Taxi Driver Online

Blackpool Gazette

June 19, 2007

Alarm over new taxi-cab regulations

BLACKPOOL'S cabbies are alarmed over plans to bring in tougher regulations to govern them.

They say that the cost of medical examinations, criminal records checks and vehicle safety checks are making the cost of setting up as a driver prohibitive and "squeezing the life out of the industry".

And they are against the idea of in-cab stickers with a number for passengers to report cabbies driving dangerously.

Most controversial of all are the council's proposals that any cab over 10 years old should be withdrawn from service.

The taxi drivers point out that it is perfectly possible for a vehicle of that age to be fully roadworthy.

It's easy to be sympathetic towards a group trying to ply its trade in the face of increasing regulation. But the council must look at the wider picture.

Officers point out that they have a responsibility to "promote local environmental initiatives by setting vehicle emissions standards or promoting cleaner fuel". They say that generally, standards are high, but that a few rogues spoil the picture and because of that, more regulation would benefit all.

It is to be hoped that council and the taxi trade can come to a compromise which will see that goal achieved without penalising a trade which is vital to Blackpool's holiday industry.
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Surprised no-one has mentioned the £40,000 plate value.

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IDFIMH

There will be none left then.

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IDFIMH