Is it not the case though that a HC is legally obliged to charge no more than the councils prescibed tariff, whereas a PH vehicle can charge whatever they want or indeed have the meter calibrated to whatever they want.
Is it not therefore fair to say that it is within the publics interest to impose terms and conditions to a PH vehicle licence that it carrys a specific type approved meter, which possibly is harder to mess about with.
The HC trade should have had similar controls introduced, I agree, but the council were probably thinking that the "legal" aspect of the HC fare was sufficiant until they tested suitable meters within the PH market, to be introduced to the HC trade at a later date.
We are currently looking to introduce a standard for meters in Gateshead, and it seems as though that standard should be at least callender controlled.
B. Lucky
