Halton taxi lifespans extended for two years as banks refuse to lend TAXIS reaching their age limit have had their lifespan extended due to concerns over banks refusing to lend to borough cab firms.
The Weekly News reported last week how the council’s special regulatory committee was due to meet on Tuesday to consider proposals to change the age limit placed on vehicles used by Halton taxi firms.
At present saloon and estate cars can be no older than eight years old, wheelchair-compliant multi-purpose vehicles can be no older than 12, while purpose-built taxis can be no older than 16 years old.
But at the meeting it was decided to begin a consultation over whether or not to change the age limits permanently.
It was also decided to enter a moratorium on taxi age limits for two years, meaning that Hackney carriage or private hire cabs which were approaching the end of their permitted lifespan – and were already registered with the council – as of March 19 would be given an extra two years, extending the number of years they could be used in Halton to 10, 14 and 18 years respectively. The extension is subject to conditions including:
Affected cabs will be subject to three roadworthiness tests a year, as opposed to the two tests necessary for any vehicle over three years old.
The agreement becomes void if the vehicle is transferred to another company.
Council legal expert John Tully told the Weekly News the decision was made to ease the burden on borough taxi firms and that the moratorium was put in place to help them through a ‘difficult time’.
He said: “Some proprietors were saying they were having difficulty with lending institutions because they wouldn’t lend them money.”
source:
http://www.runcornandwidnesweeklynews.co.uk/
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