Middlesbrough taxi wars erupt

Jul 12 2009 by Phil Doherty, Sunday Sun

A TAXI war between rival firms vying for customers outside a busy supermarket erupted into anger after a councillor threw his weight behind one of the companies.

The row started after Morrisons stores awarded a sole contract to Middlesbrough Borough Cars Ltd to ferry its customers from the supermarket in the town.

It meant the hackney carriages, who have been plying their trade there for more than a decade, were no longer welcome to park up outside the store.

But, with their livelihoods threatened, the hackney drivers continued to pick up customers.

And Borough Cars were furious when councillor Barry Coppinger stepped into the row.

He sent a letter to Morrisons chief executive, which suggested the council was backing the hackney taxis, even though the store owned the land and had a contract with Borough Cars.

In an angry letter to the council, Borough Cars said Mr Coppinger’s viewpoint was “factually incorrect, appears to condone not only illegal activity but also the trespass on private land, omits to acknowledge the health and safety issues at the site and fails to acknowledge that this new arrangement will improve public safety.”

Christine Bell, Middlesbrough Borough Cars’ company secretary, said: “We have met with the council’s solicitor who has now confirmed the council’s correct position with regard to this matter and we understand progress is to be made to resolve the issue.

“Morrisons Supermarkets, through a tender process, has chosen Borough Cars to be the taxi free-phone service provider at their busy Berwick Hills store.