Over two days Wednesday 16th and Thursday 17th May  at Southend Borough Council’s invitation,  Cab Aid attended  the Garon Leisure Centre car park at Southend in Essex to meet the local taxi drivers at their annual meter tariff change.  This annual  event organised by the Taxi Licensing Team at Southend Borough Council gave the opportunity  for both  hackney and private  hire drivers to come along to have their meters checked and updated to reflect the new tariff.. At the same time Cab Aid were able to make the drivers aware of our services to drivers and also provide them with some up to date literature on the ‘no smoking’ ban which will affect them and their industry in July

The monsoon in the early hours appeared not to dampen spirits and the grey May leaden skies actually turned a little bluer . Once again several drivers were taking the time to enjoy the excellent tea and  burger caravan from the ‘Southend Taxi Driver’s Fund for Underprivileged Children.  Brian Houssart and his wife Silvia together with their volunteers they were doing a very steady trade in mugs of tea and bacon rolls.  Brian was doubling up doing a sterling job resplendent in high visibility coat directing the traffic, which he succeeded in doing without incident.

The whole affair was conducted in its usual  busy but friendly atmosphere
At the end of day two after the  last stragglers had left, everyone packed up and no doubt will be back in 2008, assuming that the tariff is changed again !