Airport taxi charge row: Drivers operating as normal

Mar 6 2009 by Edward Chadwick, Birmingham Mail

“The barrier fee was introduced without any consultation with members.”

Licensing chiefs in Birmingham have admitted that the new charges appear unfair but are powerless to intervene.

Coun Bruce Lines, vice-chairman of Birmingham City Council’s licensing committee, said: “It does seem unfair but because this is a private negotiation it’s not something we have much influence over.

“There has been some talk about the running of the association and perhaps the drivers will make their feelings known at the EGM.

“In hard times like these you would have thought that the association would have wanted to make things as easy as possible for its drivers.”

The dispute follows a similar row last year over a demand for £200 from BASTA for the right to operate from the NEC.

Solihull councillor Alan Nash (Lab, Fordbridge and Kingshurst), who works part-time as a taxi driver from the airport, said: “I have been informed about threats made to drivers and it is unacceptable.”

No-one was immediately available for comment from BASTA.