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PostPosted: Thu Sep 12, 2019 12:15 pm 
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Shades of Derby here (see what I did there :D )

But reading this it seems like both the licensing manager and the councillor in particular have only just realised that specifying yellow imposes a cost on the trade :-s

To be fair, though, it's likely that the policy is the responsibility of people from the distant past, so they're only trying to do the right thing now =D>


Hartlepool taxis set to lose their trademark yellow under new plans

https://www.hartlepoolmail.co.uk/news/p ... ans-550986

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Image: Hartlepool Mail

Hartlepool’s trademark yellow taxis could be no more under plans to change the colour of the town’s cabs.

Council chiefs are holding a consultation on scrapping the rule which makes the colour a requirement for all hackney carriages licensed in Hartlepool.

The proposal came as part of amendments to Hartlepool Borough Council’s Taxi Licensing Policy which were given the go-ahead by the authority’s licensing committee to go before a consultation.

The change has been formally requested by the owners of 60 hackney carriages, around 45% of the entire hackney carriage fleet in Hartlepool.

Drivers have asked for the uniform yellow to be replaced by a ‘standard manufacturer’s colour’ such as white, black or silver.

Ian Harrison, the council’s trading standards and licensing manager, noted currently cars must be resprayed to the appropriate shade of yellow which could cost from £500 to £1,500.

He also recommended white as the replacement colour to be included as part of the consultation.

He said: “There are a number of pros and cons as to what a change of colour might mean, whether it is a good thing to do or a bad thing to do.

“45% of the trade has written to me and asked for a change of colour, that’s not to say 55% of the trade don’t want a change of colour, the other 55% haven’t asked or expressed any opinion yet.

“There is a cost [in having yellow hackney carriages], one could argue any costs that are placed on to the trade are ultimately recovered through taxi fares which are paid by the public.

“Cost is an issue, but some others might say yellow is an iconic colour for Hartlepool, it has an importance and it’s been around for a long time.”

Reducing costs

Coun Brenda Loynes backed the move, stating it could result in reduced costs for taxi drivers.

She said: “Yellow, it’s bright and you can see and know it’s a taxi.

“But if it’s going to incur costs to the taxi drivers I’m against it really, they’ve got enough to contend with, all the different fees, so I’ve got no problem at all having black, silver or white cars.”

Council bosses said a change to the yellow-only rule would not require existing hackney carriages to be resprayed and there would be a transition period of up to eight years.

Private hire vehicles would also no longer be allowed to be the new selected colour, but again they would be subject to the transition period.

A period of consultation will now take place, with council bosses stating all hackney carriage owners and interested parties will be contacted, and the matter will return to councillors for consideration and potential approval in December.

Other changes

The updated Taxi Licensing Policy also includes changes to vehicle age restrictions and the process for carrying out driver criminal record checks.

The council previously had a policy drivers must provide an enhanced criminal record check every three years, but the new policy proposes they must provide an enhanced DBS certificate every 12 months.

Drivers will be encouraged to enrol on the DBS ‘update service’ which allows a driver to pay an annual fee of £13 for which their DBS history can be viewed at any time, after the one-off cost of the initial certificate of £44.

The council is also proposing to change its policy so cars must no longer be licensed after eight years on the road, in a bid to improve air quality, although the policy would not apply until April 2023, and discussions have taken place on a regional level.


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PostPosted: Thu Sep 12, 2019 12:18 pm 
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Quote:
The council is also proposing to change its policy so cars must no longer be licensed after eight years on the road, in a bid to improve air quality, although the policy would not apply until April 2023, and discussions have taken place on a regional level.


More sensible way of doing it than the Euro 5/6 thing in my opinion, which means that cars a few weeks or even days different in age can have a lifespan as cabs several years different [-(


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PostPosted: Thu Sep 12, 2019 8:49 pm 
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Yellow cabs are for the USA.

Here we like the black cab, or the white cab.

Or in some areas any colour you want cabs.

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PostPosted: Fri Nov 29, 2019 11:49 am 
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Hartlepool taxis set to stay yellow after overwhelming response - and u-turn from some drivers

https://www.hartlepoolmail.co.uk/news/p ... rs-1327444

Hackney carriages in Hartlepool are set to remain yellow after a consultation was carried out looking at changing the colour.

Earlier this year the consultation was launched by Hartlepool Borough Council in regards to changes its Taxi Licensing Policy, which included exploring the potential of moving to white, black or silver hackney carriages.

Findings have now been compiled and a report is to go before the council Licensing Committee on Wednesday, with council officers recommending the taxis stay yellow.

The report from Tony Hanson, assistant director for environment & neighbourhood services on the council, stated the majority of people wanted the yellow colour to remain.

It said: “The council, as licensing authority, must take into consideration both its statutory duty to protect the public and its legal obligation to ensure it does not create unnecessary regulatory burdens on business.

“The council has previously decided that one way that it can protect the travelling public is to ensure that hackney carriage vehicles are easily recognisable and distinguishable from other vehicles.

“Taking into account all of the above matters, it is proposed that the revised Taxi Licensing Policy, retains the current requirement that hackney carriages be yellow in colour.”

During the consultation, 61% of the 93 hackney carriage owners who responded said they would prefer Hartlepool’s colour scheme to remain yellow, with 15% wanting change.

In a council on-line survey, 71% of the 827 members of the public said they wanted Hartlepool’s hackney carriages to stay yellow.

Women ‘wouldn’t use non-yellow taxis’

One female resident also raised concerns via email to the council she, and other women, would no longer use hackneys to get home from a night out if the colour changed as ‘anyone could wait in the taxi line’.

The initial request to change the colour came from a letter from a private hire operator and a petition from hackney carriage vehicle owners that collectively represented a total of 60 hackney carriages.

However during the consultation several changed their mind, and 21 of the 33 vehicle owners who signed the position for the colour change now want yellow to remain.

The main reason put forward by the hackney carriage trade towards changing the colour was it would allow owners to purchase a new or replacement vehicle without having to pay to re-spray it.

However research from council officers found 78% of the taxis were purchased second hand.

They said this means it is likely the vehicle would have to be re-sprayed regardless, as owners would prioritise other issues when purchasing a car.

The report also noted the cost of re-spraying a car can be as low as £220.

The proposed new taxi licensing policy also includes updates on permitted vehicle age and new requirements for drivers to take an annual criminal record check.

A final decision will be made when the Licensing Committee is recommended to adopt Hartlepool’s Taxi Licensing Policy at its meeting on Wednesday (December 4) at the Civic Centre, starting at 10am.


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PostPosted: Fri Nov 29, 2019 11:54 am 
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Quote:
The main reason put forward by the hackney carriage trade towards changing the colour was it would allow owners to purchase a new or replacement vehicle without having to pay to re-spray it.

However research from council officers found 78% of the taxis were purchased second hand.

They said this means it is likely the vehicle would have to be re-sprayed regardless, as owners would prioritise other issues when purchasing a car.

#-o

Quote:
The report also noted the cost of re-spraying a car can be as low as £220.

Yes, but what about the rest of the car? :-s

Anyway, interesting that quite a few drivers or proprietors seemed to change their minds during the consultation process - wonder why that was? :-k

Mind you, if they've started getting £220 resprays (or at least *think* they can get them), then maybe that was the game changer :shock:


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PostPosted: Fri Nov 29, 2019 12:00 pm 
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Location: Stamford Britains prettiest town till SKDC ruined it
do they seriously think drivers don't purchase vehicles with spotless paintwork #-o

Quote:
The report also noted the cost of re-spraying a car can be as low as £220.
your'e 'avin a giraffe ain't you £220 per panel more like :shock:

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PostPosted: Fri Nov 29, 2019 6:18 pm 
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Quote:
Women ‘wouldn’t use non-yellow taxis’

Really? [-(

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PostPosted: Thu Dec 05, 2019 11:45 am 
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Thought this was the same piece as the last one, but it's not, and some interesting reading :-o


Hartlepool taxis to stay yellow - drivers vow to 'stand up, scream and shout' over suggested change

https://www.hartlepoolmail.co.uk/news/p ... ge-1332675

Hartlepool’s taxis are to stay their trademark yellow after council chiefs sided with the majority over a mooted colour change.

A consultation was launched earlier this year in regards to changes its Taxi Licensing Policy, which included exploring the potential of moving to white, black or silver hackney carriages.

However the consultation found the majority of both hackney carriage owners and residents in the town wanted the yellow taxis to remain, leading to council officers recommending the colour stayed the same

Hartlepool Borough Council’s Licensing Committee unanimously approved the recommended policy, despite claims from some hackney carriage owners it put an unnecessary cost on drivers respraying their vehicles yellow.

Coun Tony Richardson, chairing the committee, said: “Having considered all matters, the Licensing Committee believe that to retain the yellow is not an unnecessary burden on business but is instead a balanced approach to promote the protection of the public.”

During the consultation, 61% of the 93 hackney carriage owners who responded said they would prefer Hartlepool’s colour scheme to remain yellow, with 15% wanting change.

‘Stand up, scream and shout’

Stephen Picton, hackney carriage driver in Hartlepool, explained most drivers want the vehicles to remain yellow.

He said: “I’ve been a taxi hackney carriage driver in this town for about 25 years, and in them 25 years I’ve always driven in yellow.

“When you get a firm that comes into town on their high horse and wants to change the colour of the taxi we do stand up, we scream and shout.

“It’s our choice for them to be yellow, it always has been and everybody in this town from a child to a pensioner can point out a taxi in this town.

“When you’re out for a drink you’re zombied towards a yellow cab.

“We don’t mind paying the £250 to spray a brand new car or a second hand car yellow because we’ve been doing it for the last 20 years, we’ve never gone to the council and complained about it.”

In a council on-line survey, 71% of the 827 members of the public who responded said they wanted Hartlepool’s hackney carriages to stay yellow.

The initial request to change the colour came from a letter from a private hire operator and a petition from hackney carriage vehicle owners that collectively represented a total of 60 hackney carriages.

However during the consultation several changed their mind, and 21 of the 33 vehicle owners who signed the petition for the colour change now want yellow to remain.

The cost of respraying

David Wilson, from Blueline Taxis, had argued for the change to a manufacturer standard colour to save on respraying costs, which he said could be up to £1,800.

Council officers noted the majority of cars across the fleet are second hand therefore would have to be resprayed regardless, as owners would prioritise other issues when purchasing a car.

Mr Wilson said: “Respraying vehicles comes at an unnecessary cost, it doesn’t matter whether it’s £220 or £1,800.

“This is not something for a democratic vote, it’s not a beauty contest, it’s not a matter of civic pride, it’s a matter of regulatory burdens.

“I don’t believe there is any justification for believing that the majority of vehicles would have to be resprayed, the evidence from elsewhere is that vehicle proprietors buy vehicles that are the right colour.

“Vehicle colour is only one of a number of means of identifying hackney carriages, there are other identifying features.”

Several hackney carriage owners noted the respray costs could be as little as £220, while a change to a manufacturers standard colour could lead to vehicles of that colour increasing in price when taxi drivers are looking to buy.

Councillors also raised concerns changing the colour could impact vulnerable people in the town and those with disabilities.

Coun Amy Prince said: “You’ve got to think about people with disabilities, people know yellow cars are friendly and you can just get into a yellow car and get home.

“I think that changing the colour really threatens our vulnerable people in Hartlepool.”


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PostPosted: Thu Dec 05, 2019 11:52 am 
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Hartlepool HCD wrote:
“When you get a firm that comes into town on their high horse and wants to change the colour of the taxi we do stand up, we scream and shout."

:evil:

Hartlepool HCD wrote:
“When you’re out for a drink you’re zombied towards a yellow cab."

:-s

Hartlepool HCD wrote:
“We don’t mind paying the £250 to spray a brand new car or a second hand car yellow because we’ve been doing it for the last 20 years, we’ve never gone to the council and complained about it.”

A £250 full-body respray on a brand new car? :shock:

Quote:
David Wilson, from Blueline Taxis, had argued for the change to a manufacturer standard colour to save on respraying costs, which he said could be up to £1,800.

More realistic figure, but suspect a top-notch job on a new car would cost more?

Quote:
Council officers noted the majority of cars across the fleet are second hand therefore would have to be resprayed regardless, as owners would prioritise other issues when purchasing a car.

This pi$h again? #-o

How many even quite old second hand cars actually require a full body respray :roll:

Quote:
Mr Wilson said: “Respraying vehicles comes at an unnecessary cost, it doesn’t matter whether it’s £220 or £1,800."

Well it would if it was your car and you only spent £220 on a respray 8-[

Quote:
“This is not something for a democratic vote, it’s not a beauty contest, it’s not a matter of civic pride, it’s a matter of regulatory burdens.

“I don’t believe there is any justification for believing that the majority of vehicles would have to be resprayed, the evidence from elsewhere is that vehicle proprietors buy vehicles that are the right colour."

Slightly more realistic assessment.

Quote:
Several hackney carriage owners noted the respray costs could be as little as £220, while a change to a manufacturers standard colour could lead to vehicles of that colour increasing in price when taxi drivers are looking to buy.

You'd think they were all sourced from the same supplier. In Hartlepool. Suspect because they're yellow, if they're buying them in that colour to avoid a respray then they're sourced from all over the country, so doubt if the demand for yellow cabs in Hartlepool affects the market price much.

But, as usual, some half-baked and no doubt grossly exaggerated arguments here, and difficult to work out the exact machinations going on.

But the remarks about an interloper coming into town, and a PH operator to boot, suggests there's probably more of a hidden agenda and it's about more than simply colour and cost. But who knows?

Suspect the PH operator who instigated the debate also has a toehold in the HC sector. But he initially managed to persuade a few HC proprietors about the merits of a change.

Maybe some changed their mind because they feared it would blur the HC/PH distinction. Like those who prefer that HCs are purpose built because it helps maintain the distinction [-(


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PostPosted: Thu Dec 05, 2019 1:11 pm 
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Hartlepool HCD wrote:
“When you get a firm that comes into town on their high horse and wants to change the colour of the taxi we do stand up, we scream and shout."

So that'll be Blueline from Tyneside, who're big in the north east and have obviously expanded into Hartlepool, predictably to the chagrin of local HCDs?

Quote:
David Wilson, from Blueline Taxis, had argued for the change to a manufacturer standard colour to save on respraying costs, which he said could be up to £1,800.

Wasn't the ex-licensing officer who was involved in encouraging the cross-border stuff in that neck of the woods called David Wilson? Or something like that.

It's all becoming clearer now :roll:


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PostPosted: Fri Dec 06, 2019 3:41 am 
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Quote:
It's all becoming clearer now :roll:

Indeed.

Suspect the reason the 20 odd drivers changed their tunes was down to someone reminding them it would deter outsiders from flooding the town.

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