Taxi Driver Online

Nothing particularly new here, but makes a change for a council official to be making the case rather than elected members.


Why Warrington taxis are under threat from out of town firms

Steven Broomhead is chief executive of Warrington Borough Council and writes a regular column for the Warrington Guardian

A vital part of our local transport system is our local taxi services.

We should all be proud of our taxi businesses which have made considerable investment to ensure passenger and driver safety and an overall good journey experience.

The investment in CCTV in all taxis, enhanced driver tests, rigorous safety checks, a proactive response to the net zero agenda, and a licensing arrangement that combines compliance with the laws of the enforcement of quality standards. Visits to other places show that we are well ahead as a town in making these provisions.

Unfortunately, all of this is now under threat as a result of the “deregulation” which is creating a free market for other taxi operatives, outside of town, to trade for business. Warrington is now experiencing a surge in taxis licensed by far away councils and app-based companies who sometimes provide a service with little local knowledge.

One council now licences over 40,000 cars and while it argues that it does enforce standards, a number of us remain to be convinced as it certainly doesn’t meet the high standards the taxi business is proud of here. Quality is undermined by all the development of a free market that seems willing to ignore appropriate standards.

All of these matters have been raised with government and I remain hopeful that priority will be given to new legislation that has at its core, high local standards and appropriate regulation.

Taxi drivers here have met, and all expressed their concerns.

If you need, and can afford a taxi, it is important to receive a quick, safe and efficient service – the current situation, unless changed, could lead a race to the bottom in terms of standards and customer experience, we shouldn’t allow this to happen.

Wonder which unnamed council he would be referring to here?

Well said, and I hope he and his like-minded Chief Executives have been telling the DfT that things need to change.

Personally I think they will.

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IDFIMH