ROUND THE COUNCILS ARGYLL AND BUTE: COUNCIL BACKS PUBLIC LIST FOR WAVs IDEA
Proposals for a published list of wheelchair accessible taxis and PHVs in Argyll and Bute have moved a step closer after councillors gave their backing to the idea. According to the Helensburgh Advertiser, Councillors questioned the long process behind the publication of the list, the next step of which will be a draft list of requirements to go before the same committee in December. But the proposal was approved unanimously – and if the rest of the process goes to plan, the list will be published by the council in the spring of 2022. Details of the plans went before the council’s planning, |pro- tective services and licensing (PPSL) committee. Under the proposals, drivers of WAVs will be duty bound to carry a wheelchair user in their wheelchair at no additional charge, or in a passenger seat if they choose to sit there. They must also take steps to ensure the passenger travels in comfort and safety, and to give the passenger mobility assistance as required. Failure to do any of those duties would be a breach of Section 165 of the Equality Act 2010. Councillor Richard Trail asked: “This seems a strange one. We are going to all this trouble when it is not required by the Act? Does it bring any benefit to us?” Solicitor Graeme McMillan responded: “Guidance has come out from the UK and Scottish Governments encouraging licensing authorities to publish a designated list, triggering the duties for drivers of wheelchair accessible vehicles. “There are benefits for wheelchair users looking for access. “Breaching duties is an offence, and it is an enforcement mechanism which will benefit the public.”
NW LEICESTERSHIRE OPERATION SEES CABS TAKEN OFF ROAD
A late-night taxi operation has seen cabs taken off the road for safety concerns in the run up to festive celebrations. StaffordshireLive reports that the first taxi had one defect with its break pads worn below the legal limit. However, the second taxi had four - a tyre out of shape; a nail in a tyre which, was worn close to the legal limit; its anti- roll bar link arm worn excessively; and its rear spring arm control bush excessively worn. Licensing officers from North West Leicestershire District Council, with the support of Leicestershire Police, carried out spot checks on 11 private hire and hackney cabs across Ashby and Coalville over the weekend. The operation resulted in three with no defects, one advisory and seven in need of retesting, including the two with serious safety concerns. The spot-check event was the first completed by the North
46
West Leicestershire Safety Partnership since 2019, although officers have continued to maintain strict safety standards through regular testing. Cllr Andrew Woodman, chairman of the Safety Partnership, said: “The majority of the vehicles inspected during the operation were in great condition or had minor defects, but it’s reassuring to know the two with serious safety concerns have been taken off the road. “We take public safety seriously and this operation in the run up to Christmas is on top of our regular taxi testing programme.”
PORTSMOUTH: PHV DRIVERS TO TRIAL BUS LANES NEXT YEAR
PHVs are set to be allowed to use bus lanes in Portsmouth after the council approved a three-month trial. HampshireLive reports that despite warnings from cycle groups that a ‘three-fold’ increase in the use of bus lanes could endanger the lives of cyclists, Cabinet Member for Transport, Lynne Stagg, backed the move on 13 December. However, she said the council would be ‘reactive to evidence’ during the trial, which is set to start in March and run for a minimum of three months. “I have concerns, I’ll be the first to admit,” Cllr Stagg said at her decision-making meeting on Monday. “For a start, bus lanes are meant to be for buses and we want to encourage more people to use buses. But as long as it doesn’t slow them down then that’s reasonably okay.” She said any future decision on making the temporary permission permanent was ‘entirely up to the drivers’. “The onus is on private hire drivers,” she said. “If safety is compromised, if casualties increase, if there are more complaints then that’s it – the trial fails.” Just under 1,000 PHVs are registered in the city compared to the 214 hackney cabs that can already use bus lanes. Previous attempts were made in 2011 and 2015 to allow them access but these were abandoned due to opposition from Hampshire Police, bus operators and cyclists. But a council report said a ‘closely-monitored’ trial would be acceptable. Only two community groups submitted objections to the trial, both on the grounds it would make travelling more dangerous for cyclists. The trial has been welcomed by councillor Scott Payter- Harris, who has long called for it, but he said a period of more than three months would be more effective. He said. “The PH trade has been pushing for this for a long time. I do think for a more complete dataset we realistically need to be looking at a minimum of six months so you can see drivers’ patterns and behaviours.” Work to set up the trial and monitor its progress will be over- seen by a new working group made up of bus, taxi, council and cycling representatives.
JANUARY 2022
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 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64 |
Page 65 |
Page 66 |
Page 67 |
Page 68 |
Page 69 |
Page 70 |
Page 71 |
Page 72 |
Page 73 |
Page 74 |
Page 75 |
Page 76 |
Page 77 |
Page 78 |
Page 79 |
Page 80
