The Casey Column
By Wayne Casey
(LL SC)
The views expressed in this column may not be those of the National Taxi Association
“A vote is like a rifl e;
practically certain, the bill, like many other bills, in action. At the time of writing Carlisleʼs ballot
was designed with the greatest intent, equality results are not known, but the one in Tendring
its usefulness depends
for all, however, in the quest for equality for a is. In a report to Tendring council during
minority the fear is that a majority will suffer. December 2009 it was stated that out of 293
upon the character of
ballots sent out the council had received 173
replies, some 120 people decided not to answer
the user.”
Ranking Issues
A couple of months ago I mentioned a growing
(although the GMB union have suggested no
phenomenon around the country of taxis being
response indicated approval for a survey).
targeted by local authorities for serious offences
Theodore Roosevelt
such as not standing for hire on hackney
Out of the 173 replies, 81 were against a survey,
carriage stands. Invariably this occurs in areas
79 were in favour of a survey and 13 replied but
where local authorities have licensed scores
didnʼt tick a box! Comments on the ballot papers
of additional Hackney Carriages and provided
were mixed to say the least;
Equality, Taxis & the Pope
very few ranks spaces for them to ply their
“If the decision is made to go ahead with the
By the time this issue of taxi talk magazine
trade. I mentioned the use of CCTV to bring
survey I will take no part in this matter and
hits the streets the quality bill will be heading
forth evidence against the drivers concerned. I
strongly object to this happening”.
back from the House of Lords to the House of
have even mentioned the carbon footprint and
Commons for the governmentʼs fi nal seal of
environmental issues of taxis plying for hire
“I donʼt particularly want the survey done;
approval. I wonder how many of you are aware
around Town and City Centres, whilst looking
therefore do not wish to be charged for it”.
of the Equality bill; I wonder how many of you
for available rank space. I donʼt know if any of
are interested in its possible repercussions?
you took any notice of my warnings, indeed
I suspect most of you probably nodded your
“I do not think I, or any driver, should bear the
cost of the survey”.
Certainly the Roman Catholic Church are aware
heads in agreement, then did precisely nothing.
of the Bill, the Holy Father criticised it, which is a
“Any survey should be paid for by those licence
rare occurrence indeed, especially coming from
It is of course easy to think these nasty things
holders that vote for the survey to be carried
a body that believes homosexuality is wrong
wonʼt happen to you. In Carlisle for example,
out. Why should costs be imposed on any
(or is it just homosexual
acts.....no Erasure in
proposed changes to the Station Forecourt will
holder that has not asked for the survey and will
catholic heaven?) and have Priests that have
make the current rank virtually redundant as
obviously vote NO”.
taken the love of children bit out of the bible to
the new entrance and exit to the Rail Station
a whole new, Gary Glitter type of level, even
will be at the rear of building, maybe even on
“I have eleven plates and three of those never
a practicing atheist such as myself was fairly
rail property. I wonder if the good cab drivers of
go on a rank so should these be included in the
surprised.
Carlisle are prepared to pay to stand awaiting
overall cost”?
passengers, this will almost certainly occur if the
What will the equality bill mean to you? Well,
rank is on Network Rail land.
Obviously, in view of the ballot results Tendring
an awful lot actually. It would almost certainly
council declined to have a survey at that point,
appear to mean that any newly licensed
Not just Carlisle but dare I say on the Wirral? The
promising to revisit the subject in two years
Hackney Carriage will have to be wheelchair
Wirral Waters scheme will have a major effect on
time. In respect of the comments I would point
accessible. No big shakes? It would also appear
the shopping centres in Birkenhead, little wonder
to the obvious ignorance in some of them,
that section 16 of the 1985 transport act (the
Warner Estates are a tad concerned. However,
however, what makes the ballot results very
bit that currently stops nationwide deregulation)
glancing through the plan whilst there seems
strange are the events of the previous 12
will not apply if the person applying for a licence
to be a pick up and set down area, there is
months. You see, the council decided to operate
wishes to licence a WAV.
suspiciously no mention of taxi ranks. If this Peel
a “3 strikes and youʼre out” rule, effectively if
Holdings project is anything like the other areas
a driver is found guilty of an offence he will
At the time of writing there also seems to be
owned by Peel Holdings, most notably, John
be given an ʻinformal warningʼ, then a face to
a rather large grey area about what happens
Lennon airport and the Trafford Centre, I think
face warning backed up and fi nally a licensing
when you wish to upgrade your saloon hackney
you Hackney folks will fi nd yourselves having to
committee appearance. Last year at least two
carriage. If you can recall last year we had a
dig very deep into your pockets. It would appear
drivers were suspended for over-ranking. By all
consultation on wheelchair accessible taxis, the to be a natural progression to go from the above
accounts one was suspended for 28 days and
impact assessment in the equality bill mentions ranking story to a story about two places almost
another for 3 months.
this, yet strangely, no part of the consultation 400 miles apart......
seemed to mention the equality bill. Do you not The trade has complained about a lack of rank
fi nd that strange? Hereʼs a WAV consultation Well not quite two cities, Carlisle has been a spaces, coupled with too many taxis. Yet the
and by the way the results will have an impact City for the best part of 1000 years, whereas results of the ballot suggest a percentage of the
on next yearʼs equality bill? Tendring is a district where the largest town is trade, whilst bothered about lack of rank spaces
a seaside resort called Clacton on Sea, Roy
and the possibility of being caught on camera
Again, at the time of writing there are many Hudd appeared there in July 2007. Both areas, over-ranking, are possibly window licking
ʻifʼ, ʻbutʼ and ʻmaybesʼ, yet it is abundantly in terms of things taxi are quite similar, both imbeciles. It is diffi cult to be overly critical of
clear, from the speed the equality bill has gone have been deregulated for a period of time, the councils involved, both, in terms of a ballot,
through Parliament, itʼs not going to be good for both have similar numbers of taxis, both have gave the trade a straightforward choice, they let
the cab trade, perhaps this is the reason almost similar numbers of cab ranks and both have the trade know the costs and the fact the costs
all of the national bodies and trade unions have recently agreed to ballot Hackney Proprietors in would, as per best practice guidance, be paid
remained tight lipped on the issue? One thing is respect of the need for a survey, true democracy for via increased licence fees.
14
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44