32 PRIVATE HIRE AND TAXI MONTHLY DEREG DILEMMA
WEST LOTHIAN DRIVERS ‘COULD BE DRIVEN OUT OF BUSINESS’
It may be the end of the road for the taxi licence limit that operates across West Lothian. The Council Executive has agreed to de- restrict local taxi licence numbers. But a 12 month series of reviews will put the brakes on, before the decision takes effect. Robert De Bold, execu- tive councillor for the environment, told the Linlithglow Gazette: “We believe this is a fair and sensible move. “It will provide a level playing field for the taxi trade and it will offer better choice to the peo- ple of West Lothian.” He added: “It will allow greater control of the taxi trade, better enforcement measures and improved quality standards for drivers.”
There are currently 166 licences issued in West Lothian due to the poli- cy of restricting taxi numbers with 134 applicants on the wait- ing list. Consequently, there has been an increase in the number of private hire cars in the region in the past ten years, currently standing at 303.
Brian Arthur is the owner of Five Star Taxis, a private hire company based in Lin- lithgow Bridge. Brian said: “Anyone with a private hire licence should be able to apply for a full licence. “However, if they open it up to absolutely any- one, then they will flood the market, putting more businesses out of the game.
“In this economic cli- mate, there is no room for any more.”
Brian feels that the pro- portion of taxis to private hire cars is all wrong in West Lothian. he said: “In Falkirk there are 550 taxis and 50 private hire cars which is about the right proportion. “In West Lothian, there are 146 taxis and 300 private hire cars. It’s been like this for a long time.”
The 12 month review will include an assess- ment of the types of vehicles suitable for taxis and private hire cars, plus a look at conditions and fare structure, taxi ranks, enforcement measures and phasing arrange- ments for issuing additional taxi licences.
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MARCH 2009
LONDON CABBIES CALL FOR FREEZE ON NEW LICENCES
Struggling cabbies in Westminster are calling for a moratorium on new licences in the capital as the recession takes its toll on fares. Queues of empty black cabs can be seen snaking a quarter of a mile down Harrow Road from Paddington station, as drivers work more hours to make up fares lost as people cut back spending. Taxi drivers have reported a 30 per cent drop in customers since the onset of the recession and say they have to work twice as many hours to earn their usual wages. Now the Licensed Taxi
Drivers’ Association (LTDA) is calling for a ban on new licences for the first time in the 350- year history of black cabs, in response to the rapidly-falling num- bers of passengers. Paddington cabbie John Davis said he is working an extra two hours a day and still not taking the money he was six months ago. “At the moment it’s a lot slower than usual,” he told the St John’s Wood and Maida Vale Express.
He added that some- thing needed to be done to address the numbers of new cabs coming onto the roads.
“They definitely shouldn’t oversub- scribe as we can’t cope as it is,” he said. At the moment there is no limit on the number of black cab licences issued in London. Drivers just need to be of “sound mind” and to have passed the Knowledge.
A spokeswoman for TfL said they had no legal powers to restrict the numbers of licences. She said: “It takes an average of three years to pass the Knowledge so it would be hugely unfair to refuse a licence for someone who has dedicated so much time and money.”
COLCHESTER TAXI DRIVERS WANT A CURB ON NEW LICENCES
A taxi drivers’ group wants a cut in the num- ber of licences given out to new drivers. Alan Kirkham, chair- man of Tendring Taxi Drivers’ Association, claimed many people had lost their jobs and decided to get a licence from the council to become taxi drivers. He said Clacton was being flooded with cabs, leading to overcrowded streets and lean times for taxi drivers. “All the drivers are suffer- ing. They are not making the same amount of money,” he said.
According to figures provided by Tendring Council, during 2008 there were 46 new applications for
licences for taxi drivers, and an additional 40 cars were licensed. However, over the same period, 45 drivers withdrew or had their licences revoked and licences for 31 vehi- cles were surrendered. This means that overall, there was only one extra licensed driver and nine more cars reg- istered as taxis by the end of the year.
The association has now arranged a meet- ing with Tendring Council to discuss whether it is possible to set a limit on the num- ber of licences given out each year.
In the past, Mr Kirkham has accused the coun- cil of turning its back of
the needs of drivers. He said he was hopeful the association would turn a corner at its upcoming meeting with the council, where its proposals will be considered.
He said: “They are going to start working with us, not against us.”
Nigel Brown, Tendring Council’s communica- tions manager, told the Colchester Evening Gazette: “The council said it was more than happy to stage a meet- ing - to include the chairman of the licens- ing committee - and has been waiting for the association to come back with poten- tial dates.
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