In a bid to make the council listen to their demands the owners and operators from 25 of Calderdale's 48 private hire firms have signed up to support industrial action – and it could happen on a busy Friday or Saturday night.

Drivers from Calderdale Private Hire Association say the council is just not listening.

President Nasir Hussain added: "Instead of affecting the public by putting up fares we would rather suffer ourselves, firstly by doing a strike. We want to make the public aware of what is happening and what we are going through.

"We don't want to go down this route but what can we do?"
Association secretary Sultan Mahmood said the regulations were crippling the trade.

And the association said fares would go up if action was not taken.
Last month a 360-name petition was handed to the council's licensing department.

Their concerns include tinted windows regulations, MoT testing, charges for side door signs, sanctions on drivers with seven points, badge renewals and the timing of licensing enforcement checks.

The decision to strike has come after meetings with the licensing department ended in deadlock.

But one firm which will not be taking part is Pennine Taxis. Employee Heather Ridley said: "I think what they are doing is absolutely disgusting. It is more important for us to provide the service to people who need to get from A to B."

The action could be for one day every week for the next four weeks and could come at any time.

Andrea Pickerill, Calderdale Council licensing officer, said: "The working party met on Monday to listen fully to the drivers' concerns.

Those concerns have now been put on the work programme to be considered by councillors who have the final decision."

She said the council had been working hard to support local taxi drivers including securing funding for a free NVQ in road skills and backing cameras in taxis.

Strike firms
Firms signed up to back the strike are Elland Taxis, New Lux, Pellon Private Hire, Whitehill Private Hire, Express Cars, Brighouse Cars, Crossleys Cars, A1 Ghaffs, Calder Valley, A1 Bashys, Premier Cars, A1 Ziggys, GW Private Hire, ABC, Airlink, Vinnys, Metro, A1 Sowerby Bridge, A Star, SP Private Hire, AA Ripponden Cars, Hebden Bridge Taxis, Halifax Executive Travel, Wharf Taxis and Street Cars.

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