Cabbies concern over proposed rule changes


New rules which mean a taxi can be no more than nine years old to be licensed have prompted concern from Bedford cabbies.

Bedford Borough Council’s licensing committee will discuss plans to consider introducing an age limit on vehicles holding a Hackney Carriage Licence.

This rule already exists for private hire vehicles. But some Hackney Carriage owners feel that the move is unfair, and would put them under even more financial pressure.

In response to a consultation on the subject, driver Rattan Pal said: “I changed my saloon taxi to a wheelchair accessible taxi to comply with the council’s new policy.

“I invested £17,000 recently. I had to finance the taxi over five years and, if the council were to set an age limit of nine years, I would be forever in financial hardship.

“A 15-year age limit would give me scope to save money and be able to invest again for a new taxi.”

In a report to the committee council officers say that the move is recommended because Hackney Carriages travel many more miles than private cars and are subject to more stringent vehicle emission standards.

But driver Ranjit Singh Dosanjh said: “The Hackney Carriage trade has invested £500,000 to make all Hackney Carriages wheelchair accessible for members of the public in Bedford. I now think it is time for I , and other taxi drivers to make profitable years to pay back costs and loans that have had to be taken to pay for these vehicles.”

source: http://www.bedfordtoday.co.uk/news/loca ... -1-4960346