Will the Mayor of London’s Taxi Action Plan actually deliver for black cab industry?
The Mayor of London is set to unveil a new Action Plan for the taxi and private hire industry. But according to Paul Brennan, Chairman of the Licensed Taxi Drivers’ Association (LTDA), history suggests it may not be in the best interests of the capital’s black cab trade.
Writing in TAXI newspaper, Brennan pointed to the previous Action Plan, which led to record numbers of private hire vehicles clogging London’s roads, while the number of licensed taxis and drivers plummeted. He warned that any new plan must address these failures rather than simply focus on removing diesel taxis without proper consideration.
Brennan stressed the need for clear commitments to protect the future of the trade. While reports suggest the plan aims to halt the decline in taxi driver numbers, he remains unconvinced. He argues that the top priority must be securing access for taxis across the city, ensuring black cabs can operate efficiently without unnecessary restrictions.
He welcomed a recent City Hall motion that recognised the role of taxis in London’s transport network. He urged Transport for London (TfL) and the Mayor’s senior team to listen to Assembly Members who supported the debate.
The LTDA and other trade groups have been actively pushing for a fairer plan. A joint letter, signed by trade groups, has been sent to the Mayor and was also presented in person to TfL Commissioner Andy Lord and Deputy Mayor for Transport Seb Dance.
Brennan said: “The Mayor is due to release his new action plan for Taxi and Private Hire. If his track record is anything to go by, the plan is not likely to be good. The period that the last action plan covered ended with record numbers of private hire cars and drivers on London’s shrinking and congested roads and saw a huge decline in the world's best taxis and taxi drivers.
“It's imperative that this new action plan reverses this disastrous outcome and isn't just a plan to remove all diesel taxis at any cost and to subject our trade to even more unnecessary bureaucratic nonsense. We’ve been working hard to make sure it delivers or at least doesn’t harm us. It has been reported that the plan should focus on stopping the decline in taxi drivers and safeguard our future. I’m still sceptical that it will, but whatever happens the first thing it must ensure is that we get access, access, access.
“The recent motion in City Hall was a good step in the right direction and it’s time for the unelected bureaucrats in TfL and within the Mayor's top team to heed the thoughts and sentiments of the London Assembly Members who spoke in the debate, including Neil Garratt, Leader of the GLA Conservatives, Conservative transport lead, Keith Prince AM, Labour AM and Transport Committee Chair, Elly Baker, and Lib Dem transport lead, Hina Bokhari AM. We also organised a joint letter signed by various groups from across the trade, highlighting the importance of getting the Action Plan right, which was sent to the Mayor and presented in-person to the TfL Commissioner, Andy Lord and Deputy Mayor for Transport, Seb Dance.”
