Bristol Temple Meads taxi drivers to pay station permit fee

First Great Western said it wanted to put the dispute behind them

Taxi drivers using the approach road to Bristol Temple Meads railway station will have to pay to pick up passengers.

First Great Western said the £375 permit was needed because the front of the station was congested and charging was normal at other stations.

The National Taxi Association in Bristol (NTAB) challenged this but Bristol Civil Justice Centre ruled in favour of the rail operator.

No-one from NTAB was available to comment on the ruling.

Kevin Bartlett from First Great Western said: "We are pleased the court has clarified the policy of the permit scheme in place at Bristol Temple Meads and our motives for bringing it in.

"We look forward to putting the legal dispute behind us and to start working with the Bristol branch of the National Taxi Association, taxi drivers and other key stakeholders to improve the station environment for both our customers and taxi drivers."

Previously a NTAB spokesman said the cab drivers had not paid fees at Temple Meads since 1974 and "firmly believed" the move was just a "money revenue-raising exercise".