IN MAY 1987, Cirencester taxi drivers blockaded the offices of Cotswold District Council over fears that a large Swindon firm may muscle in on their patch.

They staged a two hour protest, using their cabs to block one of the council entrances in Trinity Road until CDC officials allowed them inside for talks.

Local cabbies claimed they would be forced out of business within three months if the council gave licenses to the rival firm Tramps to operate in the Cotswolds.

They said that Tramps would wipe out all competition by offering fares so low that local taxis could not afford to match them. 

Mrs Christine Thompson, whose husband Kenneth ran Atlas Cabs of Chesterton, said the 15 to 20 taxi firms in the Cirencester area were all threatened.

“If Tramps is allowed in, we are all going to be out of business. There is no way we can compete” she said.

“It is our livelihood that is at stake.”

Tramps immediately hit back with partners Mr Raymond Piper and Mr Tony Smith saying: “We are looking for new business.

"We don’t see any prospect of the local taxi community being thrown out of work.”

The council defended their position saying they had no power over the number of private hire cars in the district, nor over the level of fares they charged.