Coventry taxi drivers strike again over licensing dispute

[dutchman]

Taxi drivers in Coventry have started a fresh strike over the number of cab licences being issued by the council.



Licensed black cab drivers went on strike for five days last month in protest at the lack of ranks and the rise in taxi licences being issued.

The strike was called off after the council agreed to temporarily cease issuing any more licences until it could establish how many were needed.

The council said it had since been given legal advice not to do that.

Lindsley Harvard, the Labour cabinet member for city services, said: "The legal advice that came back to us from the legal department was that it would not be sensible to place a temporary cap on licensing as that would leave the council open to legal challenges."

Mr Harvard said the council would commission a survey to find out how many licences were required for the city, but there is now a dispute between the cab drivers and the council over who should pay for it.

The cost of the survey is estimated to be between £30,000 to £40,000.

Coventry City Council is controlled by Labour.