gedmay wrote:
Well they duly arrived with the Unfairport bending over backwards to help them.
The most annoying thing for me is that I pay Manchester City Council all my necessary fees, then I have to pay the Airport a permit fee not forgetting that the Council own 51% of the Airport. So I am paying for enforcement to one body that has completely abrogated its duty and another fee to a company that is shafting me.
Geoff, a point for you to ponder about the council, one or two P.H companies that I know are waiting to see which way the case turns before they apply for O licences themselves.
The forum will be on us soon enough and then we will have to decide whether we roll over or fight on.Ged
Ged I think you have finally hit the nail on the head, the
UNFAIRPORT and city council that you refer to, these are the people you should be persuing for exactly the reasons you mention re:you are paying them.
I am a PSV operator that does not go out to "exploit" any loophole, but I do utilise eight seaters for my own company tour shuttles and airport/seaport/seaside transfers. Getting an operators licence is not quite as easy as you may think,
1. You must PROVE professional competence (or employ someone who has this qualification)
2. You must PROVE adequate financial standing, currently
£6200 for the first vehicle and £3400 for every other vehicle or disc required. This amout must be available in ready funds and not in company assets.
3. You must PROVE you are of good repute.
In addition you must also prove you have adequate maintenance facilities or make arrangements for this in the form of a written contract.
All drivers then must have PCV entitlement on their licence, which can be taken away by the traffic commisioner without a "normal court" hearing.
The are now well advanced plans by the EU to ensure all PCV drivers have a minimum amout of training hours within every five year period in order to ensure licence renewal.
It is not any easier to operate as PSV just different. We do have the vagaries of VOSA to contend with but after reading many posts on here that is somewhat better than several different local councils all with varying daft rules.
I have come across an item from DfT regarding PHV but it does not aim the proposal at PSV using eight seater.
http://www.dft.gov.uk/stellent/groups/dft_localtrans/documents/page/dft_localtrans_029690.hcsp
Hopefully might see you at Lancaster.
Mike