Taxi Driver Online

High Court bid to stop 'flood of taxis' in Richmond



ANGRY taxi drivers have launched a High Court legal challenge in a bid to prevent a town being “flooded” with cabs.

Court papers have been served on Richmondshire District Council in an attempt to stop the authority deregulating taxi services.

Cab drivers are seeking a judicial review over the authority’s plans to remove a cap on the number of taxi plates it issues.

They say the move would destroy their livelihoods and leave Richmond swamped with taxis at weekends.

George Pearson, chairman of Richmond Independent Drivers’ Association, said drivers were challenging the council’s consultation over the changes which they claim was flawed.

He said: “For the council to deregulate the taxi service they are supposed to go through a full consultation.

“We say that they didn’t do this – they just sprung it on us out of the blue. The court will look at the council’s review and decide whether we are right, or they are.”

It is thought the legal process could take a couple of months.

The deregulation was due to come into force on April 1, however Mr Pearson said the drivers’ solicitors had imposed an injunction preventing the change.

He added: “If the deregulation goes ahead the number of taxis could increase dramatically.

“We understand 50 private hire companies have already received letters asking if they want to become taxis.

“At the moment, there are maybe 30 cabs working in Richmond on a Saturday night – with deregulation, we could end up with 60 and the town would be flooded.”

Drivers raised £3,000 needed to pay for the review.

The number of Hackney cabs in Richmondshire is limited to 65, but the council’s licensing committee voted to deregulate to encourage a better service in rural areas.

Hackney cab drivers brought Richmond to a halt in November last year in protest at the decision to deregulate the industry.

A spokeswoman for Richmondshire council confirmed it had received the court papers, but declined to comment further.

source: http://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/

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

£3000 sounds a bit low I suspect the real cost could be 20 times that lets hope they win and get costs awarded

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

I'd like a look at those papers......seems to me unless the consultation wasn't meaningful the drivers may have just wasted 3K

CC

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

With that few hackneys the chances of keeping that number is slim.

But it will be interesting to see if the council have actually consulted properly.

However if the council lose we all know in a matter of months they will return and, hopefully, get it right second time around.

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IDFIMH

I personally hope their next sh*t is a hedgehog.

CC

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