ROUND THE COUNCILS HYNBURN:
LIMITED LIFTED ON WAV TAXIS
The borough of Hynburn is set to get more taxis to ensure later-night revellers are safe. The Lancashire Telegraph reports that on Wednesday 9 February, Hyndburn Borough Council’s cabinet approved ending the current limit on hackney carriages in its area. And it is will now insist that all new hackneys are fully usable by the disabled and those in wheelchairs. A report to the senior councillors said: “The council currently has a policy of restricting the number of hackney carriage licences issued. The limit in Hyndburn is currently 59 and all plates are issued. “A four-week consultation has just taken place after several complaints were received from members of the public who had struggled to book a taxi to take them home after a night out in the borough. “The complainants were stating that the situation is so bad that they preferred to stay at home rather than risk being stranded and having to walk home late at night or in the early hours of the morning. “The consultation has clearly set out that there is significant unmet demand for hackney carriages in Hyndburn.”
BRISTOL: POLICE CRACKDOWN ON ILLEGAL TAXIS & PHVs
A major crackdown on illegal taxis and PHVs in Bristol saw one driver’s licence suspended. The Bristol Post reports that neighbourhood officers joined forces with a Taxi Compliance PC to carry out checks on 14 vehicles in just one afternoon on Tuesday, January 18 in the city centre area. One vehicle was found being driven by a person without a taxi licence, resulting in the vehicle licence being immediately suspended. Enquiries are continuing to deal with the related offences. Another driver was issued with penalty points for failing to display their taxi licence plates. Several drivers were given warnings for minor issues and reports have been sent to the licensing authority. Speaking as part of the operation, Taxi Compilance PC Patrick Quinton said: “Our check on licensed vehicles helps ensure that taking a hackney carriage or booking a private hire vehicle is a safe option for people who rely on taxis. “As well as carrying out this type of operation to check on the vehicles’ roadworthiness, we work closely with drivers and the licensing authorities to make sure people can be confident about stepping into their vehicle.” PC Quinton also works to support drivers if they are themselves victims of crime or anti-social behaviour.
MARCH 2022
BRIGHTON AND HOVE: CASHLESS PAYMENTS ON CARDS FOR CABBIES
Taxi drivers will be required to accept “cashless” payments from passengers after councillors voted through a rule change at the Licensing Committee meeting on 17 February. Brighton and Hove News reports that the new rule would reflect the increasing use of card readers by cabbies and will come into force on Sunday 1 May. It is not the first time that Brighton and Hove City Council has considered forcing cabbies to accept card payments as a condition of their licence. But as more people use cards or phones to pay for goods and services, some in the taxi trade have spoken out about passengers being turned away because they didn’t have cash. The Brighton and Hove Cab Trade Association asked the council to consult the trade again about the rules governing payments. And the results reflected the association’s own poll of members, with the majority backing the change, according to a report to the council’s Licensing Committee. The report said: “It has been reported to officers that it is common for passengers to be turned away from ranks for wishing to pay by card and having to try several vehicles before being able to find a driver willing to take a card payment. This could be seen as a public safety issue espe- cially for vulnerable passengers unable to obtain a taxi ride home and putting them at risk especially at night. “It is also alleged that refusing a payment card is a way to ‘cherry pick’ by refusing short journeys. Covid-19 has accel- erated the use of card payments during the pandemic as a protection measure against the disease and even fewer passengers now carry cash since this matter was last con- sidered by members. “This does not appear to be an issue with private hire drivers who use payment apps or are linked to operators that can take card payments.” Some taxi drivers objected to being forced to take payments by card or phone, especially because some parts of the area have poor or non-existent phone and wifi coverage. Some said that the proposed change would mean that the taxi trade was being treated differently to other businesses that accept only cash – and that they should be free to choose. Other objections included the cost of the transactions, with drivers worried about having to pay hundreds of pounds a year in charges. Another driver said that card payments could take three days to reach their bank account while costs such as fuel – like cash – were immediate. The Brighton and Hove Cab Trade Association conducted an online poll of drivers and said: “Of the 70 drivers who took part, 53 voted in support of compulsory card payments being a condition of licensing and 12 voted against this.” The council’s consultation with the trade received 23 responses in favour of the change and nine against.
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