Taxi drivers have claimed that efforts to rebrand the city’s hackney carriages in black and white will be a “huge burden” for them.
Dozens of drivers gathered outside Newcastle Civic Centre on Monday evening to protest plans that would require them to fit a white wrap around their bonnets. Council bosses have argued that the “distinctive” look, designed to match the famous colours of Newcastle United, will make licensed taxis easily recognisable and help crack down on crime – with concerns that offenders are posing as cab drivers to target vulnerable women.
But, ahead of a Newcastle City Council cabinet meeting, more than 40 drivers staged a demonstration outside the local authority HQ calling for the idea to be dropped. While the council is planning to give a £100 grant to each of the 597 licensed hackney carriage drivers in Newcastle to help with the cost of fitting the white vinyl wrapping, it is feared that drivers will be forced to fork out regularly to have them replaced.
