Taxi Driver Online

Durham taxi drivers threaten to strike


CABBIES in Durham are threatening to go on strike as plans to make all taxis one colour took a step closer to becoming a reality.

Durham County Council’s cabinet yesterday backed a policy to make the area’s hackney carriages white, and it could now be in force by April 1.

The proposals also include a single deregulated taxi zone – making trade throughout the county a ‘free for all’, say drivers.

Adrian Fets, chairman of the Durham Independent Taxi Association, said the changes would force companies out of business.

“This is absolutely ridiculous,” he said. “They haven’t done any research. They have no idea of the implications of what they are doing.”

The authority claims eight out of 12 North East councils have a taxi colour policy and it will make trade more consistent, fairer and safer for residents and visitors.

Bit if the plans are agreed by all councillors the association has pledged to push for a judicial review. It said members are planning strikes and protests “at the busiest times possible.”

“The whole trade is up in arms,” said Mr Fets.

Coun Bob Young, cabinet member for strategic environment and leisure, told the meeting the proposals have been put forward after extensive consultation with taxi drivers and residents.


Read More http://www.journallive.co.uk/north-east-news/

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

Did this council try this a few years ago and lost through the courts???

Yes........but I wonder what the Durham drivers fear most.....the colour policy upon replacement, delimitation or losing the zones?

CC

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

Have you or could you provide a link to the case??

I have a copy of it, but its a crown court case so perhaps only persuasive, I dont think I can put it on the site because its a scanned document.

Sussex will confirm, but I think if they want to overturn this, it'll be a judicial review.....which is very, very expensive.

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 think they are fearing the losing of the zones and making it a free for all. IMO if your licensed by Durham City Council you should be able to play for hire within the City Centre.

When I've been up there to my relatives you struggle like anything to get a taxi even on a dead night. We once walked from the Three Tuns Hotel into the City centre on a Saturday afternoon to get a Taxi to Meadowfield to a wedding, it took an age for one to come onto the rank, there wasn't even a que of people.

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Do not argue with an idiot. He will drag you down to his level and beat you with experience.

Believe me, don't get Mercury X2

Im sure it was posted on here just after the case, cannot find it though, judgment went
something along the lines of a cab is a cab as long as it has the top sign with taxi on it regardless of colour

The public who are p!ssed on a weekend night think that.

_________________
Do not argue with an idiot. He will drag you down to his level and beat you with experience.

Believe me, don't get Mercury X2

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

Was thinking that as well.

After all, if all these plate holders in Bournemouth are queuing up to run WAVs then getting a white saloon doesn't seem a big deal.

So perhaps the colour angle is a bit of a red herring, but it could be the media that's overemphaising it - as happened with the last report - because they don't appreciate the imortance of the other issues and perhaps the colour angle just makes for a better story.

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Caledonian Cabbie

Perhaps, but they did beat the local authority as it was at that time on the colour issue.

That aside, having potentially 1000 taxis able to enter Durham which has all of 8 rank spaces is a bizarre idea.........as is the idea that all zones will be adequately served when the zones are abolished.

CC

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

A brief read through of that case reveals that the council were criticised for lack of research and this may have the main reason for His Lordship's judgement.

If the council have now done their research properly that may well have removed the major judicial objection.

Indeed, but I doubt if they really consider it important compared to the other issues.



To an extent, but if there's an oversupply in Durham centre and an undersupply elsewhere then clearly some of them will go where the work is - supply and demand, innit?

Not that I think it's a particularly good idea - the dezoning issue, that is, rather than delimitation per se - and it could take a while for things to settle down, but the doommongering is a bit OTT.

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Caledonian Cabbie

I actually agree with your sentiments Caledonian Cabbie.

CC

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

Judicial review would be the norm, but they could challenge the colour thing in the Mags Court.

However I suspect they would put up with a yellow and pink spots livery if the council kept zones and quotas.

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IDFIMH