Taxi Driver Online

Anger over 'unlimited taxis'

POLICE warnings that drunken weekend revellers were not being moved from the town centre quickly enough - leading to increased violence and anti-social behaviour - has prompted the council to propose removing the limit on licensed taxi numbers.

But existing drivers predicted that by allowing taxi demand to be driven by the 'invisible hand' of market forces, councillors would create a 'dog eat dog' situation with increasing numbers of cars touting for a dwindling share of the trade.

The warning came as members of the council's licensing committee voted on Monday to remove the restrictions on the number of Hackney Carriages, currently 66, licensed to pick up fares from taxi ranks at the station and High Street.

Those applying for Hackney Carriage licences will also have to provide full wheelchair access for disabled passengers.

Cllr Patrick Shine (IBR: Britwell), listening to advice from police, disabled groups and associations representing both licensed and private hire drivers, said: "Market forces in the end will decide what number we will need but let's at least give them a choice."

PC Malcolm Philip told councillors the move would help police disperse the thousands of people leaving pubs and clubs on the weekends, adding: "Currently the level of Hackney carriages is restricting the speed of dispersal and in effect the system is designed not to be conducive to reducing the likelihood of violent crime and anti-social behaviour," he said.

His theme was echoed by Herschel Arms landlord Tom King, representing the pub watch scheme, who said: "It is like feeding the 4,000 with one loaf."

Valerie Storie, representing the 300 members of Slough Community Transport and Shopmobilty, said people in wheelchairs needed to have the choice of taxis with full wheelchair access 24 hours a day.

Meanwhile Karamat Hussein, representing the Private Hire Association, welcomed the delimitation, saying: "For the past 15 years, the demand for taxis has been met by private hire but we do not have equal rights."

But Manjit Singh Aujla, chairman of Slough Federation of Licensed Taxi Drivers, said: "Last Saturday, there was 15 drivers waiting at the eastern end of the High Street for more than an hour. Where are the customers? With delimitation the situation will become dog eat dog."

The final decision will be made at a full meeting of Slough Borough Council in October.

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IDFIMH

Those quotes will make Sussex's day.

What is it there, 60 taxis and 400 Phs. Think of all that work thats been lost to the taxi trade.

What did the Scare-crow say in that OZ film, "If I only had a brain".

Taxis hailed a success

SOME of the first new drivers to join a fleet of additional Hackney Carriages in Solihull have been welcomed into the ranks.

Solihull Council decided to increase the number of taxis in the borough, to reduce the waiting time for customers, and the first distinctive cabs are being introduced gradually over the coming year. 30 additional licenses are being granted in the run up to the Christmas, leading to full de-restriction by August 2005.

The move follows a decision by Solihull Council to remove the current restrictions on the number of Hackney carriages licensed, with an overall 20 per cent increase on current numbers.

Councillors also agreed to dissolve the dual plate agreement between Solihull and Birmingham Councils. Drivers who wish to apply to become a Hackney carriage driver with both local authorities are still permitted to do so; but in such cases the vehicle will display both a Solihull and Birmingham Hackney Carriage Plate.

Councillor Stuart Davis, chairman of Solihull's Licensing sub-committee said: "Following our decision to allow more Hackney carriages to work in Solihull, to the benefit of the public, an improved transport system will be provided.

"The additional licenses are the first steps of an ongoing programme to enhance the Solihull experience."

"The additional licenses are the first steps of an ongoing programme to enhance the Solihull experience."

You mean Jasper Carrot doesnt come from Solihull?

Vote is for no limit on taxis

COUNCILLORS voted this week to let 'market forces' decide how many taxis grace the ranks of Slough, after removing the limit on licence numbers.

They also imposed a condition that all vehicles should be fully wheelchair accessible, at a meeting on Tuesday.

The proposals followed a Government drive to improve customer choice, and police warnings that thousands of weekend revellers were not being moved from the town centre quickly enough.

Since 1976 the number of licences has stood at 66, and plates have been known to change hands for around £45,000.

Officers suggested this revealed the demand, although a daytime survey of taxi service in High Street in 2001 found that 95% of customers did not have to wait.

Ken Bedford, a taxi driver for 20 years and spokesman for the Slough Federation of Licensed Taxi Drivers, said because there was no unmet demand, livelihoods would be threatened by increased taxi numbers. "Market forces will be a euphemism for the weak will perish and the strong will survive," he added.

However, cllr Duncan Buchanan (Lib-Dem: Baylis and Stoke) said the delimitation would create a 'level playing field', adding: "It will be better than the current situation where you cannot get a cab in the evening."

Councillors also rejected an amendment from cllr Balwinder Dhillon (Con: Upton), to defer any decision until an unmet demand survey was carried out.

But cllr David MacIsaac (Ind: Wexham) assured: "You are not going to get the mad rush because of the cost of the purpose-built vehicles, and in the end market forces will decide."

He also welcomed the condition on wheelchair access, blasting the current provision of only three vehicles.

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IDFIMH

excellent solution, so Slough will be unlike virtually all other delimited areas and there will be a plentiful supply of taxis during peak periods

dream on councillors

regards

Captain Cab

Oh you are such a cynic.

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IDFIMH

You can have 500 cabs in one place on a weekend night and they still wouldn't be enough to get people home.

According to www.tapin2taxis.co.uk the Slough boys are not taking it lying down.

'Slough Borough Council passed a resolution to deregulate the Hackney Carriage Waiting List - The Hackney Carriage Licence holders are unimpressed with the proposed move which will see an influx of extra vehicles and a drop in the value of the current plates. The Slough Taxi Drivers Federation has instructed solicitors to apply to the High Court for Judicial Review, a move that got under way on 13th October. Solicitors for the Federation Kearns & Co Swansea - Counsel for the Federation Peter Maddox Iscoed Chambers Swansea'

Perhaps they should ask Mr Cumminings what it's all about.

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IDFIMH

Desperation springs to mind, I look forward to these idiots having to pay out ten grand for the priviliage of finding out how the law applies in this instance. If the idiots in slough have a pc I suggest they log on to this site, it might save you a lot of money.

best wishes

JD

As no doubt does 'Solicitors for the Federation Kearns & Co Swansea - Counsel for the Federation Peter Maddox Iscoed Chambers Swansea' .

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IDFIMH

I don't know if anyone is aware but Kearns is one of the leading solicitors in the field of licensing litigattion. They don't know as much as us mind you but they are not bad.

Best wishes

JD