A bit more evidence here that it's as much about 'new blood' than existing drivers
Herefordshire taxi drivers gear up for further protest over licensing changeshttps://www.gloucestershirelive.co.uk/n ... er-6763551Petition pushes Herefordshire Council into a new round of talks over proposed regulation.Taxi drivers say Herefordshire Council is on a one-way journey to wiping out their trade in the county. They want a new round of consultation over proposed taxi regulation changes and gearing up for further protests to get it.
The anger at the present “one-way” consultation process went public with a rally in Hereford last Friday that saw a petition presented at a full council meeting. Hereford Hackney Carriage and Private Hire Association chairman John Jones said: “We want a meeting between the association and licensing officers, but we need councillors to sit in so they can hear the sense that’s being talked.”
The Association fears around 80% of the county's drivers will leave the trade if the council proceeds with its present plans for a regulatory overhaul. That overhaul ranges from the way drivers and vehicles are licensed to have a knowledge-style test of the county’s routes and setting tight age limits on vehicles.
A final policy recommendation on the changes will be put to full council in May. A consultation took place late last year on the changes that the association says didn't fully engage with driver concerns. Branding the present process "one way", the association is calling for councillors to be part of a new consultation on driver terms.
At Friday's full council, the driver petition was passed to Coun Ange Tyler, cabinet member for regulatory services. She told the council meeting: “We are going through the results of the consultation, and I am listening to all the concerns being made by the taxi trade."
The association has previously said taxi waits already topping two hours or more could get even longer if new rules refused licences to cabs first registered or manufactured more than five years ago, for environmental reasons. Vehicles over two years old would meanwhile have to meet or exceed specified emission standards, while more recent cars would have to meet the most stringent standards.
On that basis, said Mr Jones, the new rules may mean have of the county's current cab fleet would need replacing. “The new rules will decimate the taxi trade, there is already an acute shortage of taxi drivers, leading to people having to wait for two hours or more," said Mr Jones. This has meant people missing hospital appointments, or women having to walk home unaccompanied late at night, he said.
Views are currently being sought on a new taxi policy for the county drafted for the council by specialist solicitor James Button. This proposes refusing to grant licences from next April to cars that were first registered or manufactured more than five years ago, for environmental reasons.
Vehicles over two years old would meanwhile have to meet or exceed “Euro 5” emission standards, while more recent cars would have to meet the most stringent Euro 6 standards. The association estimates about 50% of the county's present taxi fleet is over 10 years old and would need replacing.
The county has already seen a significant fall in taxi driver numbers due to rising costs and an administration the association brands "overbearing". Fewer drivers are coming through given the prohibitive and lengthy nature nature of the licence application process, the association says.
Login
Register
FAQ
