CHELTENHAM: CABBIES’ FEARS DUE TO WAV PLANS
ROUND THE COUNCILS GLOUCESTER:
PLANS TO INCREASE FARES BY 6.5%
Council leaders in Cheltenham say they will talk with taxi drivers who fear plans to make all hackney carriages wheelchair accessible will put them out of business. GloucestershireLive reports that cabbies have been calling on Cheltenham Borough Council to delay its planned changes to licensed taxis for two years. The council agreed in 2018 that all local hackney carriages would have to be wheelchair accessible from January 2022. But cabbies say these changes threaten to put some of them out of business as it costs between £22,000 and £35,000 to buy a wheelchair accessible car. They also say the pandemic has hindered their opportunity to save up the money needed for the upgrades. A petition by signed by 793 people calling on the council to delay the implementation of the new policy until 2024 was presented to the council. However, councillors unanimously backed a recommendation to continue with implementing the new policy on 21 June. Taxi driver Ilesh Mugatlal said the trade has really been struggling during the pandemic and a delay to the new pol- icy would really help them. “A lot of drivers managed to buy second hand WAVs and are going to carry on with the trade,” he said. “But it’s a tough time for us. We thought the council could be more understanding and take into account the times we’ve just been through. The pandemic is still there and our trade is being affected by it.
Mr Mugatlal, who is mainly based at Cheltenham Railway Station, said the situation has improved slightly as lockdown restrictions have eased. But trade is still down compared to before the pandemic. He added: “It’s not even half of that at the moment. It’s very worrying.” Cllr Horwood said he understood the taxi drivers have had a very difficult time since they considered the policy in 2018. He says he is willing to have genuine discussions with them over the planned changes. “I understand with no night time economy, no trade from Cheltenham Festival and no shoppers for much of this time they have had a torrid time of it,” he said. “The starting point for this debate is the fact that only 66 out of 200 hackney cabs are currently wheelchair accessible. “That compares with all 19,000 London cabs, every cab in Birmingham and the West Midlands, every cab in Reading and almost every cab in Bristol. “I’m new to this portfolio and I’m absolutely genuine with my offer to engage both with the accessibility forum, disabled people in Cheltenham and members of the taxi trade. “I want to look at this policy in detail and also think ahead to the inevitable replacement in the future of these vehicles with electric or other low carbon vehicles.”
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Taxi fares in Gloucester are set to rise above inflation. Gloucester City Council licensing chiefs will consider plans to raise tariffs by around 6.5 per cent - or as much as 69p. The last increase was in December 2017. According to GloucesterLive, the main reason that cabbies are asking for the increase is due to rising costs such as replacement parts for their vehicles and insurance. If the increase is approved, the running mile rate will go up from £1.98 to £2.10 and the cost of one-mile and two-mile journeys will go up to £4.55 and £6.62 from £3.95 and £5.93 respectively. The soiling charge is also to increase from £65 to £75. The city council says the increase in charges will make them the second lowest within the county in terms of the running mile cost and third highest when it comes to one-mile and two-mile journeys. The licensing and enforcement committee will consider the changes on June 15.
WYCHAVON: CHANGES TO TAXI LICENSING PROPOSED
Wychavon is consulting on changes to its Hackney Carriage and Private Hire Licensing Policy following new DfT guid- ance, reports the Evesham Observer. This has led to several proposed changes including: • All new applicants for a taxi or private hire licence will have to take safeguarding training
• All licence holders will have to be registered with the DBS • Anyone refused a licence on the grounds they may cause harm to a child or adult will be referred to the DBS and police informed
• All drivers will have to demonstrate a basic proficiency in the English language, both written and verbal
• All new applicants will have to meet the requirements of the Worcestershire Taxi and Private Hire Competency Certificate
• Taxi and PHV operators will have to keep a register of staff Views are being sought from taxi and PHV drivers and oper- ators, as well as the public who use their service. Cllr Emma Stokes, responsible for licensing on Wychavon District Council, said: “These proposed changes are in line with new government guidance to give people reassurance that public safety is our top priority when issuing licences.” People can have their say using the online feedback form at:
www.wychavon.gov.uk/consultations The consultation runs until Friday September 3.
JULY 2021
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