8:40am Thursday 2nd September 2010
A taxi drivers association is warning customers of reduced service and long delays later this month as its Muslims members prepare to celebrate the Eid festival.
Taxi association warns of delays during Eid festival The Wycombe Private Hire Trade Association - made up of town centre Hackney carriage drivers and private hire cabbies, and whose members are all Muslim – said '99 per cent' of its members will not be operating between 7am and 6pm on Friday, September 10.
This is because Muslim cabbies will be attending prayers and spending time with their families as part of Eid ul-Fitr, which marks the end of Ramadan.
Association spokesman Zia Ullah said some drivers will be back on the road at about 1.30pm, with full service expected to be resumed at 6pm.
Emergency taxi requests will, however, be considered during that morning.
He added: “The prayers do not only mark the end of fasting but will also be for reflection for those that have lost their lives during the Pakistan floods.
“The Association would also like to take this time to thank our customers for their concern, donations and support during this disaster.”
Taxi firms 'expect to be busy' but say they will be running as usual with the drivers they have avalable.
By Simon Farr
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