Taxi Driver Online

Wycombe District Council agrees to lift cap on un-booked taxi numbers

AN unlimited number of un-booked taxis will soon be allowed to operate in High Wycombe, Marlow and Princes Risborough after five years of wrangling. The cap on hackney carriages – which shoppers can hail – in Wycombe district will be lifted on September 7 after being originally agreed by councillors in July 2004.

The 2004 decision to de-regulate numbers could not be put into action until vehicle type could be agreed and a new rank was provided, on level two of the Eden/Newland car park. A taxi leader today warned the recession-hit trade would suffer and the new rank was not big enough.

But Councillor John Savage said: “We hope that this initiative will benefit both residents and visitors alike by having more vehicles at ranks, particularly at peak periods. “It is hoped that these changes will also increase the provision of hackney carriages with accessibility for wheelchair users.”

The council hopes the move will increase the number of hackney carriages in Marlow and Princes Risborough. Khalil Ahmed, a hackney carriage driver, said the move was likely to treble the 50 currently operating in the district, creating more pollution and congestion. He said: “They are going ahead with implementing this, regardless of the economic climate.”

Drivers lost a rank by Tesco when Eden was developed – but Mr Ahmed said the new facility was not good enough. He said: “Nobody even knows it’s there. It is pointless.”

The council should carry out a survey to assess if the extra cabs were needed, he added. “You will get times when you come out of a club and you can’t get a taxi but you can’t have a taxi for every individual out there. “We adequately serve the people of High Wycombe.”

The council agreed that all taxis should be wheelchair accessible. It changed the policy after the Government recommended in 2003 that councils lift the cap on cab numbers. There are no limits on pre-booked private hire vehicles though these, like hackney carriages, must be registered with the council.

_________________
IDFIMH

Dam you beat me to it

And me too!!

_________________
Kind regards,

Brummie Cabbie.

Type a message, post your news,
Disagree with other members' views;
But please, do have some decorum,
When debating on the TDO Forum.

Is it a competition

_________________
Note to self: Just because it pops into my head does NOT mean it should come out of my mouth!!

Life's a competition.

You compete all your life, then ................

YOU DIE!!!

_________________
Kind regards,

Brummie Cabbie.

Type a message, post your news,
Disagree with other members' views;
But please, do have some decorum,
When debating on the TDO Forum.

Does that mean you will be applying?

_________________
IDFIMH

That's a depressing outlook on life

_________________
Note to self: Just because it pops into my head does NOT mean it should come out of my mouth!!