In 2007 Warrington commissioned a study into Taxi and private hire licensing, the study didn’t take the form of a survey but it did oddly enough recommend removing quantity controls. Warrington hasn’t had an independent survey for quite some time in fact the last unmet demand observations they made were conducted in house. They commissioned Jacobs to undertake this recent study and although Jacobs didn’t mention it they used data taken from TDO to compliment their report.
Some of the more noticeable contributions are at odds with the way Jacobs have conducted some of their other unmet demand surveys because in this report they placed great reliance on the likes of plate values being a powerful indicator to the presense of unmet demand.
Having admitted to this fact it begs the question why this important element of demand was deliberately omitted from surveys such as the one conducted in Edinburgh?
A few observations taken from the report are as follows but it must be pointed out that anyone wishing to obtain a plate in Warrington should have no problem when you consider the fact that this report actually recommends removing quantity controls in favour of "quality controls" and the fact that Warrington hasn't had an independent survey for quite some time, if ever?
Jacobs highlighted the following information in their report, the first was taken from the restricted councils list published on TDO, even though Jacobs didn't acknowledge the fact taxi Driver Online was the only organisation in the United Kingdom that accurately published these upto date facts.
1.
"Warrington is one of 86 out of 343 licensing authorities in England and Wales to have limitations on the number of hackney plates issued."
2.
"The value of a taxi plate cannot be a criterion for measuring unmet demand but it can be argued that it is a powerful indication of there being unmet demand."
3.
"Those stakeholders primarily representing users cannot see the logic of limiting plate numbers, and want more hackney carriages, especially accessible ones. There are perceived to be times when it is difficult to get hackney carriages, and that hackney carriages are perceived to be generally of a higher standard than private hire vehicles.
"
4.
6.2 Comments on Plate delimitation
"From our knowledge of the Warrington market, the extensive consultation that has taken place as part of this study and our knowledge of what has happened after plate delimitation in other places, we believe that delimitation must take place in Warrington, as it would be very much in the public interest to do so."
"It is appreciated that some parts of the trade will be opposed to this, as they will see it as a threat to their livelihoods."
"“However the true test is whether it is in the public interest and whether it eases access into the industry. Quality controls will replace quantity controls. There will be better vehicles and better trained drivers plus opportunities for new people to come into the trade. This should mean the business will be made more attractive to the customers so additional revenue will be generated.“
The full six megabyte report.
http://www.warrington.gov.uk/Images/Rep ... -12595.pdf
Regards
JD
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