Mr. Mike Shingler

Mike Shingler, spokesperson of Birmingham and Solihull Taxi Association, said: "Crufts is a British institution and demonstrates just how many dog lovers there are throughout the country so it is only fitting that black cabs, another British icon, should welcome well-behaved dog citizens.

Birmingham and Solihull Taxi Association representative Mike Shingler said the recommendation that the granting of new licences should continue unabated was a "contradiction in terms".

Mr Shingler said the gut instinct of most cabbies was to refuse new applications, particularly when trading conditions were so tough.

He added: "The council is saying there are too many cabs but they don't think it is the way forward to stop issuing licences.
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Stricter regulation of vehicles, including proposals to carry out more safety checks, were pushing up drivers' overheads even more, Mr Shingler added.

He said: "Until recently, a driver would spend £20 to earn £100.

Birmingham and Solihull Taxi Association representative Mike Shingler said the recommendation that the granting of new licences should continue unabated was a "contradiction in terms".

Mr Shingler said the gut instinct of most cabbies was to refuse new applications, particularly when trading conditions were so tough.

He added: "The council is saying there are too many cabs but they don't think it is the way forward to stop issuing licences.

"By any standards, it's tough out there.We have a recession on and we are paying £1.32p a litre for diesel.

"In other words, a milk bottle-full of fuel costs £1."

Stricter regulation of vehicles, including proposals to carry out more safety checks, were pushing up drivers' overheads even more, Mr Shingler added.

He said: "Until recently, a driver would spend £20 to earn £100.

Mike Shingler, BSTA general secretary, said: "Taxi drivers are pleased to support this initiative - not just for their customers but also themselves.

"I was shocked to discover that men in Birmingham can expect to live a shorter life than in other areas and this is partly down to smoking. So anything that helps improve our health is to be encouraged."

Mr Shingler, who has been a taxi driver for 25 years and a smoker for twice as long, feels the legislation is a real motivator to quit.

He added: "I don't want to be caught out when the law comes into force so I've set March 1 as the date to kick my habit.