The death of the black cab? Licenses are down 3,500 in four months as drivers warn iconic taxis could be lost from London's streets forever unless they are given urgent financial support

The trade body which represents taxi drivers is calling for urgent financial support for London's black cab industry as it struggles to survive the pandemic. 

The Licensed Taxi Drivers Association says that since June this year, 156 black cabs a week have been lost from the fleet on average - a total of 3,500.

By comparison, just 699 taxis were delicensed over the course of a whole year, between June 2019 and June 2020, according to the trade body.

TfL's figures confirm that, in the week ending October 25, there was a decrease of 377 licensed taxi vehicles from the roads with 15,264 remaining.

To halt this rapid decline, the LTDA, which represents half of London's 21,500 black cab drivers, has launched a campaign, Taxi Drivers Can't Work From Home.

The campaign aims to highlight what the LTDA says is a devastating impact of the pandemic on the taxi trade and the need for more support for the industry from the government.

The Licensed Taxi Drivers Association is calling for urgent support for the industry as 3,500 vehicle licenses have gone from London's streets since June when the pandemic took hold

Steve McNamara, the general secretary for the Licensed Taxi Drivers Association says the iconic black cab industry of London will not survive the pandemic without support (file photo)

Through the campaign, the LTDA is calling for urgent additional financial assistance to protect taxi drivers from ruin and ensure the iconic black cab is not lost from London forever.

Steve McNamara, General Secretary, Licensed Taxi Drivers Association said: 'These figures represent drivers with nowhere left to turn, being forced off the road.

'Every vehicle delicensed represents a driver's livelihood gone and at this rate of decline, without urgent intervention, the iconic black cab could be lost from London forever.

'Taxi drivers can't work from home. They also can't earn a living if everyone else is staying at home.

'This may sound obvious, but it's a simple fact that policymakers don't seem to be able to grasp, and its not just a problem in London, taxi drivers are facing the same challenges in cities up and down the UK.'

The LTDA says passenger demand for black cabs collapsed during lockdown and had barely begun to recover as the second wave of the virus hit and new restrictions were introduced.

With another lockdown to begin later this week, the predictions is that demand will likely collapse once more, and drivers will have nowhere left to turn.

Figures from the taxi feeder park at Heathrow Airport – London’s largest cab rank – demonstrate the fall in demand.

According to statistics from the LTDA, the number of black cabs passing through the feeder park was down 96 per cent on last year’s figures in April, May and June.

It picked up slightly in July when it was down 90 per cent and in August and September down 83 per cent.

As new restrictions were introduced in October it fell again, down 85% on last year and the association says this pattern has been repeated on the streets of London.  

Mr McNamara added: 'Other industries in similar circumstances, like hospitality and other transport operators, have received specific, tailored packages of financial support to help them get through the difficult months ahead, but the taxi trade has been forgotten.

LTDA is calling for a tailored package of support for the taxi industry similar to other sectors

'We are calling on the Government and the Mayor of London to step in to protect drivers from ruin and ensure the taxi trade, a key part of London's transport network, survives this national crisis, but so far our calls have fallen on deaf ears.

'Drivers need a greater level of support through the extension of the Self Employment Income Support Scheme, and to ensure no one is left behind we also need a dedicated package of financial support for the taxi trade.'

The campaign is calling on the Government to provide additional targeted financial support for struggling taxi drivers, similar to that provided for the hospitality sector to ensure the viable taxi trade is not put out of business permanently by the pandemic and measures to halt its spread.

They are also asking for the Government to further increase the level of support provided through the extension of the Self Employment Income Support Scheme and provide support for those who have been unable to claim, such as those claiming capital allowances on a new ZEC taxi.

They also say that the safe use of licensed taxis should be encouraged where appropriate and that an incentive scheme for passengers as restrictions ease and alert levels reduce should be introduced. 

In the capital, the LTDA is asking TfL to grant taxis the same access as buses to London's roads and to better promote the role of taxis as part of the public transport system and a means of travel for those less able to walk and cycle during the pandemic.

Both the Department for Transport and TfL have been contacted for comment.