BRACKNELL FOREST: DRIVERS UNHAPPY WITH NEW RULES
ROUND THE COUNCILS BATH:
PETITION FOR ACTION OVER OOT DRIVERS
When renewing or applying for a new licence, drivers must now have a certificate of good conduct from their relevant Embassies if: • An applicant has lived outside of the UK, Isle of Man, Channel Islands or Gibraltar for three months or more at ANY POINT from the age of 10
• This includes any licence holder who has lived or been on holiday in other countries for three months or more since their licence was granted Manoj, Chairman of the BF hackney association said: “This is absurd and ridiculous, some licensed drivers sought asylum at a young age and most have lived and worked in the UK for an average between 10 to 45 years with no criminal convictions. “They have permanent residence in the UK and are now required to supply this certificate. “Many Hackney drivers, belonging to ethnic minorities have raised concerns of potential discrimination with this policy and are worried about meeting renewal deadlines “Whilst we understand the importance of public safety and the need to do this for new applicants, applying the same rules to existing drivers, many of whom already hold an enhanced DBS certificate seems illogical and will create unnecessary financial burden and inevitable delays in obtaining these certificates. “We believe it’s crucial to understand the policy’s impact. We request Bracknell Forest Council (BFC) to conduct a survey to determine how many licensed drivers have been disqualified in the past 25 years due to similar requirements. “Furthermore, this policy will also discourage new drivers from joining the profession and could negatively impact passengers, particularly vulnerable demographics, by causing driver shortages and increased waiting times. As an alternative solution, we propose exploring options like: “Extending the timeframe for obtaining the certificate as well as considering alternative background checks from previous countries of residence that meet DBS equivalent standards.” David Lawrie, Director NPHTA said: “Yes I agree it is ridiculous. The guidance issued was for those drivers who have been out of the UK for three months or more within the last three years, not since a driver was a child.”
PHTM JULY 2024
Bath’s taxi drivers are calling on their local council to take action on out-of-area PHVs undermining their livelihoods. Drivers who have studied to pass the Bath knowledge test and paid the £582 cost of applying for a taxi licence from Bath & North East Somerset Council have warned that drivers licensed by other councils are taking the work in the city. One local taxi driver who has been working in Bath for six years said: “Our earnings have been massively affected with Covid and everything.” He added: “We can’t carry on if we are being completely saturated.” Over 200 people have signed a petition from the area’s local taxi drivers calling on the local authority to do what it can to put a stop to the practice. A statement from a group of Bath and North East Somerset-licensed taxi drivers said: “The influx of licensed taxis from Bristol, South Gloucestershire, North Somerset, Swindon, and Wolverhampton into Bath is severely undermining the livelihoods of local drivers. “These out-of-area taxis are saturating the market, making it increasingly difficult for Bath’s licensed drivers to secure fares and sustain their businesses. “Local drivers contribute significantly to the community by paying their licensing fees, which support local regulatory and infrastructure needs. “However, the presence of these external taxis, which do not contribute to Bath’s licensing revenue, creates an unfair competitive environment. “We urge the council to take immediate action to ban these out-of-area taxis from operating within Bath. By doing so, the council would not only be supporting local drivers but also ensuring that the fees paid by Bath’s licensed taxi operators are reinvested into the local economy,
ultimately benefiting the entire
community. “Protecting local drivers is essential for maintaining a fair and balanced marketplace, and we call on the council to enforce stricter regulations to preserve the integrity of Bath’s taxi industry. “Please support Bath’s private hire and hackney taxi industry by signing our online petition and asking for the support of your local councillor or MP.” You can view the petition here: :
https://www.change.org/p/ban-cross-border-hiring- in-all-bath-taxi-licensed-areas
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