Taxi Driver Online

New legal hope for taxi drivers

TAXI drivers hope a 19th century public health act could scupper plans to create a free-for-all for cabbies in East Yorkshire. East Riding of Yorkshire Council's decision to replace individual licensing areas with a single East Riding zone and standardised fares could now depend on a decision by the Secretary of State.

The council wants to bring in the changes from April this year but before it can it has to dissolve part of the 1875 public health act relating to the licensing of Hackney cabs which would remove the existing five licensing zones. As a local authority it hasn't the power to do that, the act can only be changed at government level.

People wanting to object to the council not applying section 171(4) of the public health act 1875 in respect of licensing and regulation of Hackney Carriages within the East Riding have to make their view known in writing to the Director of Social Services, Housing and Public Protection, East Riding of Yorkshire Council, County Hall, Beverley HU17 9BA by January 28.

Cabbies say a single licensing zone will hit business and mean higher fares for Bridlington people. A spokesman for East Riding of Yorkshire Council, said: "Anything we received will be forwarded to the Secretary of State. "Dave North of the Bridlington Taxi Association said his group will be objecting to the public health act changes. "Drivers and owners have already done individual "no to de-zoning" letters which we are sending to the national Private Hire Association which has taken up the matter on behalf of all East Riding area drivers," he said.

A petition of more than 1,500 objectors in Bridlington has also been given to Bridlington MP Greg Knight who volunteered to take it to Westminster and the Secretary of State on their behalf.

Brian Roland, general secretary of the National Private Hire Association, claimed the council was pushing through the deregulation and zoning changes as a knee-jerk response to guidelines from the Office of Fair Trading and a government view that current regulations reduced the availability of cabs and restricted those wanting to set up taxi businesses.
"They failed as an authority to give sufficient consideration to taxis and private hire when putting together their five-year transport strategy plan. "It is now being pushed through without considering the consequences on the ground," said Mr Roland.

He has already had meetings with ERYC officials and says he is hoping for a further meeting to discuss the issues involved.

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IDFIMH

Sad to state, but ive stated it before for differing reasons.

You have a guy here who I understand has no financial interest in the licensed trade outside that of a paper.

Yet all and sundry seem to wish to listen to a person who doesnt seem to have ever driven a cab or PH.

If this site has perhaps one worthwhile goal for 2005, it should be the outing of the fool.

regards

Captain cab

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Think of how stupid the average person is, and realize half of them are stupider than that.
George Carlin

Woefully Wrong , never been a cab or p/h driver.YOU got that wrong,

Recognised by the courts of this land as a expert authority on taxi and p/h law

Fair,s fair just because he is not in the N.T.A. no need to make up stories. love MR T.

NO

_________________
Think of how stupid the average person is, and realize half of them are stupider than that.
George Carlin

and I added the "I understand" bit

Captain cab

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Think of how stupid the average person is, and realize half of them are stupider than that.
George Carlin

CAP.....And i did not say P....P.. O.K MR T. A. M .L

Where did he drive Private hire?


JD

I'm sorry after 1945 I stopped working at Bletchly Park.




Please enlighten us all then Mr T, tell me when he worked as a taxi driver or proprietor and where, likewise with PH.



I'm sure the nation will sleep well in their beds knowing our Judiciary are prepared to give unbiased credence to a person who represents an organisation with a vested interest.

With all due respect, I'd rather Sussex or JD were called, they seem to know taxi and PH law as far more. I'd get a fairer trial.

Regards

Captain cab

I wonder if the true feelings of PH drivers where represented in PHM if the guy would swing with the owners rather than jockies?

_________________
Think of how stupid the average person is, and realize half of them are stupider than that.
George Carlin

Just one question to ease my mind here.

Was Mr T in Iraq 18 months ago dressed in a green uniform, telling reporters, No, No, we are not losing this war, today we have destroyed the US army?

Captain cab

_________________
Think of how stupid the average person is, and realize half of them are stupider than that.
George Carlin

Where did he drive a Hackney?

JD

So lets get this right,

The National Taxi Association
The National Private Hire Association
and
The TGWU

all are against derestriction.

People state that no-one with a vested interest should be consulted, is that right ?

If so then who would be involved in consultation, I don't think that individual drivers could be ?

If any member of any of these groups is not happy with what their representatives are saying then vote them out, or if your not happy with any of the groups then form your own.

It's possible that the only objectors to restrictions could be on here, as administrators or prominant posters, making asumptions that they have support, when in fact the true support lies with the major groups and what they are calling for.

B. Lucky

Who stated that and when?

JD

The argument is always "well he would say that because of his vested interest" when it should be pointed out that the majority of representatives have the interest of their membership at heart.

If Mr Roland (I'm no fan of the man) is not representing what his members want then he won't be their representative for long, but history suggests that he IS representative as he has held his position.

B. Lucky

Its worthy of note that you didn't respond to that statement JD.

B. Lucky

As far as I'm aware I was under the impression that this request to remove zones was a formality? It's understandable that the Taxi trade in the restricted Zoned areas would try and prevent the Council from carrying out its preferred policy. They would naturally face increased competition.



Meaning of course, Councillors can never exercise their right as elected councillors, to change their policy with regard to the Taxi Trade, unless it's on the Cab drivers terms.



Well David, at least you have the sense to not use the "JR" word. Or are you saving that as a last resort?



I'm surprised MR. Roland has set himself up as Judge, Jury and executioner, it may have been wiser not to make such an unqualified conditional statement. He is not a Judge and has no legal standing whatsoever, to therefore say the council have behaved with impropriety is elevating himself to a status above that of which he is entitled.

He may assume the Council has behaved improperly but it is up to a court of law to legally determine that fact.

Before one bestows on oneself the mantle of both Judge and Jury, they should consider by which authority they are empowered to do so.

Mr Roland may have Grandiose aspirations of being a legal eagle but I must remind him that Mr Button who probably has a far greater legal mind and comprehension of the law than him, was recently put in his place by our judiciary. Need I say more.

Best wishes

JD