Supporting taxi drivers

As a continued supporter and customer of taxis in Bexhill I was appalled at the fees the taxi owners have to pay. My husband and I often travel by taxi to various destinations in Rother. I have always been pleased with the service we have had and find most drivers very helpful and polite. I was outraged to hear of Rother council yet again levying more fees onto the hard-working drivers of Rother taxi companies. It is becoming a very hard time to live in today’s world and this is not helped by Rother council using excuse after excuse to cripple our Bexhill drivers by constantly increasing their fees. I assume all drivers are self-employed and have enough expense and worries without the council constantly looking for ways to get more money out of them and for what, a piece of paper to say they can work! The majority of drivers have families and rely heavily on their money to survive the recession. When will enough be enough?

As if this is not bad enough we have noticed heavy numbers of taxis not even from Bexhill and in some cases have licence plates from Wealden and further afield. Who are these drivers and are we safe in the knowledge that they are properly insured and licensed, and to the same standard as Rother taxis? It is high time that Rother council and Mr Parker Harding got a backbone and did something about these taxis operating in Bexhill and sitting around trying to take work off our own Bexhill drivers. You cannot expect our local drivers to support or condone what can only be described as underhanded decisions by the council when it would appear that one company is getting away with everything. My husband and I refuse pointblank to use this company and will always support our own local lads.

Having had taxis from this firm in the past it is unclear which taxi company will turn up as they all have different signs. Shouldn’t taxis have clear company names on the vehicles and not several? I hope the council and Mr Parker Harding will do something but will not hold our breath as it would appear they are scared of their own shadow. I also hope that they will support our drivers going forward and give them a break in these difficult times. Good luck Bexhill drivers and thank your for your service.

Mrs Whitley

Cantelupe Road

Bexhill-on-Sea