Taxi Driver Online

Birmingham licensing chief issues warning over taxi plans


GOVERNMENT plans to open up the taxi and minicab market could lead to chaos on the streets of Birmingham it has been claimed.

Proposals to bring hackney carriage and private hire licensing up to date include banning moratoriums on local licenses, allowing black cabs registered in one borough to work in another, and removing the knowledge test.

There has been a moratorium in Birmingham since 2010 when a limit of 1,400 black cabs was set – a decision taken to end the nightmare of cars queuing at the busiest ranks such as New Street Station.

Birmingham’s head of licensing Chris Neville said he was concerned at the plan to lift the moratorium.

He said: “The queues at New Street were ridiculously long, running right round to the Alexandra Theatre.

“The city centre ranks are always busy. We also get problems on Broad Street at the weekend, there is aggressive competition for customers.”

He added that lifting those local limits would likely encourage cabs to target the busiest areas at peak times increasing congestion, double parking and raising safety problems.

The council would also likely be opposed to scrapping the knowledge test – at present all black cab drivers have to prove that they know their way around the city. But it would welcome national safety standards for licensed vehicles and drivers to prevent the problem of minicab drivers being licensed in less restrictive boroughs working in Birmingham.

The proposals are out to consultation until August, after which a law will be finalised and put to Parliament ready for introduction in 2014.

The Government argues that it wants to simplify the laws, some of which have been unaltered since the 1830s.

A spokesman for the Birmingham and Solihull Taxi Association said they would need to thoroughly check the proposals and discuss them with members. But in the past they have backed the moratorium, as it protects the trade for existing drivers, and support the knowledge test as raising standards of drivers.


Read More http://www.birminghammail.net/news/top- ... z1udY2GrqT

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

I think this story was printed without any reference to what was actually said in the LC report or the fact that it is a consultation not an actual white paper

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

The LC aint planning on ending that.

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

The LC aint planning on scrapping that either in respect of HC

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

I wonder if the Brum licensing dude was reading the same document as me?

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

On the upside isn't it great that someone whose in the trade but not a driver nor owner has stood up and pointed out the flaws in the LC plans.

So those 1400 taxis causing the queues have suddenly become 1400 taxis not causing the queues?

Is Birmingham now booming?

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IDFIMH

No he was looking at things from specs purchased at the same place Doom buys his.

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IDFIMH

Is he pointing out flaws or just giving a viewpoint?

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IDFIMH

Or worried he might be out of a job?

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http://wingsoverscotland.com/ http://www.newsnetscotland.com/

Maybe just realistic !

The queues are just as long, but they have extended the rank so that less taxis are over-ramking.

Previously there were on average about 100 cabs over-ranking at peak times, now there are only about 50-70.

And during the reconstruction of New Street Station, which started in 2010 and is due to finish in 2015 with a few months' break shortly for the Olympics, the route of the feeder rank, bother official and unofficial, has been reconfigured on a few occasions due to road flows being reversed and roads being closed. so that the unofficial feeder ranks no longer goes past the Alexandra Theatre.

Unless they have changed the route of the feeder rank again over the weekend.

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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.

Only ever done a fare to new street once NEVER AGAIN that place is a total nightmare

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

last time i went it was with 7 dollybirds (now know as totty i think), dropping was OK, just pull up, but collecting i parked up a side street and walked to find the 5 going home....(1 went early alone and 1 had pulled)

one of the 5 did her interpretation of that girl vomiting in The Exorcist - i helped her head out the window to miss my seats

oh happy days!

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

I take it these new proposals only apply to England. Afaik Taxi licensing is a reserved issue for the Scottish Parly?