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ABERDEEN IMPOSES LIMIT ON NUMBER OF LICENCES


Aberdeen City Council will impose a limit on the number of taxi licences in the city and aims to have a fully wheelchair accessible fleet within five years. At a meeting of the Licensing Committee on 6 June, it was decided that a limit would be imposed on the current number of taxi licences in the city. The


decision to


impose a limit follows the publication of a Taxi Demand Survey, which followed a request from the city’s taxi trade to impose a limit on the number of taxi licences. The survey, which was independently con- ducted by Napier University’s Transport Research Group (TRI) in October last year,


stated that there was no significant unmet demand and recom- mended the impos- ition of a limit on taxi licences in the city. The Committee also reaffirmed its commit- ment to the Equality Act 2010 by amending the existing WAV policy to require all


taxi


licence holders to pro- vide a compliant vehicle by 6 June 2017. Currently 44 per cent of the existing taxi fleet are WAVs. The Committee also instructed officers to report back on regular future reviews to assess the cap on taxi licences and whether it needs to be maintained. Convener of the Licens- ing Committee Cllr Marie Boulton said: “This is a hugely impor-


tant commitment for the city and its taxi fleet. “The Civic Government (Scotland) Act 1982 and the Equality Act 2010 legislation exist and we must be guid- ed by them. I would like to assure the taxi trade that this Commit- tee has not taken this decision lightly and has ensured there has been a huge amount of discussion and consul- tation with all


the


parties involved about the best way forward. “This decision is a move in the right direction and reaffirms our commitment


to


having a 100 per cent WAV fleet. I would urge the taxi trade to work with us to make sure we provide the best possible service for the city.”


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AYLESBURY TAXI LIMIT LIFT WOULD HIT HIGH STANDARDS, REPORT WARNS


Aylesbury has no need for more taxis in the town centre, a new report has ruled. At the moment, just 50 hackney carriages are licensed in Aylesbury town - and officials have been urged to keep the number static to avoid over-supply. According to the Bucks Herald, a report prepared by Aylesbury Vale District Council’s licensing boss Peter Seal said the number has been limited since 2008, and called for this to continue. He wrote:


“Since


members last dis- cussed the council’s taxi limitation policy, the economic situation


has not improved, and in fact there has been a significant number of shop closures within the town centre of Aylesbury. “Meetings with the Aylesbury Hackney Carriage Association and observations of taxi ranks reveal that there continues to be no unmet demand, particularly during the week and daytime.” It said demand peaks for a ‘few hours’ on Saturday night, and continues: “Retaining the current limit and the zone of the town of Aylesbury, at


least


until the town begins to grow once again, will maintain the rela-


tively high standards provided by the hack- ney


carriages in


Aylesbury.” The council said it has met with the Hackney Carriage Association, and kept a close eye on the town’s taxi ranks. Mmmm… According to the Swoop article about Aylesbury in last month’s issue,


and


the


standard of Aylesbury licensed vehicles is already under ques- tion,


three


vehicles were taken off the road during the lat- est exercise. Brace yourselves for total dereg countrywide, if the Law Commission proposals are go through… Ed.


NEWCASTLE CABBIES GEAR UP FOR FIGHT OVER TAXI LIMIT


Newcastle under Lyme cabbies are urging the council to maintain its limit on the number of taxis allowed in the town centre after claims any increase will further damage trade. Newcastle Borough Council is carrying out a consultation ahead of proposals to scrap its current cap on hack- ney carriages. The authority is considering the changes after a sur- vey revealed significant unmet demand for taxis between 2am and 3am. But drivers say day- time


trade has


slumped and no more licences should be handed out. Chairman of Newcas- tle Hackney Carriage Association


just sitting around; most drivers are rely- ing on repeat business from regulars.” The borough council currently caps the number of hackney carriages allowed to operate in the area at 51. It also has a wait- ing list of 41 people who have asked to be issued with a hackney licence. Nearby


authorities Carl


Phillips told This is Staffordshire: “There may be a shortfall of cars between 2am and 3am but every other town and city has the same problem. We are in a recession and Newcastle town centre is no exception. “With a lot of empty shops we have taxis


including Stoke-on- Trent City Council and Staffordshire Moor- lands District Council do not have any limit. The nearest area to maintain a cap on hackney carriage driv- ers is Congleton. Mr Phillips, aged 57, of Lightwood, who has been a taxi driver in the borough for the past nine


years,


added: “This is a small market town. We don’t have an airport or a railway station and to consider putting more cars on is wrong. “Every three years we have to fight off these plans. There is no need to take away the


limit; you only have to walk around the town to see taxis sitting waiting.” In December 2009, the borough council car- ried out a survey costing £20,779 to investigate whether a limit was needed. The conclusions of


the


report revealed there was no significant unmet demand within the area. The recent community safety team survey, which was carried out over a month, claims during peak times more than 40 people were spotted waiting for a taxi. Andrew Davies, aged 54, of Wolstanton, who has been a taxi driver in the borough for the past 12 years, said: “I don’t see why a town like Newcastle needs any more taxis. At times you can be waiting around for 30 minutes for a job. On a Friday and Saturday it might go really busy for about an hour but the rest of the time you just have cars waiting around.”


PHTM JULY 2012


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