ROUND THE COUNCILS BASILDON:
AMBITIOUS PLANS TO INCREASE DRIVER NUMBERS
A “severe lack” of taxi drivers in Basildon is putting night- time revellers in danger and isolating some of the borough’s most vulnerable residents, it is claimed. The Echo reports that the borough is facing a licensed driver shortage according to council documents, and Basildon Council is now considering ambitious plans to drive up those numbers, with plans afoot for a pilot scheme which will see trainees earning as they learn on the job. The council says it recognises Basildon has an “aging licensed driver workforce, with a significant proportion close to retirement”. Councillors are set to vote on proposals to introduce an “Earn as you Learn” licence, giving trainees nine months to learn on the job. Previously drivers would have to take a six- month course, during which they could not work. A similar approach was adopted by Rochford Council in January. Councillor Kerry Smith says it’s vital more taxi drivers are trained up to provide door-to-door transport for the isolated and disabled and ensure people can get home safely late at night. “For young women out after a night out, maybe who have had a few drinks, the safest way to get home is with a borough registered cab,” he said. “We need to support our taxi drivers and keep them going.”
LANCASHIRE: PLAN TO TACKLE ILLEGAL RANK PARKING
A crackdown on drivers illegally parking in the taxi bays outside Preston Minster is set to take place. Lancashire County Council states that civil enforcement officers from the council and Preston City Council will be joining forces to tackle this issue with a series of visits. The first enforcement took place on the evening of July 15. The visits will build on previous enforcement exercises, which included penalty charge notices being issued to drivers who had parked illegally. County Councillor Charlie Edwards, cabinet member for highways and transport at Lancashire County Council, said: “We fully support a vibrant city centre economy and taxis play a key part of that. “Unfortunately members of the public are illegally parking in the taxi bays which is causing a problem. “On Friday and Saturday evenings in particular, taxis are finding they are unable to use the rank because it is already full with cars which shouldn’t be there. “People wanting a taxi are quite rightly going to the rank, which is what it is designed for, but the taxis are forced to wait elsewhere or pick people up in the middle of the road causing an obvious danger.
AUGUST 2022
“Many of the people parking in the rank illegally are either on a night out or staying in Preston overnight. There are alternative places for drivers to park their cars.” Councillor David Borrow, cabinet member for planning and regulation at Preston City Council, said: “Hackney carriages play an integral role in ensuring that visitors to Preston’s city centre can get home both quickly and safely. “The longstanding issue of private vehicles parking in the Church Street rank in the evening causes disruption by preventing licensed vehicles from using these dedicated spaces effectively. “It’s anticipated that proactive parking enforcement of private vehicles parked on the rank will not only assist the licensed hackney carriage trade, but will also improve public safety for pedestrians and road users in the area.”
HYNDBURN: CHECK BANS ONE VEHICLE, FOUR MORE WARNED
Five taxis and private hire vehicles have been issued with safety warnings and one ordered off the road immediately, after spot checks by police and council officers. According to the Lancashire Telegraph, the operation in Hyndburn - which also involved the DVSA - took place on Friday, July 1. On the night, 15 licensed hackney carriages and private hire vehicles were pulled into the council’s Vehicle Maintenance Unit where a thorough inspection was carried out. Of the 15 vehicles, one was issued with an immediate prohibition notice by the inspector from the DVSA due to faulty indicators, and two were issued with delayed prohibition notices due to more minor faults. Although a vehicle with worn brake pads was not bad enough to be issued with a prohibition notice, the council issued an immediate suspension warning until the problem had been rectified. A suspension notice was also issued to a vehicle which had a defective brake light. Guidance was also given to two other drivers who met all legal obligations but could improve on some safety elements by replacing a headlamp bulb and taking action to fit new brake pads. The spot checks are carried out in addition to the MoT inspections which are carried out every four months on all licensed vehicles. Cllr Miles Parkinson, the leader of Hyndburn Council, said: “Spot checks like this are carried out periodically, even though most licensed vehicles are subject to a test which is more stringent than a normal MoT test every four months. “This ensures that our high standards are being always met. Through this additional work members of the public using vehicles licensed in Hyndburn can be assured that the vehicles are safe and suitable.” Cllr Munsif Dad, leader of the council’s opposition Labour group, said: “Gradually the safety standards of licensed vehicles in the borough is improving. We welcome that.”
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