Taxi drivers take a stand to fight for their rights

The city's three main black cab firms - City Cabs, Central Radio Taxis and ComCab - have formed the Edinburgh Licensed Taxi Partnership (ELTP) to represent the 5,000 people employed in the trade.

It comes after a ban on taxis in Holyrood Park was overturned after drivers put pressure on Historic Scotland and the district procurator fiscal.

Some taxi drivers had received fines after driving through the royal park without passengers, and there was uncertainty over whether cabs with advertising were allowed in.

However, following a U-turn, taxis are once again free to use the park.

A spokesman for the ELTP said the organisation had been set up to provide a collective voice for the industry in the city when it came to such issues.

He said: "ELTP will strive to gain greater recognition for the trade, the role that taxis play in a modern capital city and for the staff who so often provide service above and beyond the call of duty."

According to the group, the taxi trade employs around the same number of people in Edinburgh as the Scottish Government and more than twice as many as Lothian Buses.

The youngest driver is 21, while the oldest driver is 77 and is required to undergo regular health checks.

Cabbies have faced a tough few years due to rising fuel prices and the effects of the recession, which have led many firms to cut back taxi contracts.

Meanwhile, Historic Scotland has again sought to clarify the rules on the ban on taxis in the royal park.

A spokeswoman said: "When we were in the process of carrying out a review of the traffic regulations within Holyrood Park, we were originally advised by the procurator fiscal that taxis were not permitted to drive through the park if they were empty or carrying advertising.

"Taxis are now permitted access to the park in those circumstances. The only restriction that remains in relation to taxis is that they must not display their for hire sign within the park."