NPHTA WORKING ON YOUR BEHALF
So we sent another letter to DEFRA asking them to ensure than the national database included national criteria and national exemptions in order to ensure a level playing field right across the country, making sure that standards were not excessively higher in one local authority than another - which in reality would simply be another reason for postcode licensing (getting licensed elsewhere to find more reasonable conditions and criteria).
We also asked that since the database is to be national, then could it be that if a vehicle was exempt from charges in one area, that exemption was added to the database, again, to make it at least fair across the board.
We also asked for “Euro6 or equivalent” to be the standard, which would then allow for aftermarket products to achieve the desired emissions reductions but at a more affordable price, especially now since the income levels have bottomed out to the tune of 80 per cent to 100 per cent reductions. Naturally we have had some responses, mainly from DEFRA, but are still awaiting feedback as a follow up to the extension to the introduction of CAZ’s.
We also wrote to all local authorities asking what their current procedures are for drivers: are they accepting self declared medical statements pending a medical examination? Are they waiving renewal fees? Are they still accepting new applications? Testing routines or exemptions? And many other things including; how they are processing applications, who is open, how many are working from home.
You’ll see some of the results of that survey in two major articles this month: one from the standpoint of individual licensed drivers, the other from operators/companies. And again, we thank each and every one of the participants in that survey for taking the time to respond.
TO FINISH OFF….
Whatever your approach is, stay safe, follow the government guidance, stay healthy, stay calm, and know we are here for you.
We WILL get through this, together. TOGETHER WE ARE STRONGER!
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0161 280 2800
www.nphta.co.uk
38
The following letter was sent to the Secretary of State for Transport, Grant Shapps MP, by NPHTA Board member Lee Ward, highlighting an aspect very few others have done in respect of the current Covid-19 situation: the implications of cross- border work – or more specifically, remote working well outside the licence holder’s own district. He is anticipating a reply on this issue imminently.
“To the Rt Hon Grant Shapps MP Secretary of State for Transport
I wish to highlight a matter of great urgency within the taxi and private hire trade during the Covid-19 pandemic.
You are more than aware of how the TPH trade is allowed to work under the current situation, and I am in no doubt that you are also aware of the matter of cross border hiring as the cross party group discussed in regard to this matter.
However, would you class essential travel by drivers licensed in one area and working completely in another?
As an example, I wish to use my local area of Sheffield which is currently the second highest in the table for infections per 100,000 people yet we have many drivers licensed in Rotherham who are working in Sheffield, which according to WHO can quite easily spread the infection into their own town causing an unnecessary increased spread of this disease.
Surely now is the time to place an emergency condition on all licensed operators to only give bookings to drivers who are physically located in the area that they are working to not only help to prevent the spread but to contain it in areas with a higher infection rate?
After all, it is the licensed operator who is physically bound by the geographical location of the business that is licensed by the authority and therefore justified that the business can only complete journey requests by the citizens of that authority. With the current element of essential travel and recent news from police authorities that have fined or turned back vehicles from other areas, local travel would be more suited to essential travel than a member of the public wishing to cross borders.
Already we have seen drivers who have passed from contracting this virus, yet we do not know how many they infected before identifying they had symptoms. This cannot continue for the sake of drivers or the public.
I call on you to take urgent action on this matter to assist in the slowing of this deadly disease and issue the emergency guidance and/or instruction to all licensing authorities in the UK.
Yours faithfully Lee Ward – ALPHA Private Hire, Sheffield”
MAY 2020
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