Fife taxi trade struggles to recover after new restrictions introduced

Taxi drivers in the town have criticised the latest lockdown measures, which impact on pubs and restaurants, as well as Fife Council’s Spaces for People changes, which has seen the Bell Street taxi rank cordoned off.

Davidson Taxi Transfers is £52,000 down on this time last year. It would normally make most of its money from taking international tourists and golfers from the airport to St Andrews.

“Nobody is making any money doing taxis at the moment,” a spokesperson said.

“With the new lockdown, that’s all over.

“The town has never come back to life since lockdown ended.”

Taxis would often make most of their money at the evenings and weekends. With fewer tourists in the town, that business has dropped.

A driver could expect to make £100 minimum on a Saturday night – last weekend, one driver made just £29.

The situation has been made worse by the new rules, which include a nationwide ban on pubs and restaurants serving alcohol indoors, and those without outdoor areas having to close at 6pm.

The Spaces for People scheme – which aims to create more room for pedestrians by using room usually used as parking spaces – has also hit business.

The Bell Street taxi rank is being used for extra walking space, but means that taxis are now having to parking up at a temporary rank on Greyfriars Garden.

“The council never consulted us,” the spokesperson said.

Nigel Snow, one of the taxi drivers for the Independent Taxis of St Andrews, which has six vehicles, said the new regulations have had a “big impact”.

“We’re down about 70 per cent on a normal year,” he said.

“I think it’s going to be survival mode. But we’re not the only ones in this situation – we’re linked to the hospitality industry. We need restaurants and hotels to be full.”

He added: “Moving the rank – it doesn’t work. The ranks are moving slow enough as it is. It’s going to have a massive impact.”

Mr Snow warned that a second full lockdown would be “another nail in the coffin” for the taxi trade in the town.

“It’s going to be a difficult few months through the winter,” he said.

“Some will survive, others will not.

“It’s going to get worse before it gets better.”