Taxi Driver Online

August 31, 2007 Friday

Bid for more taxis to end cab queues

DAVID JOHNSON

The number of taxis in Stoke-on-Trent could be dramatically increased in a bid to curb street fights and cut waiting times.

The city council believes there is a shortage of cabs in Stoke-on-Trent compared to other cities, and it wants to scrap the limit on the number of Hackney Carriage licences given out.

Long queues for taxis in the city centre on Friday and Saturday nights are flash-points for drink-fuelled trouble.

Unlike private hire vehicles, Hackney Carriages can pick up customers without being pre-booked.

And licensing managers are worried a lack of Hackney Carriages is increasing the number of revellers putting themselves at risk by trying to flag down private hire vehicles or accepting rides from unofficial, unlicensed drivers.

Councillor Joy Garner, pictured, chairman of the council's licensing and consumer protection committee, said: "For too long, local people and visitors to Stoke-on-Trent have struggled to find a taxi for love or money.

"In the evenings, when pubs and clubs are emptying out, it is virtually impossible for people to find a taxi.

"As a result, illegal ranks have sprung up and passengers have hailed private hire vehicles - a situation which means they are travelling uninsured."

At the moment, only 87 Hackney Carriage licences are in circulation, but councillors are expected to recommend complete de-regulation at a meeting today.

Demand for the permits is so high, they change hands between operators in the city for up to £30,000 - even though the cost from the council is just £140 per driver a year and £215 a year for each vehicle.

Companies operating four or more vehicles are charged £1,600 for a three-year licence.

If the changes are approved, the new rules will come into force from April.

Councillors accept there is already a shortage of taxi ranks in the city, and they want to look at increasing the number and size of official pick-up points to cope with the anticipated surge in Hackney Carriages on the road.

In addition, they want to drive up the quality of taxis by insisting all Hackney Carriages given the new permits are no more than a few years old and able to carry people with disabilities.

Councillor Garner added: "This will finally give Stoke-on-Trent the opportunity to catch up with cities like Sheffield and Liverpool where taxis are easier to find."

Private hire drivers will be able to apply for the new Hackney Carriage licences, and it is hoped those who do not will feel less pressure to "pirate" for customers who have not booked.

Dave Currie, secretary of Stoke-on-Trent Private Hire Association, welcomed the plans - even though they will mean extra competition for his members.

Mr Currie said: "It will be damaging for some private hire operators, but it will be healthy because it will make everyone sharpen up their act. The current system is antiquated and anti-competitive and it has to go.

"At the moment, Hackney Carriages aren't subject to market forces and they can do what they want.

"They are expensive in comparison to private hire vehicles, and introducing competition can only be healthy for the people of Stoke-on-Trent."

But Glyn Salt, secretary of Stoke-on-Trent Hackney Carriage Association, was more cautious, saying: "We believe there should be a needs survey carried out before any changes are made.

"Without one, any new policy would be fundamentally flawed."

Should there be more taxis in Stoke-on-Trent?
____________________________

Not exactly rocket science.

If you have got loads of people and not loads of cabs then those loads of people are going to get home via other means.

_________________
IDFIMH

Let the punters decide.

_________________
IDFIMH

As per usual , not enough police to control the turmoil and no public-transport, but of course that is the Hackney Trades fault, and he used Liverpool as an example but conveniently fails to state that it has taken over 20 years for the trade to regroup after being deregulated..

It is always the way, people with no experience trying to dig themselves out of a whole that they have created, nothing new there then. next it will be enforcement officers out on the streets issuing parking tickets to drivers that are illegally parked waiting to get on a rank.

_________________
Justice for the 96. It has only taken 27 years...........repeat the same lies for 27 years and the truth sounds strange to people!

_________________
All animals are equal but some animals are more equal than others.
George Orwell, "Animal Farm"