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Taxi drivers hit out
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Author:  captain cab [ Thu Aug 25, 2011 8:25 pm ]
Post subject:  Taxi drivers hit out

Taxi drivers hit out at plans to scrap town’s pick up zones


TEESDALE taxi drivers say council-led changes will affect their business and could lead to a price war.

From September, taxi drivers from across the whole of County Durham will be able to pick up and drop off areas anywhere within the region.

At present, hackney carriage drivers work within one of seven allotted zones, meaning they can only do business on home turf but from September, they will be able to work anywhere within the county.

Many taxi firms see the changes as unnecessary and are concerned they could lead to fierce rivalry between drivers and firms closing down.

Keith Hodgson, who owns Hodgson’s Taxis in Barnard Castle, said: “It will open the floodgates for drivers to come into Barnard Castle, or anywhere within the county, and tout for business.

“It will cause animosity on the ranks if you go to a different town and start looking for fares.”

Durham County Council see the zone changes as a positive step, saying taxis taking fares to what was previously a different zone, will now be able to pick up fares from their drop-off point, meaning the return journey will not be a waste of fuel.

However, Mr Hodgson, who has been in the taxi trade for 25 years, said the changes could cause price wars.

He said: “Places are going to get an influx of drivers are prepared to work for less fuel money, just to get the fare.”

As well as opening up all the zones, the new taxi policy will mean all hackney carriages will have to be white.

Any new vehicle being bought from September will have to fit in with the new one-colour policy – which could cause more problems.

Alan Atkinson, who owns Alan’s Taxis in Barnard Castle, said: “I agree that there needed to be some changes to the policy but the fact that all new taxis have to be white is going to cause some problems.

“It will put the price of regular white cars through the roof.

“At the moment all the big fancy cars like Audis and Mercedes are diamond white, but you very rarely see a white Skoda or a Cavalier.”

But Joanne Waller, head of environment, health and consumer protection at Durham County Council, said: “Currently if a licensed hackney carriage driver picks up a passenger in for example Barnard Castle or Peterlee and takes that person to a place in another zone within the county, the driver is prevented from picking up a new fare from a taxi rank or by being hailed in the street, when they reach that destination.

“That not only means that empty vehicles are being driven needlessly all over the county, harming the environment and wasting fuel, but it also means that passengers wanting to get in, are not able to do so.

“By removing the zones we are bringing County Durham in line with many other counties and ensuring a better service for customers, improving accessibility to taxis at peak times in all areas and enabling a system to operate which is fairer to all taxi operators and to the environment.”

Mr Hodgson said: “In general it’s a bad idea that’s been rushed through.
“It’s a money making exercise that hasn’t done anyone, any favours.
“Why mend something that isn’t broken in the first place?”

source: http://www.teesdalemercury.co.uk/teesda ... ,3557.html

Author:  captain cab [ Thu Aug 25, 2011 8:47 pm ]
Post subject: 

A wee bit late to start moaning ffs

CC

Author:  Dusty Bin [ Fri Aug 26, 2011 2:00 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Taxi drivers hit out

captain cab wrote:
“At the moment all the big fancy cars like Audis and Mercedes are diamond white, but you very rarely see a white Skoda or a Cavalier."


Sounds like they need an age rule rather than a colour code :lol:

Author:  grandad [ Fri Aug 26, 2011 4:42 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Taxi drivers hit out

Dusty Bin wrote:
captain cab wrote:
“At the moment all the big fancy cars like Audis and Mercedes are diamond white, but you very rarely see a white Skoda or a Cavalier."


Sounds like they need an age rule rather than a colour code :lol:


:lol: :lol: :lol:

Author:  grumpy [ Fri Aug 26, 2011 1:27 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Taxi drivers hit out

captain cab wrote:

“At the moment all the big fancy cars like Audis and Mercedes are diamond white, but you very rarely see a white Skoda or a Cavalier.”

source: http://www.teesdalemercury.co.uk/teesda ... ,3557.html


I'm sure allied, cab direct or the taxi centre* will be more than able to fulfill their needs :wink:

*other suppliers are available :lol:

Author:  Nidge [ Fri Aug 26, 2011 3:17 pm ]
Post subject: 

There's loads of white motors out there and like mentioned above The Taxi Centre or Cab Direct will supply you with a white motor.

Author:  stewie [ Fri Aug 26, 2011 5:54 pm ]
Post subject: 

I've heard of places having one-colour rules for hackneys, but all taxis? The idea of some jobsworth sitting in a town hall and being paid to come up with bollocks like this [edited by admin] me off :x

Author:  skippy41 [ Fri Aug 26, 2011 6:28 pm ]
Post subject: 

They did win an appeal against this all white rule, so why have the council introduced it again
They should bring it back to the court and get it thrown out

Author:  Sussex [ Fri Aug 26, 2011 8:27 pm ]
Post subject: 

skippy41 wrote:
They did win an appeal against this all white rule, so why have the council introduced it again

Because the law allows them to.

I suspect in the past they didn't consult properly.

Author:  Nemisis [ Sat Aug 27, 2011 4:45 am ]
Post subject: 

Sussex wrote:
skippy41 wrote:
They did win an appeal against this all white rule, so why have the council introduced it again

Because the law allows them to.

I suspect in the past they didn't consult properly.


If they did not consult correctly in the past, how can this be proved and how can it be used to the trades advantage?

Author:  grandad [ Sat Aug 27, 2011 7:16 am ]
Post subject: 

Nemisis wrote:
Sussex wrote:
skippy41 wrote:
They did win an appeal against this all white rule, so why have the council introduced it again

Because the law allows them to.

I suspect in the past they didn't consult properly.


If they did not consult correctly in the past, how can this be proved and how can it be used to the trades advantage?


The court will have put it in the judgement.

Author:  skippy41 [ Sat Aug 27, 2011 3:08 pm ]
Post subject: 

Midlander wrote:
There's loads of white motors out there and like mentioned above The Taxi Centre or Cab Direct will supply you with a white motor.


http://www.skoda-auto.cz/cze/model/newo ... fleet.aspx

Author:  skippy41 [ Sat Aug 27, 2011 3:13 pm ]
Post subject: 

Image

A toots special

Author:  stewie [ Sat Aug 27, 2011 4:46 pm ]
Post subject: 

skippy41 wrote:
Image

A toots special


I could see the council in Brighton insisting on this for all drivers there :lol:

Author:  tom2907 [ Sat Aug 27, 2011 5:16 pm ]
Post subject:  One colour

The problem with a one colour policy is that it can help perverts rather than hinder them

http://menmedia.co.uk/manchesterevening ... manchester

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