Taxi Driver Online

MHK SLAMS TAXI SURVEY 'SHAMBLES'

A SECOND survey into the taxi trade has been scrapped, causing more embarrassment for the Department of Transport. The saga has been branded a 'shambles' and a 'disgrace' by an MHK.

Douglas North member Bill Henderson said a director of Taxi Cabs, Douglas, received a call demanding a free cab and access to the business's paperwork. The caller gave no indication of who they were, Mr Henderson alleged.

It is believed the individual was employed by a subcontractor, Freeman Research Associates, which is working on a second DoT survey to see if more taxis are needed. The first survey — carried out by a different firm — was scrapped amid concerns responses were 'flawed'.

Mr Henderson described Thursday's incident as 'the strangest goings-on I have ever heard of in my entire life'. He said the cab firm was contacted by someone who demanded access to the premises to audit private business information.

Mr Henderson said the caller did not say exactly who they were and what they were up to, nor did they say they had any DoT authorisation. The caller, said Mr Henderson, demanded a free cab for 6.45am the next day to take them to the office to start the audit.

He claimed another cab firm received a similar call on Friday night — despite the fact the DoT had called a halt to the survey that day. 'The whole thing has been a shambles and a disgrace,' said Mr Henderson. 'The DoT should be deeply embarrassed. It has caused absolute mayhem throughout the taxi trade. Everybody is up in arms about it.'

Jenny Neggatt, director of research services at principal contractor TPI, said she was extremely surprised at the allegations. The first she heard of them was when the Isle of Man Examiner contacted her.

She said: 'I am extremely surprised if that happened, as it's completely out of character. I have never experienced that sort of client behaviour. It seems to fly in the face of everything that I know about our subcontractors.'

In a statement issued on Friday, the DoT said it 'became aware of difficulties that arose yesterday involving the survey team who were seeking to gain access to the taxi call centres to monitor activity levels'.

It said: 'The department has instructed the survey company to cease any further activity with the taxi survey. 'The company director in charge of the project attended a meeting today and it was emphasised that the actions of the survey team had seriously embarrassed the department.

'It was reiterated that no further work should be carried out for the survey until further notice. The department now needs to carefully consider its position. 'Before any further work on the survey takes place it is anticipated that a full discussion will be held involving all stakeholders and the company director has indicated her willingness to attend.'

Only last week, Transport Minister Phil Braidwood admitted the first survey, also carried out by a subcontractor on behalf of TPI, had been scrapped because of concerns it was 'flawed'.

Employees of that subcontractor said that in another study they had been asked to falsify responses. Mr Braidwood said the results of the Freeman Research Associates study had been due on his desk in July.

Mr Henderson said the taxi trade believed the first survey was thrown out because it didn't show the result the government wanted. He said: 'If we issue any more plates the marketplace will be swamped and cab firms will go out of business. 'They have mortgages to pay and families to keep.'

No one from Freeman Research Associates was available for comment.

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IDFIMH

Was that you JD?

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IDFIMH

Need anyone say anymore.

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IDFIMH

And is any surprised about that?

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IDFIMH

lol..... I had a good laff at this fiasco. It would seem the contractor wants access to the job sheets of the local Taxi firms? In my opinion that is a necessity of anyone undertaking a survey. It is a pity Jacobs didn't do the same in Edinburgh but no doubt they could learn a valuable lesson from this company.

Regards

JD

Will the illegal hires appear on the job sheets though?

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Former taxi driver

The reference made was to Taxi call centres, I suspect their research might have been limited to just Hackney carriages.

JD