Taxi Driver Online

TAXI drivers in Cheltenham say the industry has been "brought to its knees" by a lack of support from the borough council.
Hackney carriage drivers in the town are struggling to find enough work in the recession, with many bringing in less than £30 per day.
But they say they have been further undermined by Cheltenham Borough Council's "soft stance" towards private hire vehicles.
Throughout the rest of Gloucestershire and in other parts of the UK, it is illegal for private hire drivers to pick up customers from the street without the journey being booked beforehand.
But in Cheltenham they can do it as long as the customer approaches them first and they radio the job back to their depot.
A spokesman for the hackney carriage drivers said the system has allowed private hire vehicles to run roughshod over regulations.
Gary Knight of Springbank said: "The taxi trade in Cheltenham is on its knees, and the borough council is not doing enough to support it.
"Their soft stance towards private hire vehicles is at the crux of the problem. We've got a situation where they are loitering on the ranks and near busy areas to pick up business.
"It's illegal but enforcement in the town is almost non-existent."
He said drastic action needs to be taken by the council to revive the trade, including bringing its rules surrounding private hire fares into line with the rest of the county.
He said: "We need to educate on the point that when they get into a private hire vehicle without booking it, the journey could be uninsured. It's the customer who will suffer in the end. Sooner or later, if this carries on, there will be an accident involving an uninsured vehicle, and no-one wants that."
Dave Halladay, a taxi driver from Churchdown, said: "The problems with Cheltenham's taxi trade have been there for a long time, but the situation has been made worse by the recession.
"The council is happy to take money off hackney drivers for their license fee, but when it comes to supporting us they do nothing. It is killing the trade."
Richard Griffiths, from the council's licensing team, said: "We have received complaints about private hire drivers touting for business. This is illegal and we will take action if we see evidence that this is happening."

I think they'll find it's a problem throughout the trade at the moment. HC's are not the only ones feeling the pinch PH are too and whilst I am aware it's illegal they will take their chances to make ends meet.

We have a similar problem here with the HC's illegally ranking up outside pubs, clubs and restaurants. There is serious over ranking going on at the ranks and little or no enforcement. To add insult to injury the HC's work on the PH systems too.

If I get a job to pick up at certain pubs I've little chance of getting the punter cos I can't get near the pub for HC's and if I do the chances are one of the HC's that work our system and have our signs on it have already taken the punter.

I agree that the council should take enforcement seriously. They've had their money from the trade (on both sides) so they should enforce properly (on both sides)

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Note to self: Just because it pops into my head does NOT mean it should come out of my mouth!!

So many issues.

The HC's will be paying for the hire of the radios......so blame the greedy PH circuits.

The HC's need to rank......so blame your p*ss poor council for not providing spaces.....and the HC trade for not making loud enough noises.

CC

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Think of how stupid the average person is, and realize half of them are stupider than that.
George Carlin

" This is illegal and we will take action if we see evidence that this is happening "

If the drivers call in a job, and it's then returned to them, then IMO touting is the only offence.

Insurance isn't an issue.

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IDFIMH

ONE TIER SYSTEM.....

GOODBYE WANNABEES
GOODBYE I COULD HAVE BEENS
GOODBYE PROBLEM

I think a one tier system would be the start of many different problems.

CC

_________________
Think of how stupid the average person is, and realize half of them are stupider than that.
George Carlin

The obvious being type of vehilcle yeah ??

What happens to all the private hire?

What happens to all the PH minibuses?

What happens to all the limousines?

In days gone by the UK had completely unlicensed PH who were answerable to nobody, do you wish those days to return?

CC

_________________
Think of how stupid the average person is, and realize half of them are stupider than that.
George Carlin

In days gone by the UK had completely unlicensed PH who were answerable to nobody, do you wish those days to return?

CC[/quote]


Almost back to them days CC....

Almost back to them days CC....[/quote]

Maybe, but what I think you mean is down to p*ss poor enforcement.

At least we now have a situation where the public are 99% certain the driver of the vehicle has been vetted and the vehicle itself will have been checked.

In respect of a one tier for hackney carriages, throughout the country, one recognised vehicle, I would agree with you though.

CC

_________________
Think of how stupid the average person is, and realize half of them are stupider than that.
George Carlin

Maybe, but what I think you mean is down to p*ss poor enforcement.

At least we now have a situation where the public are 99% certain the driver of the vehicle has been vetted and the vehicle itself will have been checked.

In respect of a one tier for hackney carriages, throughout the country, one recognised vehicle, I would agree with you though.

CC[/quote]

Gotta agree with you regarding enforcement, it's most certainly down to the level of crime being committed or the law that is being broken..and we all know how far down the pecking order this Trade is when seeking Police assistance. As for Public safety, of course it is of paramount importance. ....just had a thought..is'nt it sad we put up with the stress and politics of the Job during the shift then, we bring it home to look at a PC screen rather than the windscreen ?? It seems our minds are on the Trade constantly eh ?? TBH...only difference in the screens to me is that one's got a Tax disc on it !!

Maybe, but as sad as it is, at least we're the ones talking and trying to hopefully come to a degree of agreement in how to take the job forward, despite our many different views.

I cant see many LO's doing this.....except of course in how to f*ck us all up

CC

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Think of how stupid the average person is, and realize half of them are stupider than that.
George Carlin

I'm off to look at the TV screen for the remainder of the night...
And as usual..it will all be repeats and a total lot o sh*te !!
A bit like TDO sometimes eh ??

Nanoo Nanoo...