I see that Roger French is having a go at taxis again, this time at the fares.

But does Mr French tell the public that his big subsidies all come from the council and government, so basically we have all prepaid for our bus seat.

Taxi owners pay the council to be on the road - £145.20 per year for a Hackney carriage and £124.60 for private hire.

I don't know how many buses he has but there are 459 licensed Hackney plates and approximately 350

private hire plates. Now who are the superior operators?

Everywhere we go the council has restrictive speed bumps, no left or right turns, no entry, one-way streets but we don't keep whining, we just get on with our job. The bigger and more buses you get Mr French, the less likely you are to succeed.

Remember we will be here forever, I am not so sure about buses. Happy New Year from us, Mr French.

-A Simple, Brighton and Hove Cabbies