PUT A CAP ON IT: Edinburgh taxi drivers deliver petition as concerns grow over private hire vehicle numbers
- Perry Richardson
- Jul 17
- 1 min read
Updated: Jul 18
Dozens of black cabs lined Edinburgh’s High Street last Wednesday as taxi drivers came together to deliver a petition to City Chambers, calling for urgent action over what they say is the unchecked growth of Private Hire Vehicles (PHVs) in the capital.
The petition, supported by a cross-section of the city’s taxi trade and industry groups including the Scottish Private Hire Association, was handed over during a closed meeting with Councillor Neil Ross and the Lord Provost.
Trade figures including Robert McCulloch, Stewart Livingstone, Keith Auld, Jamie Stalker, David Horsburgh, Councillor Susan Rae and Keith Robertson from Central Radio Taxis joined the delegation to raise concerns around safety and over-provision in the city.
A key focus of the meeting was the overdue over-provision survey, which was last carried out in 2022. The trade argues that without updated figures, decisions on new licence approvals lack a factual basis and risk damaging the sector. They called for the survey to be completed and assessed without further delay.
The delegation also urged the council to pause the issuing of new PHV licences until the updated data is available. This request was refused, with Councillor Ross confirming the matter will instead be discussed further at the council meeting scheduled for August.
The drivers say the growing number of PHVs in Edinburgh is placing increased pressure on the existing taxi network, raising concerns over service standards, public safety and long-term viability.
