Corby cabbies wanting to do their bit to help in coronavirus crisis

The Corby black cab company has a fleet of taxis with their self-employed drivers ready and willing to help
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Directors of a Corby cab company have offered their drivers' services to supermarkets and the NHS during the coronavirus lockdown to help not only those in need but to keep their families fed.

Sky Cabs is a consortium of more than 100 drivers who own their vehicles but are organised under the Sky Cabs name covering the black cab service to Corby and its villages.

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As bookings have been hit by the coronavirus lockdown, the directors have been working hard to keep their taxi drivers in work by contacting the local NHS trusts and the town's supermarkets in an effort to help.

Nic Condon, taxi driverNic Condon, taxi driver
Nic Condon, taxi driver

Nic Condon, Sky Cabs driver and director, said: "We understand that essential retail shops and the health service are struggling through this time due to a sudden increase in demand.

"Unfortunately, as people only make essential trips, naturally demand for our service has decreased dramatically.

"We are able to offer access to our large fleet of taxis, and drivers with invaluable experience of the local area.

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"We were getting reports that a lot of people couldn't get their shopping.

Sky CabsSky Cabs
Sky Cabs

"All of our drivers are DBS checked and must undergo medical as part of their licensing requirements, and we have privacy screens in all of our vehicles protecting any goods or people being carried."

The drivers have been told to clean their cabs between each passenger and to observe social distancing including using contactless payments where possible to avoid using cash.

Taxi insurance policies have been changed during the crisis to enable goods and people to be covered on journeys on and off the meter.

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Although the company cannot offer their services free of charge, they are very keen to help people and to make sure that cabbie families are still earning a living.

Some of Sky Cabs taxisSome of Sky Cabs taxis
Some of Sky Cabs taxis

Mr Condon said: "We want to help the community and help our cab family going. Our bookings are humongously down. It's scary. Out taxi drivers' earnings on average are down 50 per cent.

"We could help the supermarkets with their click and collect service or help with transport to hospital.

"We are still offering our 'Wait and Return' service where the taxi takes you, waits for you and brings you back, and we've lowered our out-of-town rates.

"Our fleet is ready and willing to help and support throughout this nationwide crisis."

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