It’s not the beach: Richmond orders its cabbies to smarten up A FLEET of taxi drivers in rural North Yorkshire is being ordered to smarten up with a new dress code following a spate of public complaints.
As part of the new code of conduct being imposed on around 125 drivers in Richmondshire, they must not be bare chested, wearing hoodies, flip flops, or clothes which are dirty or displaying “offensive” or “suggestive” logos.
A dress code for Richmondshire taxi drivers was first drawn up in late 2010, after overwhelming public backing was given towards them dressing more appropriately.
However recent complaints of drivers flouting the rules has prompted council chiefs and taxi bosses to call for more strict guidance to be imposed.
Keith Walker, chairman of Richmondshire Taxi Association, told the Yorkshire Post matters reached a head when a driver was reported for wearing “torn trousers with his backside hanging out”, earlier this year.
“Most of our drivers wear respectable clothing and are courteous to customers, but you always get a bad apple in the barrel,” he said.
“It has been the drivers themselves that have brought this forward to our attention.
“The complaints have also been coming from passengers that they have been getting into taxis and certain drivers’ cars have not been particularly clean and their personal dress has not been what it should.
“When you are a taxi driver you are promoting Richmondshire.
“We are not asking for people to wear collars and ties or suits or anything like that, all we are asking is that people have a decent standard of dress. It isn’t asking the world.”
The issue was raised at the Richmondshire Taxi Forum last month, following which a particular call was made to ban “cropoffs” – described as a style of three quarter length trousers – which one complainant said were more fitting for “the beach or a barbecue” than behind the wheel of a taxi.
The amended draft dress code is planned to be submitted to the Richmondshire District Council licensing committee on March 20, and is recommended for approval by officers.
source:
http://www.yorkshirepost.co.uk/news/at- ... -1-4341386
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