RESIDENTS have told of waiting up to an hour for a taxi in Darlington town centre, as the industry continues to be affected by shortages.
1AB Taxis, based in Darlington, are one of many companies around the country to have blamed Covid, Brexit and a lack of drivers for having a detrimental impact on their services.
Darlington resident and former councillor Martin Landers says the shortages are affecting people getting to work or travelling home after a night out.
Read more: Darlington's 1AB Taxis responds to shortage pressures
“I have spoken to a lot of care workers and a lot of people who work in the NHS who can’t get to and from work,” he said. “A lot of people say ‘book at taxi’ but in some care jobs you can’t because you don’t know when you’re going out.
“I was in town last Saturday and was trying to get a taxi at 12.30am outside the Turk’s Head and the queue was massive.
“Someone said to me ‘I’ve been here 45 minutes and have not seen a single taxi’. I walked along to Macy Browns at the other end of town and it was even worse - bigger queues and lots of stewards around trying to control people but there were no taxis about, and it was freezing.”
The taxi shortage has meant people are left to walk miles home or are not going out at all.
Mr Landers warned the shortages could soon affect the town’s economy.
Read more: Uber urged to avoid Darlington but some residents welcome service
He added: “This is just forcing people to wander off home and finding new ways to get around. But more importantly, people will now be making the decision not to go out because they can’t get a taxi home.
“I know it’s awful for girls and a lot of people I know aren’t going out now if they can’t arrange to get home.”
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