Dusty Bin wrote:
Brummie Cabbie wrote:
Dusty Bin wrote:
What you're saying is that entry standards in Brighton could effectively be watered down or dismantled by the back door (no jokes about Brighton's pink community, please), thus depleting earnings, which surely proves the theory??
Yes that's what I am saying, BUT which theory is being proved?
I don't understand that part of your post.
I thought there was only one in theory in play?
Brighton has high entry standards, thus better earnings.
It's possible that someone could flood Brighton with HCs plated in a low standards area, driving down earnings, thus affirming the theory in the other direction. But as things stands to all intents and purposes Brighton is a high standards area.
There's no doubt that immigration has been a huge factor as regards the economics of the trade in some areas - as is self-evident in other sectors of the economy as well - but areas/sectors with high entry standards will not be quite so affected by the influx of immigrant labour that's fundamentally changed the economics in many areas.
Compare the London HC trade to the London PH trade, for example. Look at the difference the KOL has made. In some areas immigration has changed the, er, face of the trade completely and in areas where it hasn't then I suspect you'll find higher entry standards (assuming there's a significant pool of immigrant labour in any area being considered, because if there isn't then obviously things won't have changed significantly, even if standards are low).
I agree with what you have written!
And long may Brighton and London, as examples, try to maintan high entry standards for both vehicle and driver and thus provide decent earnings for drivers.
But the long term reality is that a high standard area surrounded by lower standard areas will not survive that way and vehicles and drivers from lower standard neighbouring areas will infiltrate the premier area offering lower fares and thus undermining the standards in areas like Brighton. (I don't think it can happen in London as they have different legislation).
Lower fares will in time compromise Brighton's own fleet, because lower fares means lower earnings, means skimping on vehicle maintenance and the whole viscious cirle starts to spiral.
And as you know it is far easier for a licensing authority to maintan lower standards than higher ones; most councils 'can't be ar$ed'.
Now if the new proposed legislation were to bring in three-monthly vehicle testing by VOSA to a high national standard for all hire and reward vehicles on a national basis, together with documentary evidence at each inspection of regular vehicle maintenance, then your theory [which is correct] that high standards of vehicle will bring high earnings to drivers will not only be maintained in Brighton, but hopefully, nationally too.
Then Brighton would not have a problem maintaining the 'status quo'.
And as for immigration, it does not really bother me as far as earning a living is concerned. I will always compete with whoever. But the massive numbers influx we have had into the trades in Brum over the last decade or more has created a situation that standards have plummeted because the numbers are too big over an enormous area and no agency could cope adequately.
It is the lowering of standards caused by the huge numbers now in the trade that is the real problem, with drivers of brand new licensed vehicles trying to compete for take home pay with proprietor of vehicles that are 15 and 20 years old.