Taxi Driver Online

Taxi respray scheme would force us off the road - cabbies


ENFORCING a new colour scheme for taxis in Cheltenham could force many cabbies off the road, it is feared.

The borough council has said it will look into introducing a compulsory colour scheme for Hackney carriage drivers, as part of a review of its policy on cabbies in the town.

The move, mirroring schemes introduced in places such as Brighton and Bristol, would be aimed at creating a clearer distinction between private and Hackney taxis.

But taxi drivers themselves would have to foot the bill for the change, having their vehicles resprayed at a cost of around £2,000.

Di Mitten, secretary of the town's branch of the Hackney Carriage Association, said the scheme would be prohibitively expensive.

"It'll be far too much for a lot of taxi drivers to afford," she said.

"We have already had a lot of costs put upon us due to 'bright ideas' dreamed up over at the council.

"But the reality is, we are here trying to make a living and it is very difficult at the moment.

"Some drivers do 16-hour days and are only bringing in around £30.

"To put these costs on top of everything we already pay to keep our cars on the road seems unreasonable.

"What do they want? Our blood? Because that is all we will have left to give soon.

"Coming up with these new rules from on high is all very well, but it just doesn't reflect the reality of our day-to-day situation."

Cabbies in the town say they have already paid £200 to have taxi signs on the top of their vehicles while many have also been told to change their vehicles to comply with new exhaust emission regulations.

Hackney carriage driver Dave Hayes, from Charlton Kings, has been a taxi driver in the town for the past 14 years.

He said: "It would force a lot of taxi drivers off the road.

"In any case, we are a town – not a city. I don't see why we need a new colour scheme.

"It's already pretty clear which cars are taxis and which ones aren't."

Cheltenham MP Martin Horwood has lobbied the council to introduce the regulations, saying it would make the town safer for people flagging down a cab at night. The matter will be discussed at the Municipal Offices later this year.

http://www.thisisgloucestershire.co.uk/ ... story.html

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

And the proof is where exactly?

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

In the strange place that is "martins mind"

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

Would this be the same Cheltenham drivers that complain every year when punters take out of town taxis from the racecourse because they can't tell the difference?

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Grandad,

Look like a right collection of clots dont they

and theyve got a Lib Dem MP you know that collection of lying pinnochios more right wing than some of the Tory vermin WHO has declared war on them so their reaction

squealing, bloody servile morons their immediate reaction should be blockade the dump on a Friday evening then NO cabs Friday SAT night then watch the plan vanish but they wont will they gutless mugs Whats the betting loads of em voted for the Horewood burke

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All posts by this contributor are made in a strictly personal capacity

I AM PROUD TO BE A CITIZEN NOBODY'S SUBJECT http://www.republic.org.u

F88K EM ALL WHAT GOES AROUND COMES AROUND

BOOZE BOOZE BOOZE

pollitics aside, whats stopping them having the colour scheme and having the taxi vinyled instead of resprayed, would be a lot cheaper

I looked into vinyl wrapping as an alternative to a re-spray if and when I change my car, the costs are about the same.

Vinyl wrap @£700 (full car)
Crappy backstreet garage re-spray £300
Basic but ok'ish re-spray £600
Decent re-spray £800
Proper expert re-spray £1500
Looks like it's just come out of the factory re-spray £2000+.

Considering most drivers would go for the £600-800 re-spray option vinyl wrap might be the way to go in the future. But I think the wrap only lasts for about 5-7 years before it needs redoing (?)

I wonder what has been/is the colour rule for hacks and over what period they intend to phase in the change?

and if any councillors run car spraying businesses...

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

well, at least thats what they put on their tax+tax credits form

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

Thats a typical ESSEX quote its a POLITICAL DECISION DOPE

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All posts by this contributor are made in a strictly personal capacity

I AM PROUD TO BE A CITIZEN NOBODY'S SUBJECT http://www.republic.org.u

F88K EM ALL WHAT GOES AROUND COMES AROUND

BOOZE BOOZE BOOZE

trotsy is right ffs.

when the LA buys the cab then they can choose what colour it should be.....as for the MP who apparently has some proof about everything, perhaps he should enlighten us?

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

id have said he was very much left

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

and a crown court case, its only of a little persuasive use....sadly

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