Taxi firms are meeting to discuss the fall-out from a new year slump in trade.

Basildon Taxi Proprietors ' Association is to get feedback from drivers to try and find out why businesses in the area have been hit over the millennium.

Keith Beadle, spokesman for the association, said it was too early to tell how bad business had been.

He said: "I will not get feedback from companies until the meeting so I cannot comment in too much detail.

"All I know is I took a cab over new year and the driver said to me it had been very quiet."

Mr Beadle rejected criticisms that fare hikes had scared the public away. He said: "If people are prepared to go to a night club and pay £75 and they want a taxi, I don't think it is much to ask for £2.50 extra per person.

"New year was much more organised than previous years. I don't think people were put off by prices - there was simply less work. The planning of the night made a hell of a difference.

"My relatives had arranged to have a driver to pick people up. They thought it would be so busy that they wouldn't be able to get a taxi.

"When we meet we will be able to ask 'were we too greedy?' or maybe we did not ask for enough. At the moment I cannot say."

The 13-member committee of the taxi association represent 77 of the 104 licensed firms in Basildon, Pitsea and Wickford.

The festive season is of crucial importance to cab firms.

Mr Beadle said: "You have to try and make your money over Christmas and new year because January and February are very quiet.

"I have seen a whole group of drivers playing football at this time of year as it can be so quiet."

Davita Radio Cars in Basildon had 30 drivers out on New Year's Eve - the company having decided to charge a £10 flat fee as well as double fare.

A spokeswoman for Davita said it had been hit by the slump: "New Year's Eve was very, very quiet. Last year we were inundated with calls and found it difficult to cope but this year it was unusually quiet.

"Most of our drivers were sat around doing nothing for most of the night. There were little flurries of business but not that much. Some drivers did not even bother charging the £10 fee."

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