BLACK cab drivers from Bromley drove their taxis to Ken Livingstone's mayoral offices in central London to protest over the issuing of thousands of new licences.

More than 400 suburban taxi drivers surrounded Romney House to hand a letter of protest to the mayor saying issuing so many licences threatened their livelihoods.

They say too many yellow badge suburban licences are being given while existing cabbies struggle to survive.

Bromley cabbie Tony Ellis, who is also chairman of the suburban branch of the Licensed Taxi Drivers' Association, said: "Ken wants more cabs in the Metropolitan area. There might be a demand in central London, but we don't need any more cabs in the suburbs.

The 48-year-old, who has been a cabbie in Bromley for 20 years, added: "At 6.30pm, there's 50 cabs queuing outside Bromley South station. Some blokes are doing 15 hours a day to earn a living."

New yellow badgeholders in Bromley have detailed knowledge of the borough and cannot tout for business elsewhere.

Bromley cabbie Terry Baxter, 38, said: "Everybody has to earn a living, but the work is not here."

Many cabbies at the protest were also angry about the hike in night fares by up to 60 per cent, introduced earlier this month as an incentive to get more drivers working unsociable hours.

Bromley cabbie John Lee said: "We are losing about 30 per cent of our trade. The new night fares should come in after 11pm when the pubs close, not 8pm when many of our customers are still coming home from work."

Mr Ellis said: "If you do long hours until 3am, I think you expect more money on the meter as cabbies give a good service."

A TfL spokesman said: "We are looking into the taxi drivers' demands. It is a situation we are monitoring."

December 3, 2001 12:41