Taxi drivers accuse Silverlink of scaremongering over rent (From Watford Observer)

Taxi drivers accuse Silverlink of scaremongering over rent

12:14pm Friday 18th January 2002

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TAXI drivers have accused Silverlink of resorting to scaremonger tactics to gauge public opinion on the controversial fees the company is enforcing.

Silverlink has defended its right to charge Watford taxi drivers to pick up customers in the forecourt of Watford Junction station.

Drivers are charged £400 a year by Silverlink to ply their trade at the station.

The fee, known as "the stand rent", introduced by Silverlink in the early 1980's, has been a bone of contention among drivers for the past decade.

This, combined with a catalogue of "broken promises" and Silverlink's decision in 1999 to increase the stand rent to £500, (51 per cent above rates of annual inflation that year) has led to a re-negotiation of the rates through the local branch of the Transport and General Workers' Union (TGWU) resulting in a refusal to pay the fee.

The decision was made at a TGWU meeting in Watford on Thursday, January 3.

Following the meeting, Silverlink justified the rent by saying it was to ensure the safety of its customers.

The TGWU this week hit out at the claim, stating the terms of contract under the fee charged do not include any thorough checks of vehicles or drivers, as carried out by The Licensing Authority, Watford Council.

TGWU spokesman Mr Peter Kavanagh said: "It is not for Silverlink to claim in any way they are responsible for, or have jurisdiction over, the safety standards of our members' vehicles.

"For them to do so is both laughable and insulting. "

Silverlink's head of communications Mr Alan Wheeler said he had no knowledge Silverlink had broken any of the promises the TGWU claims have been made to contract taxi drivers, which include an agreement to remove an advertisement in the station for a rival mini-cab firm, and its commitment to give drivers priority on the transportation of customers stranded due to the cancellation of a train service.

Mr Wheeler refuted claims Silverlink was scaremongering the public into thinking their safety could be jeopardised if the taxi driver who takes them to their destination fails to pay this fee.

He said: "While it is not possible for us to carry out such detailed checks, we take into careful consideration the appearance and presentation of all taxi drivers who use our forecourt."

More than 20,000 cabs operate in and around the city of London's stations. None is bound to rental contracts with a specific station.

Mr Kavanagh, who is hopeful a resolution can be reached between the TGWU and Silverlink, following a similar campaign in Southend, after which the union are positive they are approaching a settlement, rejected any suggestions of staging a boycott.

Mr Wheeler concluded: "We stand by our claim the fee we ask of taxi drivers using our forecourt is not unfair and drivers should pay us a kind of rent for the business they get.

"Drivers who do not wish to pay, do not have to. We will happily enter into talks with other taxi drivers who do wish to use our grounds and pay what we consider to be a reasonable fee."

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