A prominent figure in the city’s taxi trade has taken issue with Dundee Taxi Association and its proposed boycott of Marketgait this weekend.
Chief executive of Dundee Private Hire Dave Young said the DTA was unrepresentative of the trade in general, and pledged taxis and private hire vehicles will serve the area over the Easter holiday.
He said the DTA’s meeting on Tuesday night that decided on a boycott was attended by about 100 drivers, while there were about 1600 taxi/private hire drivers in the city operating some 850 cars.
“The majority of the drivers are happy to pick up customers from the G Casino and will be doing so this weekend,” he said. “There is a problem with picking up customers in the street outside because it is a clearway and there are safety concerns.
“But there is a designated area for taxis and private hire vehicles round the back which we can use, and passengers can go there for a vehicle in complete safety. If someone wants a vehicle in that area at the weekend, they can phone and we will be there.
“The DTA say there is an insurance issue about using the designated area but I don’t understand what that means. My company has no problem about using the designated area and will continue to use it.
“The DTA say they are speaking for Dundee taxi drivers but they are not. They don’t speak for the majority and there is another side of the argument which is not being heard.”
Mr Young criticised the DTA over its handling of taxi matters, including the possible arrival of rules on wheelchair access vehicles and a cap on numbers, and claimed they were not acting in the best interests of the industry.
Another leading light in the trade warned against a “knee-jerk reaction.”
Chair of Dundee Hackney Association Erik Thoresen said, “This (the boycott) is tantamount to scaremongering. Dundee Taxi Association doesn’t represent the majority of the taxi trade the Dundee public have nothing to worry about.
“There’s no point taking a knee-jerk reaction. You’ve got to find out exactly what’s happening.”