Cabbies urged over one-hour strikes

London's black cab drivers opposed to Ken Livingstone's new taxi plans are threatening to protest by refusing to work between 4pm and 5pm daily.

The move follows a recent announcement that the Mayor had struck a deal with London cabbies guaranteeing them an increase in night fares in return for scrapping rules which allow them to turn down journeys beyond six miles.

However, his proposals, which were outlined in a letter sent to each of the capital's 23,000 cabbies, have not been well received by a proportion of drivers.

The London Cab Drivers Club, which has more than 1,200 members, is urging the city's drivers to take a stand against the changes by refusing to work during one of the busiest periods of the day.

An editorial in its newspaper The Badge said: "The Mayor seems to have got his own way and the trade has not offered any fight to stop him. So we would like drivers to withdraw their labour each day between 4pm and 5pm.

"If people can't get cabs at that time, maybe they will start to get at the Mayor."

Mr Livingstone's proposals were prompted by his pledge to solve the crippling shortage of taxis in the capital at nights and at weekends.

While many drivers welcome his plans to increase night rates by up to 60 per cent and weekend rates by 25 per cent, a large number are opposed to abolishing the six-mile rule. As well as urging the informal strike, the London Cab Drivers Club is considering legal action against the Mayor in a bid to prevent him extending the distance they are obliged to drive passengers to 12 miles.

Alan Fleming, chairman of the organisation, said: "Cab drivers are not happy with the proposals. We have obviously brought this to the attention of Livingstone's advisers and pointed out what was wrong with them, but it seems these changes are going to be made come what may."

However, other taxi organisations have condemned their call to stop working for one hour a day. While the Licensed Taxi Drivers' Association, which represents 7,000 cabbies, is also opposed to extending the six-mile rule, plans to stop working every day were dismissed as unworkable.

Bob Oddy, general secretary of the association, said: "It would lead to two things. Firstly, the drivers would lose an hour's work and secondly, the customers would lose out."

The GLA insisted that the proposals, reached after months of discussions, were "strongly supported" by Londoners. A spokesman said: "Passengers have a right to expect that they will be taken to where they need to go."