Traffic piling up in Sheffield as taxi drivers begin go-slow protest

Traffic appears to be piling up in Sheffield ahead of Tuesday's rush hour, as protesting taxi drivers begin a go-slow through the city.
The picture on Sheffield's roads at 4.30pm, courtesy of the AA's travel checker, with red lines indicating queuing and slow-moving trafficThe picture on Sheffield's roads at 4.30pm, courtesy of the AA's travel checker, with red lines indicating queuing and slow-moving traffic
The picture on Sheffield's roads at 4.30pm, courtesy of the AA's travel checker, with red lines indicating queuing and slow-moving traffic

Taxi drivers are demonstrating against new government licensing legislation they say have created a 'wild west' working environment.

The GMB union is organising a 'slow drive' starting at 4pm today, during which a convoy of taxis are travelling from Attercliffe to the city centre.

Taxi drivers protest outside Sheffield Town HallTaxi drivers protest outside Sheffield Town Hall
Taxi drivers protest outside Sheffield Town Hall
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The AA's traffic checker was this afternoon showing a tangle of red lines on roads across the city, which indicates slow or queuing traffic. It is not known if all, or indeed any, of this traffic is connected with the go-slow.

The go-slow follows a demonstration earlier this afternoon outside Sheffield Town Hall against the Deregulation Act, which allows private hire taxis licensed in one local authority area to operate across the whole country.

The GMB says 'cross-border hiring' is 'killing' the taxi trade and putting public safety at risk.

Have you been affected by the go-slow? What do you think of the protest? Let us know via Twitter or Facebook.

Taxi drivers protest outside Sheffield Town HallTaxi drivers protest outside Sheffield Town Hall
Taxi drivers protest outside Sheffield Town Hall
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