Taxi Driver Online

We've Tried To Help The Drivers

15th September 2008

Last week Calderdale Council's Licensing and Regulatory Committee discussed the concerns of local private hire drivers and agreed to implement a number of changes.

While we were not able to agree to all of their requests we did agree to a number of compromises which we hope will make their working life a lot simpler and in some respects cheaper.

The Council has agreed to reduce the minimum light transmission of windows from 70 per cent to 65 per cent. In doing so it has taken into account public safety and the fact that there needs to be a clear view of all passengers. As a result it was felt inappropriate to reduce this any further

We have agreed to speed up the licence renewal process. At present if a driver sends a renewal application in late it is necessary to go through a full application process.

The change implemented means that those drivers with a valid criminal records bureau check and medical on file, who apply for renewal of their licence within 28 days of the lapse of their previous one, will no longer have to make a full application. This will also save the time and money as they won't need to do a knowledge or Driving Standards Agency test.

We have also agreed to introduce dual badges whereby a driver who currently holds both a hackney carriage and a private hire driver's badge can apply for one single badge covering both trades. The individual badges cost £84.50 each. The cost of a new dual badge will be £120 representing a saving to the driver of £49. We also relaxed the rules for executive hire vehicles.

The Committee has agreed to discuss a number of issues further with the working party.

This includes age requirements, the frequency of testing, and the possibility of satellite MoT garages.

The Committee listened to the drivers and gave serious consideration to their concerns. We have worked hard to reach a solution which suits everyone. Public safety has to be paramount and a number of rules and regulations will remain in place to protect passengers.

The Council will continue to work closely with local drivers to achieve the best outcome for the public and we hope that they will try the new rules and regulations before resorting to further strike action.


Source; Halifax Evening Courier


AND FROM THE LETTERS PAGE OF THE SAME NEWSPAPER;


Those Costly Cabbies Are Trying To Get Off Lightly


Heathy Lane
Holmfield
Halifax

15th September 2008

So here we go again with the Private Hire Taxi Association. Just who does this Sultan Mahmood and the rest think they are, trying yet again to get off lightly with safety concerns, such as tests for their vehicles.
Tinted glass is an option when ordering any car, as any salesman will tell you.

If anyone thinks they can stifle the good opinions of the council, who act in their own right and for the concern of the taxis' passengers (paying very pricey fares) then these people are not very concerned about the safety of the fare-paying public.

But about what they want and don't want? If anything the Council should introduce an even stricter ruling of safety measures and also a full understanding of Calderdale areas and a full knowledge of spoken English which a lot of them don't have.

The council should approach First bus service as already suggested by a reader and get a late-night bus and/or train service running again.

P. Bentley


Source; Halifax Evening Courier

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Kind regards,

Brummie Cabbie.

Type a message, post your news,
Disagree with other members' views;
But please, do have some decorum,
When debating on the TDO Forum.

How can issuing one badge cost more, saving the driver £49 my @rse more like the council con trick

come to sunny Leeds, I have a Hackney badge, CRB on file, etc, used to have a PH badge, let it lapse cos of Hackney badge, but if I wanna go back to PH badge, I have to reapply and do a new CRB costing £136, and then to have both badges renewed each year will cost £95 each, in my view the Hackney badge should allow you to drive either but of course it's a money making scam!!

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best regards

If you wanted to have both badges you had to pay £84.50 for each one so by issuing those that wanted both badges a single badge for £120 is a saving of £49. Easy. Of course eventually the council will completely combine the badges and those that only required either a PH or a Hackney badge will have to pay £120 which will cost them an extra £35.50 each.

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Grandad,