..PROTEST
PLIGHT..PROTEST PLIGHT
geography of the area means the taxis will be drawn into the town centres to the already inadequate ranks significantly reducing the service levels in the suburbs and increasing congestion and air pollution in the town centres. We entered the negotiations in good faith and invited the committee to be taken out to experience our working condi- tions and visit the main companies to see the professional way they are run. These opportunities were lost because of Covid-19. During the limited discussion early last year, higher standards of operating across the BCP area were agreed. We expected the outcome of the expert consultant employed by BCP to be accepted by them, having spent a considerable amount money on this survey. The unmet needs survey concluded that there was no unmet need for taxis in this area. This, combined with the knowledge and experience of the trade, would provide a non-contentious solution for all, moving forward. Unfortunately, both the survey and the expertise of the trade has been ignored, leading not only to anger and frustration but serious financial hardship for many owners. The council tell us they are following Government guidelines for deregulation, whilst choosing to ignore the government’s other guidelines including the drive for a greener future by not promoting electric vehicles. They have not given any other help to the taxi drivers as can be seen in the named and shamed list in last month's edition. The taxi trade has continued to work throughout this global crisis supporting local people and communities but have been stabbed in the back by our local council. Shame on them.
NPHTA member: Peter Vass - United Taxis
On Tuesday 23 February 2021, BCP Full Council ratified the above policy passed by BCP Licencing on 4th February 2021. Paul Sondheim (Bournemouth Station Taxi Association) author of a petition signed by over 200 taxi drivers and co-responder Peter Vass (United Taxis) sent various emails to all BCP councillors and spent many hours phoning all councillors before the meeting. The main points in the petition were: 1. The colour white for all three boroughs, when Bournemouth and Christchurch are already colour coded
2. An extra 15 licences (WAVs only) per year in Bournemouth and Poole with no restriction in Christchurch
3. Deregulation by 2025 for all three boroughs, when Bournemouth and Poole are regulated already
The main question we ask is: As Nananka Randall (Manager of BCP Licencing) has many times been questioned about illegal Facebook lifts and out of BCP area Ubers being ranked up in Bournemouth, her answer has always been, there is no money for enforcement. We therefore ask where is the money for enforcement and policing going to come from? It probably is not. So as taxi drivers we might as well sell our taxis, if we can, and join the Illegal Facebook lifts. (For info: one Facebook lift group in the BCP area has 7,500 clients)
MARCH 2021
NPHTA member: Paul Sondheim - Treasurer, Bournemouth Station Taxi Association
I am disgusted at the Councillors’ lack of understanding and knowledge of the taxi trade - including the Licencing Board. For example, the Licencing Board has compared every individual taxi driver to a branch of Tesco which is an international company. Some of the information given by Judy Butt was incorrect such as a taxi business costing £70k in Bournemouth. I am also disgusted by the way taxi drivers have been treated especially during the Covid-19 pandemic where we have been earning little or no money.
David Lane - Treasurer, Poole Taxi Association
Consultation on the policies were initially going to be conducted at joint workshops but with the onset of Covid these became separate online workshops for the trade and councillors. The results of the unmet demand survey were not discussed with the trade at any of their workshops. At the Licensing Committee meeting held to consider these policies before public consultation, the members were pre- sented with various options and chose to pursue deregulation. To say I was amazed, with the Licensing Manager’s statement that the number of 15 new plates to be issued in both Bournemouth and Poole Zones for the next five years was merely arbitrary and not evidence based and was not picked up by any of the councillors, would be a monumental under- statement. However this was surpassed last night when a reason as to why more WAVs were required was ‘the incidence of obese individuals in the population’. Another surprising statement was that Counsel’s advice apparently included the phrase “a way around this” Our future was so important that two councillors moved a point of order so as to curtail debate and put the policies to the vote! One success we did have was to achieve a standard maximum vehicle age of 15 years (instead of the initially proposed ten years for vehicles, except for WAVs, which could continue until they were 15). However this is expensively offset by the decision not to renew any vehicle licence after 31 December 2023 unless the vehicle complies with Euro 6 standards. This means that a vehicle as young as 8.5 years would have to be replaced. At the moment vehicles under five years old are able to receive a first licence within the Poole Zone so it is likely that many owners will still have outstanding finance on their existing vehicle and find it impossible to afford to change vehicles. A compromise suggestion we put forward to future proof vehicle age and environmental issues, by saying that the maximum age of 15 should remain, but subject to it conform- ing to the latest standards (Euro 6, Hybrid or EV etc.) from ten years after they become mandatory, has been ignored. The moves towards deregulation, a completely Euro 6 com- pliant fleet (both HC and PHV) by 2024 and the complete lack of support throughout the pandemic will only have one effect on many owners and drivers throughout the BCP area.
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