Taxi Driver Online

This kind of discussion isn't particularly unusual, obviously, but could have sworn this particular one has been on here before, and fairly recently, but can't find anything

(Think it's the Ty Thomas location that stands out and rings a bell, but can't find any previous mentions, or any vehicle testing stuff about Bridgend...)

But article says current arrangements are 'in-house', yet at the same time the talk is of ending the 'arrangement' with 'management board' at the facility, which sounds the opposite of in-house

So it's perhaps one of those 'arm's-length' organisations, which are bodies legally independent of local authorities, so maybe 'in-house' is a tad misleading.

Other than that, all there is to see is the spectacular photo, which is unfortunately too big to embed on here, so just the link to the photo below. Or maybe it's 'fortunate' that the photo's too big for on here


Proposals to open MOT testing for Taxi’s to more garages

https://www.herald.wales/south-wales/br ... e-garages/

Photo:
https://www.herald.wales/wp-content/upl ... -site-.jpg

DISCUSSIONS have taken place this month over the future of taxi MOT testing in Bridgend County Borough.

Taxi MOT testing in the area is currently undertaken at BCBC’s in-house vehicle maintenance garage, Ty Thomas, based at Brackla Industrial Estate.

It works with local taxi companies which require an enhanced taxi compliance check on top of their standard MOT certificate. The site is also shared with South Wales Police, and was said to have brought in £49,785 worth of income from taxi fees in the last year.

However, in November of 2022, the licensing committee heard representations from the local taxi trade, who presented a petition with around 170 signatures with the aim to open up taxi testing in Bridgend County Borough to other MOT garages.

It led to the management board at Ty Thomas having further discussions on the possibility of an “early exit” from the taxi testing agreement, thought it was later confirmed that the existing testing arrangements would continue to run until the end of an agreement which expires in March of 2025.

Officers said that with the date only a year away, they would now begin a feasibility study, to look at opening up taxi MOT testing in the area, with a number of options on the table that could include – allowing taxi companies to obtain a MOT Certificate from any MOT testing station, selecting an approved number of testing stations, or maintaining the current in-house arrangements as they stand.

Officers added that they would now begin the feasibility study at the beginning of the next financial year, though said they would not yet be able to give a time-line on when this would be ready to bring to members.

I think a small limited number of testing stations is the best method of testing taxis/PHVs.

One is a nightmare and usually involves testers so far up their arses that they end up being very hard to deal with and often lead to delays if vehicles need retesting. Too many and the council loses control over those doing the testing.

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IDFIMH