Taxi Driver Online

Birmingham City Council braced for a taxi war among black cab drivers

June 20 2011

A Birmingham taxi war could be looming amid fears that cabbies from across the Midlands could exploit a legal loophole to work in the city.

Black cabs registered in other boroughs can now pick up pre-booked passengers in Birmingham following a High Court ruling in a taxi war between Berwick-on-Tweed registered cabbies and neighbouring Stockton-on-Tees Borough Council.

But members of the city council’s licensing committee said they feared the decision would lead to drivers registering in other areas and trading in Birmingham in the hope of earning more cash. That may cause problems as the authority insists on high standards of taxi and minicab regulation, including knowledge tests for drivers, training for carrying disabled passengers, criminal record checks, an English language test, an age restriction on cars and higher licensing fees than some areas.

Birmingham also controls the number of cabs on the roads and has imposed a strict ban on new licences for the last three years.

Already officials have been told of an agent offering to register drivers in Shrewsbury and an increasing number from Sandwell to allow them to work in Birmingham.

Committee member Coun Bob Beauchamp (Con, Erdington) said: “This is not a legal loophole but an absolute chasm. There will be a free-for-all on our streets and we will be able to do nothing about it.

“If other authorities are relaxed about issuing licences, they may be cavalier about enforcement.”

And Ray Beach, of the Birmingham and Solihull Taxi Association, said: “These other drivers may not be CRB checked and there may be no age restrictions on vehicles, no NVQ or disability trainings. Everything we do in Birmingham to drive up standards will be undone.”

The committee was told Birmingham Council officials could only report cabbies breaking their licensing conditions, such as not displaying badges and plates, to the licensing authority. The committee is writing to the Department for Transport asking for the loophole to be closed.

Source; http://www.birminghammail.net/news/top- ... -28904744/

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Kind regards,

Brummie Cabbie.

Type a message, post your news,
Disagree with other members' views;
But please, do have some decorum,
When debating on the TDO Forum.

nothing new in that so long as its pre-booked surely?



who can get a HC badge without a CRB check?
scare-mongering....

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Of all the things ive lost, i miss my mind the most

This explains an email I received from a non member in Brum

CC

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Think of how stupid the average person is, and realize half of them are stupider than that.
George Carlin

Why do people say that?

Perhaps Mr Beach could point to us authorities near his manor that don't do CRB checks?

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IDFIMH

I remember when Birmingham was first derestricted and then as the years went on was held up by the OFT as being a major success..... how things have changed....

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Justice for the 96. It has only taken 27 years...........repeat the same lies for 27 years and the truth sounds strange to people!

How good to see you back Captain!!

_________________
Kind regards,

Brummie Cabbie.

Type a message, post your news,
Disagree with other members' views;
But please, do have some decorum,
When debating on the TDO Forum.

Cheers BC

CC

_________________
Think of how stupid the average person is, and realize half of them are stupider than that.
George Carlin