The brakes have been put on Narromine's taxi service with the business being forced to shut down.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
A service the town has become used to will end in coming weeks with taxi user numbers dwindling making the business no longer viable.
Business owners Keith and Josie Hemsworth believe the service could be closed within two weeks depending on deregistration.
"Travel has dropped off, people who used to ride with us have cars now or use the Odgen bus in town," Mrs Hemsworth said.
Mr Hemsworth said the local pubs running courtesy buses had also had a big impact.
"Friday and Saturday nights used to be our big nights, we'd have two cabs out. Now we have one. Almost every pub has a courtesy bus, there's no money around and no one is using the cabs," he said.
The Hemsworths are concerned about their elderly clients who still use the service.
"Old people will miss out," Mr Hemsworth said.
"We're not earning the money through the day though."
With the rising costs of registering the vehicles, insurance and public liabilities, the Hemsworths were struggling to break even on the business.
The Hemsworths arrived in Narromine almost five years ago.
Over that time their business has employed five drivers.
Mrs Hemsworth said five years ago the taxi patronage was much better.
"Has to be a sign of the times," she said.
"We're the last taxis between here and Cobar."
The couple is planning on staying in town.
Mayor of Narromine Shire, Bill McAnally said he's sad to see the service go.
"They've done a wonderful job and it's extremely hard. You don't run a business though if you're not making profit," he said.
"I'd be happy for anyone to take it over. Anyone interested should talk to the Hemsworths."
Cr McAnally hopes people will still act responsibly despite the loss of the service, particularly in relation to drink driving.
"(Drink driving) is always a problem. I hope people are sensible. If you drink and drive you're a fool," he said.
Council is not in a position to take over the service.
"There's a couple of examples where councils have bought a cab but council is doing enough without a taxi service. I'm hoping someone will take it over," he said.
