‘Credit crunch is starting to catch’

Feb 27 2009 by Barry Ellams, Chester Chronicle

MATT Dalton is operations manager of Chester’s largest private hire firm King-Kabs. They have 320 cars on their books with about 120 working at any time.

He said: “If anybody thinks that they can make money in this business then they are wrong.

“We have got fewer drivers and we are reluctant to take more on at the moment.

“We have capped our numbers and we are constantly looking at the job count, which is down on last year.

“It could just be the time of year, but I would put it down to the credit crunch starting to catch hold. Town is deserted.

“I think Chester City Council is doing a good job, for example they have put a knowledge test in place, it is essential that the drivers know where they are going.

“We were all for the licensing board opening the numbers up. We needed more disabled vehicles and now we have about 10 Hackney carriages on our books.

“There was a demand that we needed to meet.

“To get a private hire badge you need to have a medical, which costs about £140, a police check, which costs about £40, pay £90 for the badge. It costs about £300 altogether.

“We have some concerns about other companies in the area coming but the council don’t seem to think it will affect us. At night I can see there’s going to be a problem.

“A taxi war is a strong statement, a lot of drivers just want to get on and do the job, but I think the council’s phones will be very busy.”