Edinburgh taxi drivers fight to save beloved children’s outing as emergency council meeting called
- Perry Richardson
- 46 minutes ago
- 1 min read
An emergency meeting has been held to try to save the Edinburgh Trades Taxi Outing after this year’s event was cancelled over policing and road closure concerns.
Councillors met yesterday to discuss the future of the long-running event, which gives children with additional support needs, life-limiting conditions and terminal illnesses a day out in decorated taxis driven by Edinburgh cabbies.
The outing was cancelled after Police Scotland said it could no longer provide a rolling road closure under updated national guidance from the National Police Chiefs’ Council. Organisers were instead advised the convoy would need to travel within normal traffic, a move they said was not workable for the comfort and safety of the children taking part.
City of Edinburgh Council arranged the meeting after the cancellation prompted concern across the taxi trade and wider community. Options discussed included additional stewarding and revised traffic management, although councillors noted the potential cost and operational challenges.
Councillors, Police Scotland and organisers are exploring options to secure the future of the cancelled children’s taxi procession.
Council leader Jane Meagher said she had already held talks with senior council officers and Edinburgh’s divisional police commander. Councillor Mandy Watt said: “It won’t be for a lack of trying if the event can’t go ahead.”
Keith Bell, chief secretary of the taxi outing committee, said the event’s focus “has been, and always will be, the comfort and safety of the children involved”. Chief Inspector Craig Rogerson said Police Scotland remained “committed to working constructively” with organisers and partners to find safe options for future events.
