Glasgow Taxis Ltd (GTL) has prompted protests after revealing plans for a £51 "registration fee".

The company, which is run as a friendly society with an executive committee made up of members, says the charge – which it says includes VAT – is necessary to cover "the level of service provision" which it offers.

They say the fee must be paid by the end of October, and will be levied every year from now on.

Drivers at the meeting organised by Unite union said they had not been properly consulted.

Union taxi rep for Scotland Drew Connelly said they would be pushing for thousands of drivers to sign a petition against the proposed charge.

Mr Connelly said: "We hope the first wave of this petition will hit Glasgow Taxis before the end of this month. We are aiming to have more than 1000 drivers and owners sign it.

"Ultimately we want Glasgow Taxis to think again about this enter into discussions. One of the things that is most shameful about this is that everybody knows the tough times that drivers are facing but nobody knows it more than GTL."

Cab driver of 32 years, John Burns, 57, said: "What's really angering people is the speed of this. This is going to affect families, the implications of it are far reaching."

Kenny Gillespie, Unite's taxi representative in Glasgow said: "This has been done without consultation, consideration or justification. We've hoped to engage Glasgow Taxis in dialogue. Letters have been written but we've had no reply."

Glasgow Taxis declined to comment.

ewan.fergus@ heraldandtimes.co.uk