Caroline Ansell is urging the borough council to meet with taxi drivers over fears many will quit the town over costs and a poor relationship with the authority.
The lack of taxis is increasingly becoming a problem, especially after the council insisted drivers install CCTV in cabs at a cost of £500.
There are now not enough drivers to meet demand, especially late at night with long waiting times having a chilling effect on the nighttime economy and putting women in danger if they cannot get a ride home, the MP explained.
Caroline is also concerned people who rely on taxis for visits to doctors or the shops will not be able to if the situation does not improve.
She met with taxi lead Jeff Defalco recently to discuss the matter. The CCTV installation is a major issue because neighbouring Wealden Council is not asking for it.
“Taxis are an integral part of any town but they are even more important in a tourist area like ours and I share the concerns of taxi drivers about cost and the breakdown in the relationship with the council,” said Caroline.
“We need to ensure we retain current drivers and recruit new drivers as an important part of public transport provision and support our visitor economy.
“I would very much like to map out a way forward and establish the scale and scope of the issue and work with drivers and members of the public to get a full picture of the impact low driver numbers are having and I hope the council will be part of it.
“Another area is understanding the rollout of CCTV to find a proper evidence base and impact assessment of this decision, especially when other local councils are not implementing it. This is causing bad feeling in the Eastbourne taxi trade.
“We also need to consider good practice from other local authorities and look at Eastbourne Borough Council’s current practice and policy.
“I hope the council will work with the drivers and myself to come to a positive approach that will increase taxi numbers.”
Jeff Defalco said: “I thank Caroline for her continued support. The taxis and private hire industry in Eastbourne are in a significant crisis, something many residents will testify to when trying to receive timely service. Post-pandemic numbers have fallen steadily, and financial burdens placed upon drivers by changes introduced by the Eastbourne Licensing Department have only exacerbated this decline.
“The forced introduction of mandatory CCTV has only served to push semi-retired drivers into full retirement. It is yet another financial barrier to excluding new blood from entering our trade.
“All operators agree with complete safety checks and the correct vetting to ensure the right people join our trade. Still, the current burdensome and costly bureaucracy is a huge disincentive for the right people to join our profession.”
Mr Defalco also explained it was ‘ridiculous’ for private hire drivers to have to study for up to six months learning roads when all companies in Eastbourne have sat nav.
He said: “We are collectively aware that our service is substandard on many occasions, and some of our most vulnerable citizens are put at risk due to a lack of cars.
“This shortage also inflicts untold damage on the broader economy. With the Turner Prize coming, this should be a fantastic time to showcase Eastbourne to the entire world. However, the damage will be immeasurable if visitors cannot get from A to B.
“We have collectively tried to engage with the council for well over a year and are worse off due to this engagement.”
