London's black cab drivers fear industry is under threat

For decades, London's black cabs have been as much an emblem of the city as Buckingham Palace or the Big Ben - but now their drivers fear the industry is under threat.

The problem, they say, is minicabs - ordinary-looking cars licensed to take advance bookings over the telephone or the internet, while traditional black cabs pick up customers who hail them on the street.

With the recession already hurting business, frustrations have come to a head over proposals by airport authorities to let some minicabs take bookings from passengers arriving at Heathrow.

Black cabbies say this would damage their trade and highlights a wider problem of minicabs encroaching on their turf, particularly in the buzzing West End entertainment district.

"What to do about minicab drivers? I could tell you, but it might be a bit mediaeval. Burning, tarring, public execution," said one black cab driver, stopping for an afternoon cup of tea at one of London's 19th century cabmen's shelters near the River Thames.

He took part in a protest in February when black cab drivers blocked Trafalgar Square and says "the same thing will happen again and again and again" if the authorities do not help black cabs.

"We think we're going to go the way of the Routemaster buses and red telephone boxes," said another driver, referring to two other London icons which are now largely obsolete.

Both cabbies asked not to be named, with one citing fear of reprisals from rival drivers.

But minicab firms hit back, saying black cabs are increasingly outdated, while new technology like satellite navigation systems - known as sat navs - means minicabs can do a similar job more cheaply and with minimal training.

"The taxi trade's got to be careful because if they don't move on, they will die," said John Griffin, founder and chairman of Addison Lee, London's biggest minicab firm, which could operate at Heathrow if the plan goes through.

He says black cabs could learn lessons from his firm, which is proud of hi-tech innovations like a multimillion pound booking system which sends customers text messages automatically when their car is on its way and arrives.

London's black cabs were voted the best in the world in a recent survey and much of their reputation rests on their drivers' navigational expertise.

All black cabbies must pass "the knowledge", a test of their familiarity with city streets which typically requires several years' study.

But now, advances in sat nav mean that minicab drivers who do not have "the knowledge" can get directions and traffic information simply by pressing a few buttons.

This means minicabs - which were only licensed in London in 2002 and are thought to number around 50,000, compared to roughly half that for black cabs - are increasingly competitive.

This shows on any Friday or Saturday night in the West End as revellers spill out of bars, restaurants and clubs late at night when most public transport is closed.