Bedford’s taxi drivers have expressed their frustration and disappointment at being overlooked in the travel arrangements for the upcoming Bedford River Festival by Bedford Borough Council. They argue that this omission has inadvertently created an unsafe environment, allowing private hire and unlicensed vehicles to freely pick up passengers without facing any challenges.

Concerns Raised by Taxi Drivers

Source: https://www.bedfordindependent.co.uk/illegal-river-festival-cabs-warning-from-bedford-taxi-drivers/

The hackney carriage drivers are particularly concerned about the lack of planning for designated taxi ranks, a situation they believe will endanger the public by making it easier for unregulated minicab drivers to tout for business illegally. According to Bedford's taxi community, this oversight undermines the safety and regulation of transport services during the festival.

Lack of Proper Provisions

Last week, Bedford Borough Council released its travel guide for reaching this weekend’s river festival. The guide highlighted various modes of transportation such as buses, trains, and car parks, but conspicuously omitted specific provisions for taxis. This has not gone unnoticed by the Bedford Action Group, which represents both hackney and private hire drivers. The group criticised the council for neglecting to allocate areas closer to the festival for either taxi ranks or private hire vehicle drop-offs and pick-ups for pre-booked fares.

Particularly, the proposed area in Greyfriars was deemed “pointless” by the group since functional taxi ranks already exist at the bus station. A spokesperson commented that this lack of foresight effectively creates “a haven for private hire and unlicensed vehicles to pick up at will without being challenged.”

Official Responses

The council, however, insists that public safety remains its top priority during the river festival. In response to the taxi driver’s concerns, a Bedford Borough spokesperson stated, “There will be two licensing compliance officers at the river festival to check that all forms of licensing requirements, including private hire and taxi licensing, are being complied with.” Furthermore, the spokesperson indicated that no complaints regarding private hire vehicles were received during previous festivals and that the council is now working with the taxi trade following recent requests for temporary ranks.

Police Perspective

The Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS) sought comments from Bedfordshire Police on whether they share concerns about the potential risk of illegal minicab operations during the festival. However, the police redirected inquiries back to the council, providing no additional insights into the issue.

Conclusion

In summary, as the Bedford River Festival approaches, local taxi drivers and the Bedford Action Group remain apprehensive about the lack of adequate provisions and planning for their services. They continue to urge the council to take immediate actions to ensure that all forms of licensed transport are considered and that public safety is not compromised during the much-anticipated event.