ROUND THE COUNCILS
EAST RENFREWSHIRE: WAV RESTRICTIONS DROPPED
East Renfrewshire Council has relaxed regulations governing wheelchair-accessible vehicles (WAVs) in response to a significant decline in their availability. Previously, all new applicants for taxi and private hire vehicle licences required the vehicles to be wheelchair accessible. However, this requirement was temporarily relaxed in 2021 due to the Covid pandemic’s impact on the taxi industry but there has been a “significant” drop- off in numbers. While the council had initially proposed reinstating the WAV requirement for new applicants, concerns raised by the taxi trade and a disability support group led to a change in approach. At a meeting last month, the licensing committee decided to remove the age limits for WAVs, which had been seven years old or below when first licensed and couldn’t be licensed once older than 12 years, and instead subject them to annual inspections. The committee also recommended to the council’s cabinet that no licence fee should be charged for new or renewal applications. Ultimately councillors chose not to make all new applicants have WAVs. The council’s decision comes amid a dramatic drop in the number of WAVs available in East Renfrew- shire. A report revealed that there were only four WAVs remaining, dropping from 40, primarily due to lapsed licences and drivers opting for non-WAV vehicles when renewing their licences. Taxi drivers expressed concerns about the high cost of purchasing WAVs, which can exceed £70,000. They argued that removing the licence fee and age limits would provide some relief but would not be sufficient to encourage more drivers to invest in these vehicles. Disability rights groups also highlighted the challenges faced by individuals with disabilities in obtaining WAVs, particularly during peak times like the school run. The changes agreed by the committee have been adopted for an initial trial period of 18 months. A survey will now be commissioned to gather evidence on “demand and usage of WAVs”.
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WINDSOR & MAIDENHEAD: VEHICLE COLOUR CHOICE VICTORY
Licensed taxi drivers in the Royal Borough of Windsor & Maidenhead have secured a significant victory, gaining the freedom to choose the colour of their vehicles. Royal Borough licensing officers had recommended that hackney carriages must be white in a proposed update to their current colour scheme. Currently licensed taxis in the borough must all be white with purple bonnets and boots. But at a licensing panel meeting on 14 October, councillors unanimously approved a proposal to scrap the current white and purple colour scheme for hackney carriages. The decision came after a plea from drivers who argued that the current livery was burdensome in terms of cost and restrictions. Speaking on behalf of drivers, Mr Sabir told councillors the issue ‘really means a lot to them’. He said allowing any colour ‘significantly reduces the cost of buying a vehicle’. Another driver, Mr Yasin, said that the restriction allows car dealerships to hike up the price of white cars, knowing they are in demand from taxi drivers. While the council’s coat of arms will still be featured on the back doors, drivers will now have the flexibility to select any colour they prefer. In February, the panel agreed to make changes to the look of the current livery to ‘ease the burden on drivers’ in relation to aspects such as the costs of having to make changes to their vehicles. Councillors considered several options, including requiring all vehicles to be white, silver, or grey, but ultimately opted for a more driver-friendly approach. Taxi drivers expressed relief at the decision, stating that it would alleviate financial pressures and provide them with greater flexibility in acquiring vehicles. Councillors, while acknowledging the importance of safety for residents, recognised the potential negative impact of the previous colour restrictions on drivers’ livelihoods. The new changes will take effect on January 31, 2025, applying to all new taxi vehicles. Existing vehicles will have the option to adopt the new livery.
NOVEMBER 2024 PHTM
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