CABBIES fear another row may be looming over their appearance, a year after bosses at York railway station tried to smarten them up.

The annual renewal of permits is coming up in January, and some Hackney Carriage drivers believe they may be used to put pressure on them to change their dress code.

Last year, cabbies boycotted the station after station operators, GNER, said they had to wear a shirt and tie, proper trousers and leather 'dress' shoes.

Peter Wheatley, secretary of the York Taxi Owners and Drivers Federation, which represents about 45 of the station taxi drivers, said:

"GNER is going to hold talks soon over the permit price but for some strange reason, they have not invited us, even though we represent a large number of drivers.

"I suspect they may be planning to pull the same stunt as last year over the dress code and ban us from wearing jeans or something."

Mr Wheatley said his drivers were still unhappy about conditions at the station - where he said there were no facilities such as toilets and refreshment for cab-bies - despite assurances from GNER that this would be looked into.

A GNER spokesman said: "As far as we are concerned, we have met representatives for taxis applying to work at York station and there are no problems with the negotiations.

"Discussions about facilities have taken place and the representatives of those applying are pleased with the plans.

"Drivers should have no worries about the renewal of their permits."

A spokesman for Station Taxis said: "We are paying for our permits for next year, and as we see it there is no strike, no dispute, no problem at all.

"Our drivers are using the facilities on the station and our Hackney Carriages are to operate from the station as normal."

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