Nothing particularly new here, either in terms of this area, or the dezoning/amalgamation debates more generally. (In fact I think there's a previous thread on it.)
And, as is claimed at the bottom, a lot of it is predictably related to licence quotas, but of course the vested interests in that regard won't put it that way.
But a better photo of a rank here than the one above in the Falmouth Packet - this is apparently Newquay
Bid to rid Cornwall of taxi zones could result in costly 'free for all', say concerned drivershttps://www.cornwalllive.com/news/cornw ... s-10574445The council wants a 'simplified' single Cornwall-wide zone but some taxi drivers warn of higher fares and 'leaving our most vulnerable in rural areas stranded'
Image: Cornwall LiveCornwall Council is proposing to remove six long-established taxi zones across the county to be replaced by one single taxi area for the whole of Cornwall. However, the move has been slammed by some taxi drivers who say it will lead to a "free for all" at the expense of rural areas and will result in higher fares.
Taxis in Cornwall are currently licensed in six separate areas, based on the former district councils of Penwith, Kerrier, Carrick, Restormel, North Cornwall and Caradon. Even though Cornwall Council became a single authority in 2009, these zones still exist because of legacy legislation.
It currently means that a taxi licensed in one zone can’t pick up passengers in another zone, fare tariffs are different in each zone and taxi licences only apply to one zone, although some taxis can have two taxi licences.
Cornwall Council wants to create a singular countywide area to "make things simpler for passengers, improve taxi availability and customer choice, and create a fairer and more efficient system". You can have your say on the
public consultation on the move here.
Many taxi drivers in Cornwall are not happy with the proposal. Steven Witchell, of Newquay Taxi Forum which represents the taxi trade in Cornwall's largest town, said: "This 'one size fits all' approach risks making rural journeys too expensive for passengers."
He said the current zone tariffs reflect local needs, but one Cornwall-wide tariff could impact more deprived rural areas. "Without zones, drivers naturally chase the most profitable work - city areas likes Truro and tourist towns like St Ives and Falmouth. This leaves low-profit areas abandoned unless the council pays subsidies."
He said when Cornwall's borough councils scrapped zoning in 1997, rural taxi drivers migrated to more lucrative town centres, leaving outlying villages without regular taxi services. Mr Witchell says this became a problem, particularly in winter months when public transport was limited or non-existent.
He commented: "It took years to rebuild rural coverage and even now that recovery is incomplete. Why would we repeat a proven mistake?"
Terrell Savage, of Falmouth Taxi Association, has also spoken out against the move. He said: "It will become one large free for all, leaving our most vulnerable in rural areas stranded. We will have to increase the tariff to the highest tariff currently in Cornwall, which will mean we will become too expensive for most of our customers."
Mr Witchell added: "It is my - and others' - belief that council officers are sharing next to no conversation on the negative impact this policy will have on rural Cornwall. They don't care, they have already decided this is best for them. They just need to manipulate and deliver a suitable narrative for councillors to rubber-stamp it, regardless of what is actually in the public interest.
"Most operators I have spoken to are against it and those that are for it are rubbing their hands together in anticipation of heading to Truro city centre, or Falmouth, once they are set free from the boundary restrictions."
He added: "De-zoning delivers no benefit to the people of Cornwall, especially the 65 per cent living in rural areas. It creates service collapse, loss of council revenue, higher taxpayer costs [if the council has to subsidise transport in abandoned rural areas] and leaves vulnerable residents cut off. The only group that benefits is the internal licensing department, who gain a slightly simpler admin process and can tick a box - at a devastating cost to everyone else."
We have contacted Cornwall Council for comment.
Taxi drivers raised concerns two years ago when the council agreed to remove the limit on the number of taxis operating in the Carrick, Restormel and Penwith zones following recommendations by the miscellaneous licensing committee. The zones include such busy towns as Truro, Falmouth, St Austell, Newquay, St Ives and Penzance.
"The licensing authority was fully aware that it was a controversial issue, because in those zones with a limit the taxi trade was a strong advocate of keeping a restricted fleet," said the then Conservative cabinet member for neighbourhoods Carol Mould in May 2023.
"They were understandably concerned regarding the impact on numbers of vehicles. Their belief was that de-restriction would open the floodgates and bring numerous problems with it. However, since the limits were removed in January, although there has been an increase in taxi numbers overall, the number of private hire vehicles has fallen. This is as expected."
Login
Register
FAQ
