‘ALARM BELLS’ RINGING: Will TfL’s taxi Action Plan deliver for London’s cabbies or just restrict them further asks trade rep
Updated: Nov 24
The future of London’s black cab trade hangs in the balance as taxi representatives ring the ’alarm bells’ over Transport for London’s (TfL) forthcoming Taxi and Private Hire Vehicle Action Plan.
The document, promised by early 2024, has been met with scepticism from industry leaders and drivers alike. Steve McNamara, General Secretary of the Licensed Taxi Drivers’ Association (LTDA), recently outlined his reservations in TAXI Magazine.
Despite initial discussions with TfL and City Hall dating back nearly a year, the details of this much-anticipated plan remain vague. McNamara revealed that trade organisations have been consulted, yet little concrete information has been shared, leaving many in the industry apprehensive that the Action Plan could do more damage than good.
London Assembly members have stressed the need for a robust approach to support the trade, particularly as drivers navigate a challenging market and increasing regulatory demands. During a February 2024 Assembly Transport Committee session, witnesses unanimously called for urgent measures to protect the industry.
A motion passed by the London Assembly earlier this month brought some encouragement. Politicians from across the spectrum voiced strong support for the trade.
However, McNamara remains cautious. While motions like this draw attention, they are not legally binding. Without significant input from those within the trade, he warns that TfL’s plan risks being counterproductive. He urged decision-makers to avoid imposing additional licensing targets or restrictions without offering meaningful support, describing such a move as potentially devastating for the industry.
McNamara said in TAXI Magazine: “For a while now, TfL and City Hall have been working on a new ‘Taxi and PHV Action Plan’. We heard it was in the works late last year.
“Then there was a London Assembly Transport Committee session, during which all witnesses made it clear that an action plan was desperately needed, setting out how TfL planned to support our trade going forward, in what is currently a challenging landscape for cabbies.
“That was in February 2024. Since then, we have had two meetings with TfL representatives alongside other trade orgs to discuss this ‘Plan’, during which they didn’t tell us anything they planned to put in there. Instead, they asked us questions and listened to our woes and what we think they should be doing to help.
“The Mayor was then recently asked when we could expect the ‘Action Plan’ and he replied “early next year”, with suggestions of January / February. This immediately rang alarm bells for me, as without proper input from the trade and others who get what we do, it could be a disaster. As I have been saying to anyone who will listen, if they get this wrong and it does more to the trade, than for the trade – like setting new targets or new licensing requirements, without introducing financial and other support – it could be a death nell for our business rather than a positive step to ensure the longevity of London’s iconic black cabs.
“This might sound dramatic to some, but for too long our regulator has taken the approach that it's not up to them to support our trade. To paraphrase Elly Baker AM in a recent London Assembly Plenary, they can no longer sit back and say they aren’t responsible for market forces or other factors impacting us, when we all know there are things they could be doing to help but seemingly choose not to.
“On that point, during the recent London Assembly Plenary session, I was very happy to see the Assembly pass a motion recognising the need for action and calling on the Mayor and TfL to deliver a “robust and targeted taxi action plan.” I was shocked by how on message the majority of the Assembly Members were, and I can only hope this helps to force action at the top from the Mayor and TfL decisionmakers, or at the very least makes it clear that they can’t get away with ignoring what’s happening in the trade right now.
“The Liberal Democrat Transport lead, Hina Bokhari AM, who I have met with recently and found to be very supportive made some well-informed and positive points in our favour and took the Green Party Assembly Members to task about the wording of an amendment they proposed to the motion which would have watered it down.
“Labour’s Elly Baker AM was fantastic, even arguing at one point with the Greens that taxis are not private cars and should be treated differently, noting that this is a fundamental mistake people keep making in the treatment of taxis and when it comes to the issue of taxi access. I was practically cheering her on as I heard this.
“The Conservative group were also fantastic champions for our trade. They introduced the motion in the first place, to help highlight issues we raised with them in a meeting we had a few months ago and in response to lots of messages of concern from their constituents. Conservative Group Leader, Neil Garratt AM made an impassioned speech about the iconic London taxi and the need to support its future and Keith Prince AM was, as ever, strongly in our corner along with some of his other Conservative colleagues, who also spoke in support of our trade.
“I must say thank you to everyone involved, who spoke up for London’s taxi drivers and recognised the importance of what we do and what we represent, as an iconic part of London’s transport network, and the very fabric of our great city.
“Motions like this one aren’t binding but they do draw attention to the issues and put some pressure on the decision makers to deliver. Let's hope those writing this ‘action plan’ were watching and more importantly, listening!”
