THE Office of Fair Trading (OFT) published its report last year, saying that there is an unmet demand for taxis throughout the country.

Hence, Wyre Forest District Council has no alternative but to adhere to this report.

A survey was carried out in the Kidderminster area by an agency chosen by the Wyre Forest licensing authority, but funded by Wyre Forest taxi drivers and proprietors. The conclusive report of this survey was proven to hold several major flaws, but still the advice was accepted and 10 additional vehicle licences are to be issued.

We say that because of the urban structure of Wyre Forest at peak times, taxis are jammed up in the same gridlock as everyone else, especially at Worcester Road, Stourport Road, Bewdley Hill and Franche Road. How on earth are we expected to earn a living with these road conditions and more taxis on the way to help clog up the system?

What we need is more red tarmac routes for buses and taxis alike, to give us priority - and fewer speed bumps - to help us meet our pick-up times.

Deregulation will, without any doubt, create a whole new market of bogus taxis in our area.

Plans for this should be stopped now before it is too late.

I would like to remind people of the following points:

l On Saturday, May 14, a young girl was picked up from a rank in a car she believed to be a taxi. When she got in the doors were locked and she was driven to a destination of the driver's choice, where the driver took her money then unlocked the doors and released her - and she was one of the lucky ones.

l Two years ago, with the help of the council, local police and Regency Taxis, many of the local drivers paid hundreds of pounds installing CCTV in taxis, making them safer places to travel for passenger and driver alike.

l Extra vehicle licences being issued has already caused casualties - three well-established taxi drivers with a total of 60 years' experience as Wyre Forest drivers are not renewing their licences.

l At the moment all taxis and drivers are known to the general public, but if deregulation is to happen it will be necessary to police the taxi ranks 24 hours a day to ensure that no unlicensed vehicle and drivers are picking up unsuspecting members of the public.

I am writing this letter to warn the public about the future being offered by the taxi trade in this area.

I hope the next letter I write is not to say "I told you so" when a member of someone's family has had a really bad experience at the hands of a bogus taxi driver.

V PRICE

Taxi proprietor

Bewdley (Full address supplied)