The battle to stop Castle Point becoming a free-for-all for taxi drivers was today given new life as the courts finally gave a date for the drivers' appeal hearing.

In February a judge at London's High Court told Hackney Carriage drivers that Castle Point Council had been justified in its decision to open up the borough to free trade - but he advised the taxi drivers to appeal.

Now the fighting drivers have been told their appeal will be heard on either October 2 or October 3.

They had applied for the judicial review after council members decided to deregulate the taxi trade at a highly charged meeting last year.

The decision meant private hire vehicles would be able to pick customers up off the streets.

At the moment only Hackney Carriage licence holders are able to ply for trade and drivers fear free trade will cause them to lose their livelihoods.

Published Thursday August 15, 2002

Brought to you by the Evening Echo