ROUND THE COUNCILS MID SUSSEX:
CARD PAYMENTS COULD BE COMPULSORY
Taxi drivers licensed by Mid Sussex DC could soon be forced to accept card payments, following a surge in complaints about cash-only services. The council has received 21 complaints in the past year about drivers refusing cards, with concerns raised about the safety of lone female passengers. While taxi drivers have expressed worries about signal issues in rural areas and cash flow problems, councillors believe the public’s right to choose payment method is paramount. A public consultation on the proposed changes will begin on August 5. It could then be recommended to the full council for adoption on 11 December, at which point drivers would have until February to have card machines in their vehicles.
SOUTH RIBBLE: UBER SAFETY CONCERNS EXPRESSED
A local councillor has sparked a debate on passenger safety after claiming that using locally licensed taxis is safer than using Uber. Cllr Jane Bell, chair of South Ribble BC’s licensing committee, recently made the comments at a meet- ing of the full council, following an operation involving City of Wolverhampton Council with Lancashire Police earlier this summer. More than 200 private hire and hackney vehicles across South Ribble and Preston were stopped during a single night of spot checks. The force says
three of those inspected were
immediately suspended from operating because of faults found with their vehicles, while it also gave “numerous warnings” to drivers for bearing incorrect plates and stickers or not having visible identification. The council says none of the vehicles or drivers who were reprimanded or taken off the road were licensed locally. Instead, they were Uber vehicles licensed in Wolverhampton. Cllr Bell urged residents to be cautious when using Uber, stating that local taxi services offer stricter safety standards. Uber responded by stating: “Uber operates according to the high standards set across the industry and abides by the same regulations as all other private hire operators. We engage closely with councils across the country and are happy to discuss any issues with them.”
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NORTH EAST LINCS: CRACKDOWN ON RANK PARKING
Cleethorpes taxi drivers are breathing a sigh of relief after council enforcement officers cracked down on vehicles illegally parked in designated taxi ranks. Nine PCNs were issued by North East Lincolnshire Council enforcement team during a recent evening operation targeting Grant Street and Market Place. Both areas are clearly marked as taxi ranks, but have been plagued by cars and delivery vans ignoring the restrictions. The Market Street taxi rank prohibits stopping between 6pm and 6am except for taxis, while Grant Street is a no-waiting zone at all times except for taxis. Eight PCNs were given to private vehicles parked on the taxi rank, and one was issued for a car stopped on a pedestrian crossing. The move comes amid growing concerns from the Hackney Carriage Association about the impact on public safety. With taxis struggling to find spaces, passengers are more likely to accept rides from unlicensed vehicles.
JERSEY: CONCERN OVER DRIVER NUMBERS
Jersey’s taxi service is in crisis, with driver numbers plummeting by more than a quarter since 2014, a new report has revealed. The decline has been attributed to strict licensing requirements that deter potential drivers, according to Mark Boleat,leader of the Jersey Alliance Political Party. The number of licensed drivers has fallen from 488 to just 363 in the past decade. Mr Boleat’s report highlights growing public frustration with the service, with the rise of ride- sharing platform Jersey Lifts – which now boasts over 28,000 members – seen as a direct consequence of the taxi industry’s shortcomings. The island’s Infrastructure Minister, Andy Jehan, acknowledged the driver shortage but insisted the government is working to encourage part-time work in the sector. However, Mr Boleat argues that the current system is failing to meet the needs of both drivers and passengers. With an ageing workforce and dwindling numbers, concerns are growing over the future of Jersey’s taxi service.
SEPTEMBER 2024 PHTM
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