Taxi drivers blockade Belfast city centre

Taxi drivers tried to make peace with the British government today after blockading Belfast city centre over a road safety advertising campaign.

Around 120 private hire cabs blasted their horns as they formed a cavalcade that brought traffic on the streets around Department of Environment (DoE) headquarters to a standstill.

Representatives handed in a letter addressed to Minister Angela Smith expressing outrage at billboards and television adverts warning against rogue drivers who could be rapists, muggers, drunk or uninsured.

Amid cases of passengers being attacked, the Government wants the public to only use licensed cabs displaying legitimate plates.

After the fleet of cars staged their demonstration at DoE offices at Clarence Court, spokesman James Cooper urged the authorities to change their strategy.

He said: “We have asked the Department to consider the negative impact that their advertising campaign is clearly having.

“This is harmful to the public and we have asked them to consider withdrawing the adverts or amending them.”

But Mr Cooper, an expert from Napier University in Edinburgh who speaks for the Combined Group of Belfast Taxi Proprietors Associations also struck a conciliatory note over a long-running bid to review services in Northern Ireland.

With around 2,000 illegitimate drivers operating, the DoE brought in laws at the start of the month requiring all cabs to display licensed signs.

“We have to thank the Department for allowing us to put forward our vision for the future of taxi services,” Mr Cooper added.

DoE officials have stressed that one poster has already been removed following talks with the drivers representatives.

“Legitimate taxi operators have nothing to fear from the DoE publicity campaign,” a spokesman said.

“It is intended to support them by highlighting the dangers of using illegal taxis.

“We are not driving them out of business, it’s illegal taxis driving them out of business by being dangerous on the road and a potential threat to people they carry.”