CABBIES in Southend have said they may stop picking up customers on Friday and Saturday nights because of a row over licensing costs.

Drivers are angry after the council’s licensing committee proposed an increase of £150 extra a year, just to run a taxi in the town.

Cabbies led by Terry Flanagan, of the GMB union, issued the threat after a meeting with members of Southend Council’s licensing committee.

After the meeting, Mr Flanagan, from north London, said: “Because of the recession, drivers’ takings are down 30 or 40 per cent, and they decided to freeze fares at their last meeting, but their costs are still going up.”

The GMB represents most of the drivers in the town and it questioned why Southend Council was raising a cabbie’s licence from £198 to £292.50. Drivers will also have to pay an extra £50 council charge for vehicle licensing.

The union points to a legal case in 1991, which ruled the amount can only be raised by the increased amount it costs to process the licence.

Dave Clift, secretary of the Southend Licensed Taxi Drivers’ Association, said: “With more than 800 cab drivers licensed in the town, how can the costs have increased by more than £80,000 in the last three years, since the last rise?”

However, at the meeting, the licensing committee did recommend to the cabinet that a working party be set up to look at the proposed increases.

Ian Robertson is responsible for cabs and driver licensing on Southend Council.

He said: “I’m very aware of the pressures the recession is putting on all small businesses and obviously I want to help where I can.

“But these increases were approved by full council, so I will be making some recommendations which I will only specify when this comes before the cabinet.”