Taxi licensing law shake-up under fireYork Central MP Hugh Bayley, left, and Coun Barbara Boyce talk with taxi driver Jim Kerr on the rank at the railway stationYork Central MP Hugh Bayley, left, and Coun Barbara Boyce talk with taxi driver Jim Kerr on the rank at the railway station
A SHAKE-UP of licensing laws could lead to York having more taxis than its ranks can handle and put passengers at risk, drivers and local politicians have warned.
The Law Commission is considering plans to “deregulate” the taxi industry by combining rules covering hackney carriages and private hire vehicles and replacing local licensing arrangements with a UK-wide approach, despite a Government select committee advising against this.
Hundreds of taxi drivers lobbied Parliament against the proposals this month, with the commission’s final recommendations expected in December.
Unite member York hackney carriage driver Jim Kerr joined the union-organised protest and has met York Central MP Hugh Bayley to discuss the impact of the plans on the city.
“We believe adopting the Law Commission report, as it stands, would affect the livelihoods of those currently in the trade and to service and safety standards,” he said.
“We don’t deny some updating of taxi laws is well overdue, but we want to convince Parliament not to adopt the Law Commission report and instead look at the more realistic report on the trade by the Government’s own transport select committee.”
Mr Kerr said deregulation would mean too many York taxis fighting for fares, saying: “No business can stock up simply to deal with pressure times, and it is the same with taxis.”
York has 183 hackney carriages, with 196 people on a waiting list for licences.
Coun Barbara Boyce, who chairs City of York Council’s gambling, licensing and regulatory committee, said: “Uncontrolled numbers of hackney carriages would cause additional congestion in the city and at ranks, add to pollution and be a threat to the livelihoods of experienced drivers who provide a much-needed service.”
Mr Bayley has written to Transport Secretary Patrick McLoughlin over fears the proposals could mean passengers being “ripped off” and lead to a rise in bogus drivers, asking him to make no changes to the existing laws.
He said: “If the council loses the right to regulate the number of vehicles, it could cause chaos and confusion.
“Deregulation is also likely to cause arguments between drivers as they compete for fares. I hope the minister will take these concerns on board.”
source:
http://www.yorkpress.co.uk/news/1054990 ... nder_fire/
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