Cardiff taxi drivers to strike in dispute over new guidance

Taxi drivers in Cardiff are to strike tonight because of their unhappiness over new guidance issued by Cardiff Council.

Hackney Driver Association said its members will strike over two weekends on four nights in April.

There are concerns that clubbers and partygoers will not have a way home with the strike action in place.

The new guidance affects taxicab services that can be hailed on the street. Private hire drivers won't be affected.

The Council issued new guidance after complaints in the wake of a series of reported sex attacks in the capital last year.

In September, concerns were raised that lone women had been refused journeys by drivers which they deemed to be too short a distance.

The new guidance allows anyone who may felt they were wrongly turned down for a journey to take the driver’s details and report them.

90 complaints were made within three weeks following the change.

The association says these complaints were simply a result of the increased number of people visiting the city for the Rugby World Cup.

The group alleged that drivers have been punished unfairly – with five drivers since having their licences suspended.

Cardiff council has defended its right to take disciplinary action against individuals who refuse a fare without good reason, and explained its reasoning behind pursuing complaints through a committee rather than through a prosecution.

New Adventure Travel have put on a free shuttle for those who might be affected by the strikes.

The bus will travel along the X1 route.