Airport taxi charge row: Drivers operating as normal

Mar 6 2009 by Edward Chadwick, Birmingham Mail

TAXI drivers were today operating as normal from Birmingham International Airport but there was no end in sight to a feud sparked when trade bosses threatened to ban them unless they paid £540.

Cabbies claim the terms of a new contract negotiated by Birmingham and Solihull Taxi Association (BASTA) to operate from ranks at the airport are unfair.

They have been asked for a one-off payment of £540 and have seen the barrier fee to enter the compound soar from 75p to £2.10.

Most drivers have now paid a nominal £100 of the levy and are being allowed to continue picking up air passengers.

They had previously been set a deadline of Tuesday to pay £200.

Spokesman Paul King, aged 57, from Castle Bromwich, said: “The only reason drivers have paid this money is so they can stay part of the association and have the right to vote off the current committee.

“We have started the ball rolling to get an extraordinary general meeting scheduled and the vast majority of drivers don’t want them in charge.

“This is the latest in a series of events which has undermined any trust in the committee.