Previous article about the age rule here, but this is a more general list of grievances.
viewtopic.php?f=2&t=33650'Passengers will have to pay more to get a taxi...' - Cabbies warn of fare hikes as mass protest planned over new council ruleshttps://www.stokesentinel.co.uk/news/st ... rs-2616020Cabbies claim the changes by Newcastle-under-Lyme Borough Council are 'Orwellian'Taxi drivers are planning a mass protest against licensing changes they say will drive cabbies out of town and leave customers forking out more per ride.
Newcastle-under-Lyme Borough Council has been consulting on a new licensing policy for two years - but drivers say they weren't invited into the process for 13 months.
And even when they were invited, they were offered just a single two-hour meeting. They were told to put their issues with the 91-page document in writing to council bosses within six weeks.
After drivers then asked Newcastle MP Paul Farrelly to join the debate, they were offered two more meetings, lasting two hours each.
Now taxi drivers say they'll stage a mass protest outside the council's offices after March 14 if they are not listened to.
Newcastle-under-Lyme taxi drivers Murtaza Alam, Tariq Mahmood, Shahraz Yaqub, Mark Beardmore, Sam Hashmi, Paul Wilkes, Abid Hussain and Glyn Cross. (Image: Joe Burn/Stoke Sentinel)Drivers also claim the changes will reduce levels of service and safety for passengers.
The new proposals include asking drivers to switch to electric cars, a move they say is too expensive and will see their hard-earned cash lost to charging times.
They've taken issue with the age vehicles are allowed to be licensed from too.
Quote:
Newcastle taxi drivers' issues with the new policy
Taxi drivers claim to have the following issues with Newcastle Borough Council's new taxi licensing policy for 2019/20:
Operators claim they will have to keep logbooks of service history for self-employed drivers - at a great cost of time and effort to their businesses;
Vehicles can't be licensed past four years old for their first time and beyond seven years in total;
Switching to electric vehicles is too expensive and they'll lose money when charging;
A new type of testing system won't be as efficient as the Stoke-on-Trent College BTEC qualification they already have;
They don't like the penalty points scheme;
They say they'll have to wait between five and eight weeks for an appointment to renew their licences;
It'll cost customers more;
It will reduce service and safety standards;
It will send drivers out of the borough for licences.
Previously, an eight-year-old vehicle could be licensed. Now, the council have 'moved the goalposts' to seven years - but will allow electric vehicles to be licensed that are up to 10 years old.
A vehicle cannot be older than four years before its first licensed either - it used to be five.
They also claim the council want operators to start keeping service history details for self-employed drivers - a task they say would be a mammoth effort and extra cost to their business.
Trevor Colclough, of Sid's Private Hire taxi firm, said: "This is ridiculous as cars are getting better, not worse. Even the Government want to bring the MOT down from every four to every three years.
From left, Trevor Colclough of Sid's Private Hire and Odgy Hammond, owner of Sid's Private Hire (Image: Joe Burn/Stoke Sentinel)"It's not been a true discussion and we've not had enough time."
Mr Colclough added the new policy says drivers must complete a new kind of test - but there isn't any detail as to what kind of test - and drivers already have to complete a BTEC qualification with Stoke-on-Trent College.
He said: "This is the ancient borough of Newcastle-under-Lyme - it's not 1984. It's not some Orwellian borough, it's the ancient borough of Newcastle-under-Lyme and it'll never be 'Victory Cars' - it'll always be Sid's."
Drivers have also taken issue with a new penalty points scheme and the way appointments are made.
They say they'll have to wait for between five and eight weeks - which potentially leaves drivers off the road for months waiting to get their licences renewed - although the council say they'll be notified three months in advance.
Shahraz Yaqub, who represents the Stoke-on-Trent Private Hire Drivers' Association, said: "This is not London, this is not Birmingham, this is not Manchester. They really need to think about what they're doing.
Shahraz Yaqub represents the Stoke-on-Trent Private Hire Driver's Association (Image: Joe Burn/Stoke Sentinel)"This new policy will have a detrimental effect on the public as journey costs will be increased. Service will be reduced. In terms of public safety,that will go out the window because drivers will start moving and getting licensing from other authorities.
"The council really need to have a think about what they're doing all of this cost will be pushed on to the public.
"Newcastle is one of the cheapest for fares out of 358 boroughs, we are 357th. That just shows how cheap the taxis are within the borough. If they don't think this through, the trade and the public are going to be on the losing end.
"The councillors who are going to make this decision shouldn't be running away from the trade. They do not want to meet the trade. We request to speak to the public protection committee. Don't run away, don't hide."
Black cab drivers have echoed the concerns about increased costs and lack of engagement from the council.
A spokesman for the Newcastle Hackney Carriage Association said: "The taxi trade in Newcastle is a major employer in the borough, with over 1,000 people making a living from taxi driving or the associated ancillary employment. The proposed changes to the policy will make many of these people think about working within the trade."
Deputy council leader Stephen Sweeney, cabinet member responsible for taxi licensing, said: “The consultation on the council’s draft Taxi Licensing Policy 2019/21 runs until March 14 and, if drivers or representatives of the trade wish to submit their views and comments as part of that process, we would welcome them.
“The council wishes to be open and transparent, which is why we are giving people the chance to have their say, not just taxi drivers but customers as well, through the consultation which is on our website.
“Once the consultation closes, councillors will sit down and review the draft policy, taking into account all comments and suggestions before making any final decisions.
“Our priorities with hackney carriage and private hire licensing are protecting the public; prevention of crime; high standards of vehicle safety and the equality and accessibility of the service.”
Newcastle council bosses will vote on the draft policy for next year in April.
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