MORE THAN 50 taxi drivers and trade union workers have lobbied Eastleigh councillors over government deregulation plans.

Emotions are high because Eastleigh Borough Council's Administration Committee has voted to go ahead with a consultation process to consider removing restrictions that currently limit the number of taxis.

Following a national study by the Office of Fair Trading last year, government officials have encouraged local authorities to lift restrictions to allow customers the benefit of competition.

Current regulations limit Eastleigh to 105 licensed hackney carriage taxis - those that can be flagged down or that pick up passengers in designated ranks.

But the overwhelming feeling among local cabbies is that without any limits on the number of taxis in the town, the already slow business would get worse.

"We already find it hard enough to break even," said taxi drivers' representative Steve Lucas.

Sheila Lock, Transport and General Workers' Union secretary for Eastleigh cab drivers, told the committee: "Shame on you all if you do this because you all know the problems we have."

The committee believed it still needed to see evidence of the detrimental effect that deregulation would have on taxi customers and that the consultation process would offer this. Chairman Cllr Anne Winstanley said: "We are not going to make a decision to protect their trade, unless it is what is best for the customers."

Mr Lucas told the committee drivers have little confidence in the council, which seemed to have decided in favour of deregulation.

"The council isn't listening when considering a major change to our way of life."

Cllr Keith House added: "We do need more evidence but we will consider the views of everyone and those we have heard tonight."

Civic chiefs now have until March 31 next year to conduct the consultation and decide whether or not to deregulate the number of taxis in the borough in line with Whitehall officials, or to justify keeping them at the current limit.