Cyclists advised to avoid Bank junction at rush hour ahead of cabbie protest

Cyclists and motorists have been told to avoid Bank junction at rush hour today ahead of a planned 90 minute taxi drivers' protest.

The protest, organised by the United Cabbies Group, will begin at 17.00 today, and anyone using the roads has been advised to use alternative routes, including those cycling and driving. A group of taxi drivers is protesting against Transport for London policies over enforcement of private hire vehicle licence rules.

Cycle protestors have amassed on the junction twice this year following the death of 26-year-old Ying Tao who was killed in a collision with a tipper lorry in June, but protests lasted just 15 minutes.

Around 33% of traffic through Bank Junction, in the heart of the City of London, is cyclists.

The City of London police say they have an "appropriate and proportionate policing plan in place".

Yesterday a man was arrested at City Hall during a protest calling for tougher licencing of Uber taxis. The United Cabbies Group distanced themselves from the man, who they said was "not a taxi driver" and urged "ideological protest groups" to stay away from future demonstrations.

The Licensed Taxi Drivers Association and RMT and the London Cab Drivers Club do not support the protest, which the UCG says will last for 90 minutes, as agreed following talks with the police.

A blog site carrying the UCG's logo, which heavily criticises TfL, says of the protest: "We have an hour and a half and if we get the numbers, no one in the City will be moving, it could be total lockdown."

JOIN US 17:00 TOMORO BANK JCT HOUR AND A HALF #STAND TOGETHER #WORKINGCABBIES4WORKINGCABBIES

— UCG CAMPAIGNS A/C (@UCGcampaigns) September 23, 2015