ROUND THE COUNCILS PLYMOUTH:
TAXI DRIVERS QUIT DUE TO NEW POLICY
Plymouth cabbies have warned the council that a shortage of drivers is likely to worsen causing problems for hospitality businesses and women’s safety. In a strongly-worded letter to councillors the Plymouth Licensed Taxi Association (PLTA) said an increasing number of hackney drivers are being forced into retirement and accused the authority of being more interested in turning the colour of cabs from black to green and white. Martin Leaves, secretary of the PLTA, said he had requested a meeting with councillors from all parties but was “disappointed with the lack of response”. He said: “The only reply came from the independent group, saying they will look to meet us in the near future.” Mr Leaves, a former Tory councillor and an honorary alderman, said he was “very disappointed with the way taxis are being ignored” by the administration. He called on voters and business owners to support moves to scrap the taxi policy brought in last year, and make it an issue in forthcoming elections. Cabbies have been unhappy for nearly a year now since Plymouth City Council approved the Hackney Carriage and Private Hire Licensing Policy 2022 which removed the limit on hackney cab numbers and insisted the famous black cabs were coloured green and white by 2027 - something Mr Leaves said will cost drivers money. His latest letter to councillors complains that drivers are struggling to make ends meet and are therefore leaving the trade or having to work very long hours. He said the shortage of cabbies is having a negative impact on the city’s hospitality industry, with people staying at home rather than facing a long wait for a ride home. And he said it is also doing nothing to make women feel safer at night. In his letter to councillors Mr Leaves wrote: “Here we are in a cost of living crisis, taxi drivers are being pushed into retirement due to the taxi policy, forcing taxi drivers out of pocket. “The recent taxi policy which got implemented last May, has seen no new taxis brought into service, drivers are still walking away with no new blood coming into the trade. Over Christmas I lost count on how many people said they won’t go out much as it’s too much hassle getting home, due to lack of taxis, which is all caused by the city council’s taxi policy. “Putting people off going out can be very damaging
PHTM MARCH 2023
to our night time economy, hitting publicans and our hospitality businesses, putting more jobs at risk. “We have vulnerable women struggling to get home safely and all this council seems to care about is having a taxi livery that’s not easy to get, nor is it cheap to do. But, really, is it more important to have green and white taxis than to have no taxis at all?” Mr Leaves said that as a former councillor he understood the financial pressures facing the authority but stressed enforcement is still needed to tackle “illegal” parking on taxi ranks. He said: “While parking charges are being increased there is little action to tackle the motorists who avoid paying parking fees, especially after 9pm where people park illegally and do not get a parking ticket.” He wrote: “I share the anger of many customers who struggle to get a taxi. Please get behind us and lobby your councillors from now until the elections. “I call on the hospitality and publicans to get behind the taxi trade which is being brought to its knees, we need this taxi killing policy to be stopped.”
PETERBOROUGH: CHANGES IN AGE LIMITS FOR VEHICLES
Vehicles with tail lifts can be used as taxis or PHVs in Peterborough for an extra two years after Peterborough City Council (PCC) voted to increase the upper age limit from 10 to 12 years. The decision affects PHVs with a platform at the back designed to lift people or cargo up from ground level, such as minivans fitted out to accommodate people in wheelchairs. It will only affect a small number of vehicles: less than three per cent of all licensed taxis and PHVs in Peterborough, the council says. The changes came into effect on 10 February and also include an amendment increasing the age PHVs can be licensed for the first time from four years to eight. PCC licensing manager, Gareth Brighton, explained the council wants to make the changes so businesses don’t have to replace older cars amid so many other financial pressures. These include companies contracted by the council to take eligible children, such as those with disabilities, to and from school. By the time the vehicles due to come out of circulation hit the new 12 year limit, it's “anticipated that the rate of inflation will have eased and businesses will be in a healthier position to invest in replacement vehicles” a report presented by Mr Brighton says.
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