed to keep driving around the city centre until a space becomes available. Drivers argue this will only increase pollution and traffic in an already congested area.

Unite regional officer Richard Jackson said: “Cardiff council’s behaviour is disgraceful and is a direct attack on our members’ livelihoods. It made promises to support the trade that were put in writing by the chief executive Paul Orders. Now those promises have been reneged on.

“There has been no consultation, no support for the trade and our members are enraged by the continued disdain they are being subjected to. Unite will be exerting maximum pressure on Cardiff city councillors until this completely unacceptable situation is made right.”  

Branch secretary of Unite’s Cardiff Hackney Alliance, Sanwar Ahmed, said: “Taxis are an integral part of the public transport network in Cardiff. But the council has deliberately setup a system focussed on penalising drivers rather than taking responsibility for the problems it has created. If Cardiff council integrate us properly into the transport hub it will benefit train passengers, the night economy and disabled and vulnerable travellers.”