Taxi Driver Online

New Rules Will Set Us Back Says Taxi Firm

TAXI firms in Ely have expressed concern at a series of new vehicle regulations which could end up costing them thousands of pounds to satisfy.

According to new rules, many taxis in the district will have to adopt a single uniform colour with an official district council logo for cars also required but taxi firms are concerned by the new rules and believe that the changes will cost thousands of pounds.

The decision to introduce the changes was agreed earlier this month at a meeting of the district council's licensing committee following lengthy consultations.

Despite several meetings with councillors however, John Skipper, joint-owner of A10 taxis in Ely, remained unhappy: "When we first started out in Ely we had five cars and now we have 34, we have worked hard to improve our business but these new rules will set us back, he said.

"I don't think any of the new rules are what the public wants and from what we have been told it is going to cost us around £2000 a car to get them re-sprayed to fit in with the new standardised colour.

"I really don't think that people in the trade were involved enough in this process."

Once a new colour for taxis has been decided in consultation with the council, taxi firms will have to change the relevant cars within their fleets inside a five year period, with changes to signage and licences also required.

Cllr Bill Hunt, member of the licensing committee, said: "What Ely needs is a safe and professional taxi service and I believe that what was agreed will provide that.

"In this process we had to balance the needs of the public with the best interests of the taxi firms and I think that there has been compromise on both sides to reach a suitable outcome.

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IDFIMH

The colour guarantees a vehicle's mechanical condition and the driver's suitability??

That will simplify things, no need for driver or vehicle licences, just issue cans of paint.

Portsmouth and Plymouth would do well with bulk orders of battleship grey!!

Its got to be asked what colour??/

double post, oops

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My heart is heavy, but my consience clear,
I voted Yes, without any fear.

non-metallic cerise

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:Shades_of_pink

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My heart is heavy, but my consience clear,
I voted Yes, without any fear.

Not hot magenta or hot pink???

nah, too flash

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My heart is heavy, but my consience clear,
I voted Yes, without any fear.

But, not only will they be seen in the snow, with a colour prefixed with 'hot' it may even melt the snow!

yeh i always find taxi's of a certain color to be safer ,silver ones reflect damage back when in a collision,and less pedestrians! walk smack into the front of bright yellow ones.

The Council won't bring it in overnight, they'll make all new applications the new colour.

yes but will they pick an easy colour to buy cars in or one which is not readily available and reqire a respray ! they'll probably pick yellow or brown or something instead of silver or black

wooh the new colour is silver and it wil be fine, i am a local driver and think its ok so whats the problem just some of them wanna be able to use the old white cars but by the time this kicks in they should be all dead anyway..!!!!!
i am licensed in cambridge to the taxis there could do with a rule the same.!!!

ely drivers are not happy with anything the all look so unhappy they should get a new job.!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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MARTIN

All Scottish Hacks will now have a tartan allocated to them per-LA

to continue good HC to PH relations, PHV will have the english flag paintwork....

Is tartan paint very expensive?

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Former taxi driver

Its Cheaper than Chevron paint but slightly dearer than willow patterned paint.