Hard hit Inverness cabbies hoping government aid pays out soon

INVERNESS taxi drivers are turning to courier driving for companies such as Amazon to make ends meet during the Covid crisis.

Others have taken part-time Christmas jobs with the Royal Mail as their regular night-time and tourism trade has dried up because of pandemic restrictions.

According to Inverness Taxi Alliance chairman Andrew MacDonald, in common with taxi drivers nationwide, city cabbies are feeling the pinch.

They are hoping that the recently announced government assistance can be disbursed quickly to keep them ticking over until the night trade and tourists return.

Mr MacDonald said: “The situation for Inverness taxi drivers was not good before the pandemic hit, what with too many licences working the city, and ranks being cut back. There was a definite problem with over-supply, with more than 1000 licences in the Highlands and many of them coming into Inverness for the lucrative weekend trade.

“There is now also the problem of private hire cars, which should take phone bookings only, touting for business all over Inverness wherever they can find a spot.

“And with the late-night bar and club trade dried up, many drivers no longer work nights but come into town during the day.

“I know a driver who makes £30 on a good day, so no wonder they are turning to delivery jobs.

“On top of all that there are now the new bollards all over the city centre causing difficulty, and many were hit with additional costs of fitting protective equipment in their vehicles.”

The Scottish Government has announced a £19 million grant aid package for taxi drivers, but applications for aid do not open until January.

Trade union Unite Scotland said a lack of government support for the taxi trade was driving workers into poverty.

Their survey revealed many harrowing stories from drivers struggling to financially survive. Many are regularly working 16-17-hour days, with a shift being determined as “good” if £50 is cleared.

Unite Scottish secretary Pat Rafferty said: “Taxi drivers are reporting on average around an 80 per cent income reduction, with nearly a third having been unable to access any government finance.

“With some restrictions continuing across the nation during what is traditionally the busiest time of the year at Christmas and new year, it’s clear that greater support is urgently needed. We need politicians to listen and act now.”