Taxi Driver Online

One other thing.

Great time for all those drivers, who sit back and let others do all the work, to join one of the big unions/associations.

Could be the best investment they ever make.

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IDFIMH

If this amendment goes through when will this take affect?

I don’t agree; many ambulant disabled are not able to walk up inclines & some of the wheelchair ramp inclines are quite steep.


I don't agree; to me this amendment is a double edged whammy.

I agree that in areas which are predominantly or wholly saloon taxis this amendment will delimit TO A POINT!

That point is qualified by the wording of the amendment which states; ‘the proportion of taxis licensed in respect of the area to which the licence would (if granted) apply that conform to the requirement in paragraph (b) is less than the proportion that is specified in regulations made by the Secretary of State.’




Conversely, I read this as applying to both the wheelchair disabled & the ambulant disabled, because the Secretary of State will now set proportions for saloon v WAV taxicabs. That to me means that there is a moved to introduce saloon taxis in areas that are 100% WAVs.

Also the way I read the amendment at paragraph (b) where it states: (b) it is possible for a disabled person –, at this point it does not distinguish the type of disabled person, but only does so at point (iii) after the word ‘and’.

So, I believe this amendment will also affect areas that are 100% WAV.


Conversely, I read this amendment that in areas with 100% WAVs councils will not be able to refuse any person applying for a licence that provides a saloon car to be licensed as a taxi. Always bearing in mind that the Secretary of State will be setting ‘proportions’ if this amendment goes through.

One good point about this amendment though; ‘while in a wheelchair of a size specified in regulations made by the Secretary of State’

At last, wheelchair size specifications that can be carried by taxicabs. Presumably any larger wheelchairs will be exempt from being carried by taxicabs?

Or is such a Secretary of State’s regulations size specified restriction on wheelchairs too much to hope for?

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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.

sussex. The wheelchair dimension are enclosed in the bill. i thought everyone had seen them. There are confusingly two sets of specs, existing and enhanced.
the existing are for existing vehicles (obviuosly) and the enhanced are for future vehicles. Do future vehicles include new TX cabs ? Do future vehicles mean new types not yet manufactured ? like everything else on this bill it means everything or nothing.
If the wheelchair specs are not on the board, somebody with admin privaleges can send me an email addy and I will forward a PDF file to be uploaded.

Only time will tell what the outcome will be, and if we are to see the end of sec 16.

But I have my doubts.

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IDFIMH

Paragraph two of this article will give us some idea of the expected timescale for the starting transition to all WAV hackneys.

http://www.wigantoday.net/wigannews/Cab ... 5994197.jp

I totally agree with you, and I am sure that the Liverpool case will play its part.
The knock-on effects will have far reaching consequences , which will probably mean more taxis becoming private hire, it's all in the spirit of free competition, which will end up with too many people chasing a decreasing market.

This is a cross-party Bill, which means it will not go away even if Labour loses the next election.

As this is a Equality Bill, than simply saying no to it is not the answer, rightly or wrongly My own personal opinion is that a national standardised survey which must obviously includes the needs of the disabled should be established, and then councils( restricted / derestricted) should be made by law to carry out and then implement it in full.. (article 16 ). what the authors of this Act are doing is simply going through the motions in an attempt to appease certain members of the disabled lobby.

This Bill has all the earmarks of being badly pened by people with no knowledge who have no desire to understand how the taxi trade works, and whether the boys and girls who drive taxis will be able to earn a living....But look on the bright side they are employed by you, the British public to act in your best interests.... and will receive an excellent pension when they retire.

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

Note that after each section (ours are around 159) peers who wish to oppose are listed at the bottom of each section. Nobody has listed an objection to our proposed amendments.

http://www.publications.parliament.uk/p ... 20-iva.htm

Clauses 120 to 122 agreed.

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

http://www.publications.parliament.uk/p ... lhan33.pdf

Read page 56 of this PDF. Lords adjourned after passing Clause 148. Sit again Tues 9-02. Our section is 159 so should be heard that day.

Who knows if the Lords will accept that amendment?

But I suspect the Commons wont if they do.

Still the trade shouldn't be complacent, but I bet most will.

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IDFIMH

Having just read this month's PHM, Mr Roland makes an interesting point in relation to those councils that still restrict.

If (as he reads this amendment) the government will put duties on restricting councils to have a certain % of WAVs on their fleets, then if those councils don't have a 100% WAV fleet (my words not his) the amount of plates will heavily increase.

The reasoning behind that is if a restricting council has 100 taxis (10% existing WAVs) and the government says they must have 50% WAVs, then that council will have to allow 40 new applications, bringing the fleet up to 140 (50 WAVs).

But 50% of 140 isn't 50, so the council will then have to license another 20 WAVs, which makes 160 taxis, and so on.

So to all those out there that haven't worked out that the answer, if they want to keep restrictions, is a 100% WAV taxi fleet, then best they get use to see a lot more cabs licensed.

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IDFIMH

It would appear Sussex is right again. Private Hire are exempt from the equality bill. Read for yourself in case I have got it wrong.

Lords WAV debate in full

they only read up to 157. we're probably next on 02/03/10

http://services.parliament.uk/bills/200 ... ality.html

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My heart is heavy, but my consience clear,
I voted Yes, without any fear.

Read the piece I linked. Amendment 120 (PH) withdrawn.
Amendment 120(a) Hackney's carried.