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Dundee
'dual plate'
(13/5/2004)
Dundee City
Council has granted a taxi license to a vehicle
already licensed by Perth and Kinross Council.
A
taxi license to operate in Dundee has
been granted for a vehicle already
licensed elsewhere, a first for the
city's licensing committee
regarding an arrangement unusual in the
UK.
Dundee
resident Iain Low had applied for the
license for his vehicle which is already
plated by Perth and Kinross Council,
where he undertakes school and social
services contracts.
The
Dundee Taxi Association had objected to
the application on the basis that the
requirement to have two taxi meters
fitted would cause confusion for the
public, and it also questioned whether a
test failure in one area would preclude
the vehicle from operating in the other
area. The Transport and General
Workers' Union also objected to the
application.
However,
Mr Low told the committee that he only
undertook contract work in Perth and
Kinross and thus that meter would be
covered all the time. Mr Low's
application was supported by the
National Private Hire Association, which
pointed out that dual licensing occurred
elsewhere in the UK.
In
a council report to the committee it was
pointed out that there was nothing in the relevant
legislation to prevent the issue of a
second license of this type, but it was
underlined that the need for two taxi
plates, meters, fare cards and license
numbers could confuse the public - the
licensing conditions state that neither
the taxi license plate nor meter can be
removed. However, the report also
stated that Perth and Kinross Council
had no objection to the dual licensing.
The
committee unanimously granted the
application, subject to the condition
that the meter not in use should be
properly covered.
Accessible
vehicles
Meanwhile, the number of wheelchair
accessible taxis in Dundee has increased
tenfold following the council's decision
to remove the limit on the number of
taxis operating, subject to any new
licenses being granted only to
disabled-friendly vehicles. Since
the start of the year the number of
these taxis has increased from nine to
94, with a further 26 licenses granted
in respect of vehicles still to hit the
streets.
Consequently,
the number of taxis licensed in Dundee
has increased from around 500 to 600,
but with licenses due for renewal at the
end of May the effect of any license
surrenders will not become apparent for
several weeks yet.
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