MORE than 160 Rossendale cabbies took their protest to the streets today as they prepare to strike over council proposals to introduce a penalty points system.

Organisers say 162 drivers congregated on the Town Hall car park in Rawtenstall to express their feelings to councillors and officials.

Under the points scheme, Hackney cab and mini-cab drivers could be hit with penalty points if they commit one of 34 minor breaches.

Sounding a horn outside a house would land the driver with four points; parking on the kerb would see them hit with three points; and urinating in public would result in eight points.

If a driver racks up 20 points in a year, they could have to re-sit their test or have their licence revoked.

Glenn Bulcock, 53, chair of Rossendale Taxi Association said he has assurances that all the Valley’s 287 licensed taxis would be off the road between 11pm and 6am this Friday and Saturday, causing disruption to revellers in town centres.

Mr Bulcock, who has been a driver for 20 years and owns GB Taxis in Bacup, said: “We will have 100 per cent support for the action and are also asking cabs from neighbouring areas not to travel to the Valley.”

David Lawrie, chairman of the Valley’s Independent Taxi Drivers' Assoc-iation, said: “This scheme has more holes in it than a teabag.

"We told the council that, but still they would not withdraw it.

"It will be impossible to do the job of a taxi driver without incurring points.”

A Rossendale council spokesman said their goal was to ensure that taxis operating in the borough met high standards.

He added: “We have offered to stop the consultation process and try to resolve any issues.

"However, we understand that the trade associations seem determined to participate in some form of industrial action.

“Our licensing team have arranged for a meeting to take place this Friday to try to resolve the dispute.”

Stuart Sugarman, director of business at the council, said: "We have made it clear to the drivers all along that this is only a consultation and it is already clear that some changes will be made to the proposals.”