Taxi driver hits out at county council for "killing the trade" with tough and costly tests A TAXI company owner claims the county council is "killing the trade" with tough and costly tests putting off prospective drivers.
James Crowe, who runs Newton Aycliffe-based Horndale Taxis, has called for a meeting with Durham County Councillors and MP Phil Wilson to discuss the raft of hoops that he says would-be taxi drivers are forced to jump through.
Figures from Durham County Council (DCC) show from the beginning of January 2015 until April 21 this year, 122 applications for licences were received and 86 applications were approved.
"It's killing the trade in County Durham," said Mr Crowe. "People come to me (for a job) and say it's too much hassle and they aren't interested.
"There are people out there who want to work but they don't want to do the test because it's a mammoth task."
Mr Crowe believes the low number of qualifying drivers is leading to a county-wide shortage with around 20 "needed to bridge the gap" in Newton Aycliffe.
A representative for the Hackney carriage trade in the town, he has six vehicles and five drivers but is still looking for three further full-time employees.
However, he says he is unable to fill the vacancies as a result of the difficult nature and overall cost of the tests which can come in at around £300.
To gain a badge in the county, drivers have to pass a medical check, criminal record check, advanced driver course, a knowledge test and locality test.
Mr Crowe said the latter requires knowledge for across the county which he believes is unfair.
"I've been doing this job for 20 years and I wouldn't be able to pass this test," he added.
Mr Crowe believes the answer could be to issue drivers with a temporary badge to give them time to learn the roads and earn money before embarking on the various tests.
Deborah Plews, one of the owners of Ferryhill's Clarks Taxis, also believes the cost and "difficult" tests were turning people away.
"With the locality test you don't learn most of it until you do the job and with sat navs you don't need it," she said.
Joanne Waller, DCC head of environment, health and consumer protection, said: “We believe all our licensed drivers should be knowledgeable, professional and competent.
"We therefore consider it both reasonable and appropriate that they should have an acceptable knowledge of the matters covered in the tests whilst ensuring that barriers to entry are not unnecessarily high."
She added the council had recently made changes for private hire applicants although it remains the same for Hackney licence applicants.
source:
http://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/news/l ... tly_tests/
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