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| Unlicensed drivers say How will these kids get to school http://www.taxi-driver.co.uk/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=7406 |
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| Author: | JD [ Thu Nov 29, 2007 6:44 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Unlicensed drivers say How will these kids get to school |
Gloucestershire Echo November 27, 2007 Tuesday How will these kids get to school? A Vital school taxi service for special needs children is under threat. From January 1, government regulations will stop part-time drivers - mainly young mums and retired people - from driving children with special needs. The county's biggest provider of transport for children, Denwell Transport, relies on 180 specially-trained part-time drivers to take up to 800 youngsters from across the county to and from school each day. From next year the drivers, who are currently covered by special insurance to perform the service, will have to pay £1,200 for Hackney carriage or private hire licences. Bosses at Denwell say the extra cost will put them out of business. And parents say their children will suffer because they have developed close relationships with their drivers. Owner Penny Dennis said: "This move is impossible for our drivers. "They are mainly young mothers and newly retired people. "They're not professional drivers, and the Government's measure here is like saying you should have to pay £1,200 per year for the privilege of working part-time in a shop for the minimum wage." Denwell, based in Gloucester, is under contract to Gloucestershire County Council, which has commended the company for its work, including placing it first in a recent value for money report. The company ferries children to and from more than 30 schools. Without its main source of business, Denwell is likely to close. Penny said: "We met the county council on Friday and are sending letters to tell parents that we will be forced to finish at Christmas. "This is 85 per cent of our business and we won't be able to continue when we lose it. "Our drivers do far more than just take the youngsters to and from school. "They get to know them very well and often arrive early to help with breakfast and things like that. "Because they know the youngsters they are also well aware of their needs and are trained to deal with anything. "If professional drivers are the only people available will they be fully trained and able to provide the consistency these youngsters need?" Driver Diane Arnold, who works for Denwell, takes four children to Alderman Knight School daily. She said: "I got involved when I retired as a home care assistant. I had children of my own with special educational needs and wanted to do something that would help. "I work from 7-9.30am and then from 2.15-4.30pm every weekday. "I enjoy it and have built a good relationship with the children. "I don't want to stop doing this, but when I enquired about getting a licence from Gloucestershire County Council, I was told it would cost £1,200. I can't afford that." Steve Thompson of Little London, Longhope, sends his daughter Emily, 13, to school with Diane. He said: "She has Down's Syndrome and the service Denwell provides is great. We are very concerned about what will happen in the new year. "Diane and the other Denwell drivers know how to handle the children and we're unsure other drivers would be able to do that." Yvonne Smith, of Orchard Avenue, Cheltenham, is the mother and full-time carer of 11-year-old Jack who is autistic. She said: "He has attended Bettridge School since he was two-and-a-half. In all that time he has had just two drivers. "Any change will be devastating to him. Even when the driver is off sick he has a really hard time. "He relies heavily on routine. This change will really set him back terribly, not just at school, but also at home because his days will be completely thrown out." ____________________ |
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| Author: | Sussex [ Thu Nov 29, 2007 6:49 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Unlicensed drivers say "How will these kids get to |
JD wrote: From next year the drivers, who are currently covered by special insurance to perform the service, will have to pay £1,200 for Hackney carriage or private hire licences.
Bosses at Denwell say the extra cost will put them out of business. Oh dear it breaks my heart. 
Let's all have a whip round for the unlicensed unchecked folks who for many years have laughed at fully licensed fully checked drivers. |
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| Author: | no tips [ Thu Nov 29, 2007 7:27 pm ] |
| Post subject: | |
I do think there could be another type of license for this sort of driver special needs/school drivers badge with at minimal cost. but not allowing any ph/taxi work.but with the same checks as we all have... |
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| Author: | Sussex [ Thu Nov 29, 2007 7:36 pm ] |
| Post subject: | |
no tips wrote: I do think there could be another type of license for this sort of driver special needs/school drivers badge with at minimal cost. but not allowing any ph/taxi work.but with the same checks as we all have...
Well in all fairness there is, it's called PSV. |
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| Author: | grandad [ Thu Nov 29, 2007 9:50 pm ] |
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I would have to ask the question, Why don't the company doing the work do what everyone else has to do, namely put the right price on the job so that the additional costs can be covered. All the other company's that will have to quote for the work will be having to take these costs into consideration. |
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| Author: | Tulsablue [ Thu Nov 29, 2007 11:23 pm ] |
| Post subject: | |
Sussex wrote: no tips wrote: I do think there could be another type of license for this sort of driver special needs/school drivers badge with at minimal cost. but not allowing any ph/taxi work.but with the same checks as we all have... Well in all fairness there is, it's called PSV. It's also in the latest "Bus Bill" going through now, to allow "volunteers" with a section 19 or 22 permit the use of under eight seater's. The main criteria is that they don't make a profit. So you set up a company pay the directors fees and reasonable "expenses" to the driver and hey presto, no licence, no drivers hours, no maintenance, no training needed, no sod all. But it is for "Charity", yeah right!!, just another loophole ](./images/smilies/eusa_wall.gif "Brick wall")
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| Author: | Sussex [ Fri Nov 30, 2007 9:14 am ] |
| Post subject: | |
Tulsablue wrote: It's also in the latest "Bus Bill" going through now, to allow "volunteers" with a section 19 or 22 permit the use of under eight seater's. The main criteria is that they don't make a profit. So you set up a company pay the directors fees and reasonable "expenses" to the driver and hey presto, no licence, no drivers hours, no maintenance, no training needed, no sod all.
I think it's more of a commercial rate, so if the bosses did make good money out of a contract I'm pretty sure that would be outside of the law. Only time will tell. |
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| Author: | skippy41 [ Fri Nov 30, 2007 2:36 pm ] |
| Post subject: | |
£1200 seems ott for a licence there, how can the council justify charging that amount even for taxi drivers, ours is £175 and we think we are being done 
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| Author: | grandad [ Fri Nov 30, 2007 2:40 pm ] |
| Post subject: | |
Just a guess but I think the £1200 will include the additional cost of the correct insurance. 
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