ROUND THE COUNCILS EAST SUSSEX:
SUICIDE PREVENTION TRAINING TO BE TAUGHT
Free ‘life-saving’ suicide intervention and prevention training is being offered to taxi drivers in Eastbourne and Seaford. According to Sussex Express, the Taxi Watch programme, operated by the suicide prevention and awareness charity Talk To Tom, teaches drivers how to spot the signs of a per- son suffering through a suicide crisis, how to react and how to get the person to safety. East Sussex County Council (ESCC) said it is one of the first local authorities in the country to offer drivers this training – which is based on the charity’s QPR (Question, Persuade, Refer) programme. The training has been commissioned as part of the council’s broader suicide prevention strategy and has been supported by Eastbourne Borough Council and Lewes District Council. Taxi Watch was originally founded by Irish driver Derek Devoy, who developed the initiative after encountering two suicidal individuals in one night. Representatives from the councils involved were recently joined by Mr Devoy and drivers from Eastbourne taxi firms, as well as a representative from Unite Union covering the Lewes district, to mark the launch of the programme. Eastbourne firms 720 Taxis and Sussex Cars will be support- ing their drivers to take part in the training courses. Councillor Carl Maynard, lead member for adult social care and health, said: “Taxi Watch is a fantastic initiative that can help save lives and I am delighted we are offering this training to taxi drivers in Eastbourne and Seaford. “The course will equip taxi operators with the skills needed to identify a mental health emergency, giving them the tools they need to help save a life. “I urge drivers who operate in Eastbourne and Seaford to sign up for the free training courses taking place.” Mr Devoy said: “Without question, this will save lives in East Sussex, just as it’s already saved hundreds of lives in Ireland.” Taxi Watch, which was founded in 2014, became a Talk To Tom initiative in 2020. Ray Cullen, CEO of Talk To Tom, said, “We are delighted to be bringing this award-winning and life-saving programme to the people of East Sussex. It will have a massive impact on the local community and put an extra layer of safety in place for those who may be struggling with their mental health. “The key is early recognition and early access. This is why Taxi Watch is so important. In a suicide crisis, there will always be subtle signs that a person is in distress, so it’s vital for drivers to learn the skills necessary to spot these signs. “Coupled with the fact that drivers are often on the roads during the early hours, they’re in a unique position to be an extra safety net for people struggling.” Taxi drivers who would like to find out more or sign up for the training are asked to email Alex Hagger at
public.health@
eastsussex.gov.uk.
JUNE 2022
SOUTH KESTEVEN: VEHICLE AGE LIMITS TO BE RECONSIDERED
Taxi drivers have warned that council requirements for newer vehicles are doubling costs and risk crippling local firms. According to the Stamford Mercury, vehicles in South Kesteven are required to be less than five years old when they are first registered as taxis in a bid to clean up the air. The district council is urgently looking into relaxing the rules to protect drivers and firms. Tim Harrison was one of the taxi operators who spoke out against the toll that the stringent exhaust pollution control limits were taking. “The trade has just been through the worst two years in the 30 plus years I’ve been involved with it,” he told the Environ- ment Scrutiny Committee on behalf of several local firms on Tuesday 10 May. “Then enforcing an edict that doubled the purchase cost of your tool of trade was tantamount to a coup. “Being forced to buy a car two years newer than previously led to a 100% cost increase. “Coupled with increased fuel, licensing and running costs, it’s easy to see why the local taxi trade is in the state it’s currently in. “[The requirement] will take money from the town. Instead of people coming in, they will spend their money in other areas. “Did you consider the unfair pressure on trade in South Kesteven compared to other parts of Lincolnshire? “Operators such as myself that hire vehicles out to other drivers will have their expenses rise exponentially.” Driver Neil Dumbleton also told the committee that it felt like the industry was being “punished” because Grantham town centre was an air quality control area. The requirement for taxis to be less than five years old was introduced in April 2021. However, it may be rolled back now that the financial impact on the industry has been seen, with drivers only required to have vehicles less than seven years old. Cllr Ashley Baxter recommended that cabinet address the issue urgently. “Five-year-old vehicles are much more expensive than seven-year-old ones,” he said. “This is an unnecessary extra burden on the taxi industry, which is suffering anyway with fuel prices increasing and a shortage of drivers. It’s sad for both the industry and people who frequently use them.” Cllr Phil Dilks seconded the recommendation, saying: “Seven year first registrations seem reasonable given the economic situation we find ourselves in and the need not to damage the industry.” The matter will now go to South Kesteven’s cabinet for discussion.
41
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 |
Page 81 |
Page 82 |
Page 83 |
Page 84 |
Page 85 |
Page 86 |
Page 87 |
Page 88 |
Page 89 |
Page 90
