WINDSOR & MAIDENHEAD: DRIVERS ANGRY AT LACK OF CONSULTATION
Hackney carriage drivers have hit out at the council over proposals to reduce taxi ranks outside Windsor Castle. The Windsor Ex- press reports that the Royal Borough plans to reduce the taxi rank in Thames Street by 19 metres, leaving 38 metres, and to add a rank of 12 metres outside the Theatre Royal. The council says the proposals are part of its scheme to create more space in the town for pedestrians and cyclists to social distance as the country eases out of lockdown. The widening of the path in Windsor is
part of a set of changes in the town, which will be funded by a Government grant, to help pre- vent the spread of Covid-19. Hackney carriage representative Mo- hammed Naeem Sabir said drivers have been asking for more space for the last five to ten years and said the drivers were not given enough consultation time. He added drivers are prepared to protest if necessary. Another driver, Mohammed Abbas said drivers were only notified of the consultation on Sat- urday and the
TAXI INSURANCE
RURAL PRIVATE HIRE AND FLEET INSURANCE SPECIALISTS
ROUND THE COUNCILS BURY:
FIRST FARE INCREASE IN 12 YEARS ON CARDS
consultation closed the following Thurs- day. Mr Abbas has warned that people could lose their jobs if the changes go ahead. Windsor taxi driver Munear Shabbir said: “There is a lot of anger and frustra- tion about this.” A spokesman from the Royal Borough, said: “We have been in consultation with the drivers to ask for their views on the proposed changes, and this consultation period ended on July 2. We will take any feedback on board before finalis- ing any plans in this scheme.”
Taxi fares in Bury could rise for the first time in 12 years. The increase would mean that a five- mile journey at the night time rate would rise by two pounds to £15.70. the new fares are going out to public consultation and if there are no objec- tions the increases would come into effect within weeks. Both hackney car- riages and private hire vehicles will also benefit from a three-month exten- sion to their licences as inspec- tions are delayed due to Covid-19.
Charles Oakes, chair of the hackney drivers association, told the council’s licensing and safety panel on Thursday that the increase is “a long time com- ing”. However, council- lors were concerned about an increase during the coron- avirus crisis and the impact that it would have on the trade. Cllr Mike Smith highlighted the fact that
the fare
increase would total around 20 per cent, which he said seems “excessive”. However Mr Oakes responded: “There
GMCA: TAXIS TO BE BLACK AND PHVS TO BE WHITE
0800 458 9702 OR 01527 757 585
20
Greater Manchester Combined Authori- ty leaders want all hackney carriages to be black and all private hire vehicles to be white as part of plans to ‘mod- ernise’ services across the region. The authority is aiming to develop a set of minimum standards for taxi and private hire firms throughout the region in order to achieve a zero emission fleet by 2029. Andy Burnham, Mayor of Greater Manchester, an- nounced the pro- posals on Wednes- day 22 July, stating that common stan- dards for drivers would be applied to criminal
record
checks, local area knowledge tests, English language skills and driving proficiency. There would also be a set standard on vehicle emis- sions, ages, colour, common livery, the use of CCTV, and accessibility. Operators would also be subject to criminal
record
checks and will be made to adhere to more stringent booking require- ments. Mr Burnham said: "We want to see a more modern fleet across Greater Manchester with higher standards and cleaner vehi- cles. “This is part of Greater Manchester
becoming a world class city. “You would expect to see a consistent taxi fleet in any other city of Greater Manch- ester’s size across the world.” The plans will be included within the Greater Manchester Clean Air Plan which is proposing the UK’s largest Clean Air Zone and will encourage pri- vate hire firms to switch to cleaner vehicles. Drivers of hackney carriages could be able to test electric taxis as part of a ‘try before you buy’ scheme. The Clean Air Plan goes out for an eight-week consul- tation in October.
AUGUST 2020
is never a right time for a fare increase. We always lose a lit- tle bit of work, but it sort of balances itself out. There are less hackneys in Bury now than there ever has been. Last time I looked there were around 60 vehicles. “Our members pro- vide a service and that service has to be paid for.” The licensing and safety
approved
panel the
review of the Hack- ney Carriage Fare Table and agreed to implement
the
request if no objec- tions are received.
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