Green light for older taxis in Peterborough OLDER taxis could soon be ferrying passengers around Peterborough after licensing restrictions were changed.
Hackney carriage taxis will now be able to run in the city until they are 15 years old, after Peterborough City Council’s Licensing Committee agreed to change the existing requirements.
Previously taxis would be taken off the road after 12 years of service.
They also agreed to extend the life of private hire vehicles from eight years to 10 years.
Drivers will also be able to register cars up to six years old to become private hire vehicles.
Previously a car could only be registered as a private hire vehicle if it was three years old or younger.
The new registration laws will mean cars registered in their fifth and sixth year will have to meet guidelines on the amount of miles they have been driven, with five-year-old cars limited to 65,000 miles or less, and six-year-old cars limited to 75,000 miles or less.
Brian Gascoyne, secretary of the Hackney Drivers Federation, said: “Taxis are built to last for a long time, and this will help. The improvements being made mean they are better cars and are greener. They are also safer than they were before.”
Shahid Mohammed, chairman of the Peterborough Private Hire Drivers’ Association, said: “We have been working with the council for 18 months to ask if age restrictions on vehicles can be changed.
“Drivers are struggling to pay for the increase in petrol and insurance as it is.This will be a great benefit to the drivers.”
source:
http://www.peterboroughtoday.co.uk/