JD wrote:
For years the number of private hire plates has been restricted by the council.
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| Bradford Cabbies call for the head of Paul Mills http://www.taxi-driver.co.uk/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=6759 |
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| Author: | JD [ Wed Aug 22, 2007 8:49 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Bradford Cabbies call for the head of Paul Mills |
I believe this incident was seperate to the one that took place on Monday. I notice these drivers are calling for the head of Paul Mills, presumably because he didn't advocate a survey in order to protect their license plate premium? I would just like to say that as a subscriber to TDO Paul Mills has my full support. _____________________ August 18, 2007 Saturday HEADLINE: Taxi strike brings chaos to city Bradford Telegraph And Argus Main roads into and out of Bradford city centre were paralysed by striking taxi drivers last night following a controversial ruling at the city's Crown Court. Up to 200 vehicles and as many as 400 drivers were involved in the wildcat strike action in the city centre over a ruling made by Judge Jonathan Durham Hall concerning the issuing of taxi plates. From 5pm last night scores of Bradford Hackney Carriage taxis took to the streets in a moving protest before blocking off Broadway and Hall Ings to traffic. The drivers were calling for the immediate dismissal of the head of the Council's Hackney Carriage unit, Paul Mills, and an urgent meeting with the Council's Chief Executive. The discontent has long been simmering but came to a head yesterday. For years the number of private hire plates has been restricted by the council. However, yesterday's ruling, in the case of Bharjis Qayum, a single mother who had been denied a disabled taxi licence but who won her case against the authority, could open the door for a huge influx of new applicants. For years the authority has restricted the number of hackney carriages in the district to 224, and would-be cabbies were refused once that limit was hit. But new rules say if the Council wants to regulate the number of taxis it must be able to prove there is no unmet demand - through an up-to-date independent survey. Miss Quayum's barrister Emma Downing argued that a survey was last done in March 2003 and guidance suggested they be updated every three years. The Council argued the survey was still current but the court found in Miss Quayum's favour. Chairman of the Bradford Hackney Carriage Drivers Association, C D Khalid, pictured, said it could lead to a "free-for-all" and damage existing licence holders' livelihoods. "This has opened the door for more licences and it will cause problems for the trade and the city. "The Council can still stop this getting any worse if they take emergency measures and conduct the survey as soon as possible." He added: "It was agreed we should all meet to discuss this issue but that meeting did not happen. We must be consulted in these matters. We were only informed four weeks before the crown court case and we were denied contact with the Council's legal team, being told not to interfere. "We are on strike because we did not get satisfaction in this case. This is the only way we can protect our livelihood. A lot of people here paid up to £60,000 for their vehicles and now they are going to give licences to anyone. "We want Paul Mills removed from his job. We have no trust in him. "We are also demanding a meeting with the Chief Executive of the Council on Monday morning. We will continue to strike until we have had this demand met." A spokesman for West Yorkshire Police said last night: "We were informed at 4.30pm that Bradford Hackney Carriage Association was to protest in the city centre. Officers are currently at the scene liaising with the organisers and attempting to mediate a solution." He confirmed that areas of the city centre had been totally blocked by taxis, particularly Hall Ings. A compromise was reached at around 7pm for drivers to allow buses from the nearby interchange to pass through the cordon of vehicles. The striking drivers were planning another blockade at 11pm. But police began clearing the vehicles shortly after 9pm. Tensions increased at around 9pm when head of the Hackney Carriage Unit, Paul Mills, arrived at the scene of the protest on Hall Ings. Mr Mills was heard to tell the assembled drivers that a meeting with the Council's Chief Executive had been scheduled for Monday afternoon. Mr Mills refused to comment on the dispute when asked by the Telegraph & Argus. ______________________ |
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| Author: | TDO [ Thu Aug 23, 2007 4:24 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Bradford Cabbies call for the head of Paul Mills |
JD wrote: For years the number of private hire plates has been restricted by the council.
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| Author: | edders23 [ Sat Aug 25, 2007 12:18 pm ] |
| Post subject: | |
Isn't it about time the government sorted this out on a national level instead of local authority by local authority I think it is about time we had the same rules for everyone nationwide then all these squabbles would be ended and the average income of solicitors would probably drop dramatically 
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| Author: | JD [ Sat Aug 25, 2007 4:28 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Bradford Cabbies call for the head of Paul Mills |
TDO wrote: JD wrote: For years the number of private hire plates has been restricted by the council. I noticed that lol obviously a journalistic error. Regards JD |
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