Taxi Driver Online

Decision due of taxi’s Heroes sticker row




A FORMER soldier’s fight to show his support for injured servicemen is set to be resolved by Harrogate Borough Council.


Taxi driver Bob Turner, who served in the Royal and Electrical and Mechanical Engineers, was forced to remove a Help for Heroes sticker from his car after officials clamped down on rules about notices and adverts in taxis in September 2011.

Now a council officer’s report to the Licensing Committee – which was due to sit last night after the Advertiser went to press – has recommended the rules be changed to allow drivers to show their support for good causes.

The council’s taxi rulebook should be altered to permit one sign, symbol or sticker representing either a registered UK charity or recognised religion on the rear of each vehicle, the report said.

The move comes after appeals from Mr Turner and another driver who wanted to display a Christian fish symbol on his car.

The plans are supported by taxi driver Richard Fieldman, former chairman of Ripon Taxi Association.

“There are procedures that have to be followed by everybody, but in this case there was a element of being pedantic.

“I am not in favour of all-over body advertising on taxis, as you get in Leeds or Manchester. I think it lowers standards and lowers the tone of the area. But I do support charity or religious stickers, or anything else that is not offensive to members of the public.”

Coun Stuart Martin, chairman of the licensing committee, has announced he will support the proposals.

“I have had a long discussion about the issue with the taxi liaison group and they agree with the officer’s recommendations.

“These proposals probably are still not perfect, but they are a better compromise,” he said.

In September Mr Turner branded the council “petty” for condemning the sticker two years after he first displayed it.

He felt had no option but to abide by instructions or risk losing his taxi licence, he said, even though he thought officials should have shown more understanding in his case.

But after an outcry from passengers and taxi drivers the council relented and let Mr Turner display the sticker until the committee could consider it formally at its January meeting.

http://www.ripongazette.co.uk/news/ripo ... _1_4160326

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

Of course it shouldn't.

But pen pushers need to push pens or they are out of a job.

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IDFIMH

This is the stuff Richard Percival should know about....how much money will a decision on this cost the local tax payer?

CC

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

I can't really see the problem with the pen pushers here - if there were no rules imagine what the trade numpties would do with their cars.

The problem however is that we only need one set of taxi pen pushers, not several hundred.

You hit the nail on the head there,
I shall bend over shall i

Can't see the problem, as long as it applies to everyone.

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stressed controller!!!

I think it should only go to councillors if the signs are contentious.

Let's face it this year we are going to have loads of 'Why can't I put an English flag on my cab' stories for those drivers supporting our team in the European Championship.

What a waste of time and money.

At least Scottish and Welsh pen pushers wont have that problem.

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IDFIMH

Scotland and Wales could always support team GB at the olympics

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Note to self: Just because it pops into my head does NOT mean it should come out of my mouth!!

Bearing in mind the ethnic origin of many people in this country, that particular sign may well be considered contentious.

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Grandad,

Scotland and Wales will be making up a good part of team GB at the Olympics

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Grandad,

in the footy team?

CC

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

Who knows yet.

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Grandad,

Does it include stretcher bearers?

CC

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

well Beckham has been promised a place in the team so they'll be needed

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lack of modern legislation is the iceberg sinking the titanic of the transport sector

Councillors refuse to back down on Help for Heroes stickers


A RIPON taxi driver has lost his fight to support Britain’s injured soldiers with a Help for Heroes sticker in his cab.


Councillors have banned the district’s taxi drivers from having charity stickers or religious symbols in their vehicles, in a bid to keep the district’s cabs “multicultural”.

The shock decision came as the council’s Licensing Committee turned down the appeal at a meeting on Thursday, January 19, going against advice by the council’s own officials.

The row over stickers in taxis began when driver and Army veteran Bob Turner was ordered to remove a Help for Heroes sticker from his taxi, while another driver was refused permission for a Christian fish symbol on his car.

But after an outcry from passengers and taxi drivers the council relented and let him display the sticker until the committee could consider it formally.

Mr Turner said he was shocked at the council’s refusal to let him support a forces charity in a garrison town like Ripon.

“The Licensing Committee have squandered a golden opportunity to demonstrate that the council listens to the public. They have stuck up two fingers to our brave servicemen and women, and all other charities that may have benefited by a small amount of free advertising.

“I hope the voters remember this at the next local elections,” he said.

Fellow driver Richard Fieldman, a former chairman of Ripon Taxi Association, slammed the councillors’ “close-minded” decision.

“I am gob-smacked and astounded that the council seems to be such a group of small-minded individuals who would object to taxi drivers supporting registered charities,” he said.

“I think they have made the wrong decision. The councillors are elected by the public, and issues like this affect votes.”

A council official’s report had recommended rules in the taxi handbook should be changed to allow religious or charity symbols on taxis.

The regulations should permit one sign, symbol or sticker representing either a registered UK charity or recognised religion on the rear of each vehicle, it said, but the committee voted unanimously against the recommendation.

Only days before the meeting committee chairman Coun Stuart Martin had pledged to support it. He put his change of heart down to debates at the meeting.

“The proposal changed before it came before the committee so it would support registered charities but not religious groups, and I didn’t think that would be a fair thing to do because of the potential to alienate and upset people.”

He understands people will be upset with the decision, he said, but believes it is a case of “damned if we do and damned if we don’t”.

“I voted the way I did because I believe it is the fairest way in the long term.”

A council spokesman said committee members supported the charity’s work and debated for a long time before voting.

“The council currently prohibits any kind of advertising or sign other than those required by the licence such as the licence plates. It has always been felt that taxis should be presented with a tidy and clean appearance.

“In relation to religious symbols, it was felt that vehicles licensed by the council should be multicultural.

“Members commented that taxis were business tools and not personal vehicles and felt that was an important distinction.

“When considering charity stickers, the members of the committee discussed which types of charity may or may not be acceptable to the public and how it would affect the overall appearance of licensed vehicles. Increased pressure and expense in officer time in considering requests and enforcing inappropriate stickers were all considered.”

However Mr Turner said his fellow drivers have been quick to support him with Help for Heroes stickers in their taxis, while Mr Fieldman and Harrogate driver Kevin O’Boyle said they were outraged at the decision when in the past they have been allowed to display adverts for the DVLA and lap dancing club Spearmint Rhino.

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