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Perth cab drivers’ fear for survival
PERTH taxi drivers claim their livelihoods are being put at risk because of a potential “loophole” in the region’s licensing laws.
A representative from three firms currently operating in-and-around the Fair City met with the PA to discuss several issues facing the industry – with the transport of disabled passengers top of the agenda.
Perth and Kinross Council’s licensing committee is set to convene tomorrow and decide whether Perth’s James Dickson and Caroline Taylor should be given documentation allowing them to park a vehicle with space for a pair of wheelchairs in ranks throughout the city.
This licence, known as a “yellow plate,” allows potential clients to be picked up without prior booking.
It also differs from the private hire alternative – referred to as a “green plate”.
Derek Sweeney, of A&B Taxis, explained: “All the ranks are full as it is and our fear is that, if this gets the go-head tomorrow, the council may end up issuing too many yellow plates.
“Apart from three or four hours on Friday and Saturday nights, there are probably too many taxis already – you would struggle to park a bike in the ranks at times because they’re so full.
“Our cars have got to be on the road all day, every day, to earn their crust because of increases in fuel and maintenance costs. Everybody’s struggling,” he said.
Derek explained that currently there are 70 yellow-plated taxis operating in Perth – but only 25 bays for them to occupy.
Ace Taxis’ Ian Gow said a decision to award a licence purely because James Dickson and Caroline Taylor have signalled their intention to cater for people with disabilities could result in a situation where firms attempt to enter “through the back door”.
Mick Jones, of Perth Radio Taxis, stressed current firms were not trying to run potential competitors out of town and added that anyone wishing to increase provision for disabled clients would be able to do so by becoming one of the 300-or-so private hire plate holders operating locally, which have to be pre-booked.
Mick told the PA: “I’ve had the facility to cater for people in wheelchairs for years. It has been said that there’s an ‘un-met demand’ for this type of thing in Perth, but that’s not the case.
“I would estimate that there are about 27 wheelchair-accessible vehicles operating throughout Perth and Kinross.
“I hold council contracts for my private-hire vehicles. Disabled passengers tend to ring us and book their journeys in advance, so there’s really no need for anything other than private hire vehicles, except on very rare occasions.
“And, if the council came to us and said there was a need to have more yellow-plated cars with wheelchair access, then we would up-grade the ones we already have,” he said.
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