COVID NEWS
EAST CAMBS AND CAMBS CABBIES RECEIVE FUNDING AND TRAINING IN FIGHT AGAINST COVID
Funding and video training about Covid-19 safety measures is available for cabbies in East Cambridgeshire thanks to a county-wide scheme. According to the Ely Standard, the scheme - which is a part- nership between East Cambs District Council and Cambridgeshire County Council - will explain necessary safety precautions including cleaning, cashless payment and the use of masks. It will also provide a subsidy for fitting a screen within their vehicle. The video includes guidance such as asking passengers if they have any Covid-19 symptoms before entering the vehi- cle, different points to sanitise their hands, maintaining social distancing and opening windows for ventilation. To help residents identify drivers who have undertaken the training and provided a screen in their vehicle, drivers will also be provided with a sticker to put on display. The council says the scheme will have a phased roll-out throughout the local district and city councils in Cam- bridgeshire and more information of each local authority’s launch of the safety scheme will be available on their websites. Recent data from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) has identified taxi and private hire drivers being in a higher risk occupation. Cllr David Ambrose Smith, chairman of the operational ser-
BURNLEY COUNCIL TO PAY FOR COVID SCREENS IN PHVS
Private hire vehicles in Burnley are to have new screens fitted to protect passengers and drivers from coronavirus. The borough’s taxis already have screens between the driver and passengers installed. The Lancashire Telegraph reports that Burnley Borough Council has secured funding, as part of its overall Covid-19 response to supporting local businesses, to pay for the work. The screens will be restricted to saloon and estate cars. Minibuses are not currently included but will be the subject of further review. The equipment is only available to PHVs currently licensed by the council. Cllr Afrasiab Anwar, Burnley Council’s environmental ser- vices boss, said: “Protective screens protect passengers but also drivers who are placing themselves at significant infection risk and have played a vital role in their continued efforts in providing a means of transport to the general public throughout the pandemic. “We’re working with private hire operators to encourage them to install this equipment, at no cost to themselves, as yet another measure to keep their vehicles Covid-secure.”
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vices committee for East Cambridgeshire District Council, said: “Partition screens are now widely used in areas where social distancing is still possible such as shops. Similar protection should therefore be provided in cars where maintaining a two-metre distance may not be possible. “I am glad to see this new safety scheme and I hope that drivers, taxi firms and passengers really do get behind it.” Dr Liz Robin, director of public health at Cambridgeshire County Council and Peterborough City Council, said: “Screens in cars add an additional layer to reduce the risk of transmission and the grant makes this more affordable. “Please do take part in this scheme, it will provide reassurance to passengers, it could save someone’s life and can help protect livelihoods too.”
PETERBOROUGH CABBIES MONITORED FOR NON-COMPLIANCE
Peterborough City Council’s licensing team has been forced to examine the practices of city cabbies after reports of some not wearing masks or self-isolating after positive Covid tests. Peterborough Matters reports that information gathered by the council also suggests that some vehicles are operating without the necessary cleaning products and some drivers are unaware of the need to wear face coverings. Throughout the current lockdown the council’s licensing team has continued to monitor how firms are operating in order to protect passengers and drivers. The team has recently worked alongside Cambridgeshire Police to carry out compliance checks with officers looking at the following details: • Drivers have the necessary cleaning materials in the vehicle to clean after each passenger • Checking that drivers are not supposed to be isolating • Checking that drivers are wearing face coverings - not legally required but operators have confirmed they are instructing their drivers to do so
Information from the compliance checks will be reviewed and the team will then consider whether to extend the operation or take any further action. Councillor Irene Walsh, cabinet member for communities, said: “We are committed to working with our partners to ensure safety regulations are being carried out in taxis and private hire details. “This operation is not about enforcement. Our key aim is to help operators, drivers and passengers to understand their roles in controlling the spread of the virus. The response to the compliance checks has been positive. We will review findings and then decide on next steps.”
MARCH 2021
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