A union representing dozens of taxi drivers has announced its opposition to a proposal to introduce marshals at ranks.
The Unite taxi branch is worried about the cost of the scheme, which would see the marshals take charge of queuing and ensuring the drivers line up for fares properly.
Unite branch secretary Chris Elder said: “Our members are unanimous that they do not want taxi marshals in Dundee. They feel the cost would be too much.
“We are already paying for two cab officers and we feel they should be on shifts day and night. Why should we have to pay for marshals too?
“We would probably have to increase fares and we don’t want to do that.”
A meeting of the city council’s taxi liaison committee is scheduled to discuss the issue in a few days.
Mr Elder noted that one of the claims made for the need for marshals was to stop cars causing a safety hazard by parking on zig-zag lines outwith ranks.
“Parking on zig-zags is a traffic offence so the police can deal with that,” he said.
Unite represents around 140 taxi drivers and operators. Another union, the GMB, has around 70 members with wheelchair-accessible taxis and they are also against hiring marshals.
Branch president Stuart Elder said: “We pay in excess of £100,000 a year for a cab enforcement unit. We pay Police Scotland a lot of money for a unit that should be policing the taxi ranks.
“It’s hard to make money out there as it is. There are people out there having to run very expensive wheelchair-accessible cars.
“There are even guys getting their cars repossessed.”
Erik Thoresen, chairman of Dundee Hackney Association, agreed, saying: “We can’t afford more costs. If there was a significant demand, a real need, we would understand, but we don’t see any need whatsoever for this.”
Introducing marshals at the Hawkhill/Brown Street rank near the G casino has been suggested by Graeme Stephen, chairman of Dundee Taxi Drivers’ Association.
He said he was concerned about parking safety and about a lack of etiquette among some drivers that led to them picking up fares by jumping in front of the rank or heading directly outside the casino.
The council’s licensing convener Stewart Hunter said: “At the moment, the council hasn’t taken any decision.
“This has been a suggestion by one of the taxi groups.
“We’ve got to say ‘Is it practical? Is it financially viable?’ If both these things are met, it’s something we would consider.
“There’s still work to be done on this before anything comes through to the licensing committee. We will listen to both sides and make a decision based on what’s best.”