News Desk

The war of words between BAA the owner of Heathrow and the black cabbie fraternity has reached a new nadir with threats of "French style" blockades of Heathrow to traffic, provoked by a decision from BAA to grant private hire  firms to pick up passengers at Heathrow.

In what is now becoming a battle of nerves for the 25,000 black cab community the decision by BAA to allow private hire company's like Addison Lee to operate from the various terminals at Heathrow has been seen as a direct threat to the monopoly held by black cabs who are allowed to pick up passengers from ranks at Heathrow.

The Times reported the story by saying that:

"Although passengers must pre-book, Addison Lee said that customers would be able to order a cab after landing, heightening fears for black cab drivers who believe that they will lose valuable trade to cheaper rivals".

The London Daily News has confirmed that groups of black cab drivers are actively planning blockades across Heathrow when the new system by BAA comes into force.  One leading voice in the black cab trade John Kennedy of LTCPR said:

"Blocking roads around an airport will achieve nothing, the LTDA and other organisations should seek an injunction pending judicial review of this policy by BAA which they were not consulted on but merely informed".

Addison Lee has rejected claims that there presence at Heathrow is in effect a process of "land grab" and one step closer to pushing black cabs to the side with Liam Griffin the Managing Director of Addison Lee in The Times:

"There was no intention of encroaching on the black cab trade".

The "tea stools" around London (green huts were many black cab drivers frequent) are abuzz with talk of direct action and a willingness to stop the actions of Addison Lee at Heathrow, a similar protest took place in February this year with central London coming to a standstill.

photo credit: London Daily News (Feb protests)