Taxi Driver Online

Taxi drivers could lose licence

TWO thirds of Worcester taxi drivers have been warned they could lose their licences if they continue to ignore requests to collect official guidebooks. The city council is fuming after it was revealed 264 taxi drivers, owners and operators in Worcester do not have up-to-date copies.

Only 108 drivers have picked the books up from the authority so far - despite having had since February to do so. But the taxi driver association said drivers had not collected the book because of a dispute over certain conditions.

Councillor Stephen Hodgson said at highly-charged licensing meeting: "We may have to look at seriously imposing conditions to say to drivers, you will lose your license unless you collect your book. "It needs that degree of seriousness - if drivers are not prepared to collect them, we have to be firm."

The book contains details on rules and conditions of the licence, as well as important safety and bylaw information. The Worcester Taxi Drivers Association (WTDA) told the trade not to collect them because it contained typing errors and omissions.

The Guildhall has now updated the book, and fired a broadside at drivers by threatening them with sanctions unless each one comes and collects a copy. It comes after the taxi trade in Worcester fell out with the city council after it published the results of a series of spot checks on cars.

Coun Dave Clark added: "We've been pussy footing around with this, and I get so fed up of drivers not getting hold of the book. "We really ought to nail it once and for all, because if we keep putting it off we're being made fools of - it's painful."

Former Worcester Mayor Coun Ian Imray, now head of licensing, said: "It's a bit disconcerting that we've got 264 people driving around Worcester streets who haven't got a copy of the new taxi drivers handbook." He added that if the take up does not near 100 per cent, he may have to "look at what sanctions" can be taken.

Anne Murphy, secretary of the WTDA, said: "The reason members did not collect the books is because of the conditions under it was imposed. "In particular, the fact the committee wanted to include something in the book saying Saloon cars should be replaced after seven years.

"They proposed it, and we said age is no guarantee of fitness, so they said it would state eight years in the handbook. "When the book came out it said seven years, and despite assurances it was an error, we were afraid that the council would impose that rule - I'm afraid there is a lack of trust. "Now it has been amended, I will persuade members to go and sign for the books."

Each taxi driver, operator and owner will be written to again to remind them to pick them up.

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IDFIMH

Our council just posts them out to us much less bother

Well that's the first thing that came to my mind.

But surely throughout the year every driver must go to licensing at least once a year, so why not give it to them then?

Or if the council is supa dupa paranoid about drivers getting the info then just post it out and add it to the cost of the license.

Storm in a tea cup methinks.

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IDFIMH

So does ours

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