THURROCK’S Black Taxi drivers feel that their livelihoods are under threat due to the increasing presence of Uber drivers in London.
Uber is a company that runs a smartphone app that allows users to hail a minicab at the touch of a button.
Cabbies believe the loss-making firm is deliberately charging low fares in order to drive rivals out of business and establish a monopoly,
Cabbies also believe Uber drivers are picking up and hiring in Thurrock, with reports that they will take passengers anywhere in Thurrock to Lakeside for £1.25.
If anyone has followed the Uber debate on Twitter then they may have noticed that there has been a number of angry exchanges between the taxi drivers and Thurrock MP Jackie Doyle-Price.
We interviewed Grays-based Taxi driver Gary White, who gave us an overview of the problem but also detailed what appeared to be a deteriorating relationship between the drivers and the “plain-speaking” MP.
There are believed to be around 75 London taxi drivers living in Thurrock.
Thurrock MP, Jackie Doyle_Price is unavailable for comment.
