I’D like to draw attention to the presence of hackney taxi drivers who ‘tout’ for business in Durham City Market Place and on the bridge between Claypath and the Market Place.

One such incident occurred on Saturday night, November 21.

My nephew was walking towards the official taxi rank, when several taxis wound down their windows to ask him where he was going.

He said Belmont, and got in to the taxi where the driver said the fare would be £20.

There was no sign of putting the meter on, as the driver is legally obliged to do. My nephew said: “It was only £9 last time…” and a stand-off occurred. The driver wouldn’t budge, so my nephew got out of the taxi.

What he should have done was take the taxi driver’s badge number, which has to be displayed inside on the sides of both front doors or on the taxi plate on the back.

A short phone call explaining the circumstances would require Taxi Licensing and Enforcement to investigate the driver.

A Hackney taxi driver is not allowed to tout for business, or overcharge for fares (fares are on metered tariffs set by Durham County Council) or decide what the fare is before the taxi sets off.

In effect what is happening here is a shameful disorganised scam.

Absolute cheating and dishonesty.

If local people are being scammed in this way, what chance do visitors to the city have?

And what image does it present to them?

Stephen Vallance, Chester-le-Street