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Taxi drivers fear competition from late buses
A late-night bus service linking the city centre with Royal Preston Hospital could hit the taxi trade.
Stagecoach will run post-midnight services from the hospital via Deepdale and Plungington and from the city centre to Moor Nook from next month.
Earlier Sunday morning services will also run from the city to Sherwood Asda for Royal Preston Hospital workers.
But the city's private hire taxi firms told of their fears the changes could hit income.
Some drivers have told the Evening Post they are already struggling, especially during the week, because of the effects of the recession on the city's once booming pub and club trade.
Gordon Riding, operations director at Miller Citax, North Road, Preston, said: "It probably will hit us but we don't know how yet until it starts. We have got the free phones in the hospital so we will be able to gauge it. We will have to keep an eye on it."
Alan Hill, driver and operator at AB Cabs in Moorbrook Street, Preston, said: "It is going to hit the hackney cabs as well as the private hire.
"We will be checking on it."
But Mark Selley, secretary of the Preston Hackney Carriage Association (PHCA), said: "Drivers were very worried about it. But they were more concerned that the late Longridge service running at 4am was going to be replicated in all directions."
The new timetable will be introduced by Stagecoach from March 22.
Later evening services will run to Moor Nook, as well as 11.45pm and 12.15am services from the Royal Preston Hospital to Preston via Deepdale and Plungington Road.
A midnight Preston to Lea service will continue to run.
Chris Bowles, managing director of Stagecoach North West, said: "Yes, we are a business but we are not going out to deliberately filch taxi drivers' trade. We have been running late buses to Penwortham and Longridge for some time now.
"I can't believe two late night journeys are going to affect taxi drivers' livelihoods."
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Weather for Preston
Thursday 09 February 2012
Today
Light sleet
Temperature: 1 C to 3 C
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Wind direction: South east
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Light sleet
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