“THANK YOU” TO COUNCILS
WELL DONE BRADFORD CITY COUNCIL FOR FUNDING SAFETY SCREENS FOR DRIVERS
Taxi drivers and their passengers in the Bradford district will be able to travel in confidence thanks to newsafety equip- ment
Licencing Service will contact the taxi operators
to funded by
Bradford Council. The council is to provide the funds for taxi drivers to set up clear flexible screens for use in each vehicle aswell as ten facemasks and two bottles of sanitising gel per vehicle in an initia- tive which will cost £233,000. The equipment will be available from a private contractor. Bradford Council’s
arrange collection of the hand sanitis- ers, facemasks and how best to order and supply screens for their vehicles. While hackney car- riages are legally classed as public transport, private hire vehicles are not but Bradford Coun- cil strongly recom- mends that all pas- sengers
in all
vehicles wear face masks. The PVC screens, which should be wiped clean bet- ween each journey,
are installed using a simple strap and slide buckle system that attaches to either the handles above the doors or the door columns. They can provide up to 90 per cent cov- erage of the space between the driver and rear seat pas- senger. Drivers fitt- ing them will need to reassure them- selves
that screens the comply
with the conditions set by their insur- ance provider. Cllr Susan Hinch- cliffe, Leader of Bradford Council, said, “Bradford taxi
drivers provide a brilliant service for the people of Brad- ford district and beyond. “In spite of these challenging times they have continued to deliver a first class service and we want to thank them for
that. What’s
important now, as the economy starts to open up and more people start to use taxis, is that we want to make sure the public and drivers alike are safe which is why we are providing this pro- tection for them at no cost to them-
WATFORD COUNCIL LAUNCHES CONFIDENCE MARK AND SCREEN GRANT TO SUPPORT TRADE
Watford Borough Council has devel- oped a confidence mark as a sign that the taxi/PHV driver has gained safety accreditation
by
completing a tai- lored programme of support designed to get the trade back to work after lock- down. To qualify for the confidence mark, all Watford-based li- cence holders re- ceive specialist in- fection control and risk
training and,
assessment for
those who meet the strict standards re- quired, the council is making a grant available forthe installation of a pas- senger safety screen. Once drivers have successfully com-
30
Shafiq Ahmed, Chair of
are really
Hackney Carriage Association “We
the Watford said
pleted the pro- gramme, they will be awarded the mark to display in their vehicles as a clear sign to cus- tomers they can use the taxi or PHV with confidence. Elected Mayor of Watford, Peter Tay- lor said “The council wants to make sure local people can feel confident when tak- ing a taxi and
minicab that as much as possible has been done by the driver to keep them safe and reduce the spread of the virus. “Our programme gives the drivers the information
pleased to be work- ing with the council on helping Wat- ford’s drivers get back to work. The programme of train- ing and the grant are a real boost after what has been a very difficult time for the trade. “We want to be a key part of provid- ing the
safest and
guidance they need and our grant offers them practical sup- port
to make
vehicles safer by installing screens.”
transport services in the town and I am very proud of the partnership work that has put togeth- er this packageof support.” The
first fully
accredited vehicles will be on the ranks inWatford shortly.
selves. “Council staff have worked hard to source
suitable
screens and the first supplies are coming in a week’s time. “All taxi operators are being written to and asked to con- firm the number of screens they will require for
their
drivers.We will then work to fulfil those orders as quickly as possible along with the hand sanitiser and the facemasks.” Cllr Sarah Ferriby, Bradford Council’s Executive Member for Healthy People and Places, said:
“We are trying to make sure that peo- ple in the district can get back to their normal lives without having to run increased risks to their health. “Private hire drivers provide an essential service for the peo- ple of this district and they deserve as much protection as other workers in public transport. “By helping to keep the drivers safe we are also helping to keep the public safe at the same time which is an absolute priority for council.”
the
TAXI DRIVERS GIVEN PPE BY STAFFS COUNCIL
Staffordshire Coun- ty Council
is
spending £90,000 on equipment to help support small- er firms that are now reopening but cannot maintain social distancing due to constraints of their trade. Taxi drivers will be amongst
these
small firms in Bur- ton and Uttoxeter that will receive the emergency
PPE
packs. The council is put- ting together packs which
contain
gloves and masks, for businesses such as taxi drivers who come into close contact with mem- bers of the public. It will goto firms that have no more than nine employees.
Mark Winnington, the council’s cabinet member for eco- nomic growth, told councillors about the latest scheme at a cabinet meeting on 17 June. The announcement came as ruling cabi- net members con- sidered a strategy to help the county’s economy recover and grow in the wake of the coron- avirus pandemic. Council leader Philip Atkins said: “Kick- starting our econ- omy,
supporting
employers and ins- piring new enter- prise will be a cornerstone of our recovery activity. “We are still ambi- tious for Stafford- shire’s growth, re- covery and renewal.”
JULY 2020
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