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Drivers from LA private hire fined over using new North Tyneside bus lane


Minicab drivers have hit out after being slapped with fines for using bus lanes.

Drivers with LA private hire are furious after receiving £60 fines from North Tyneside Council for using the new Balliol Bus Link – despite a sign saying the road can be used by buses, cyclists and taxis.

Company manager Stephen McGuinness claims around 30 of his drivers have been fined in the past eight days because the council said the road is for hackney carriages rather than private-hire cars.

“North Tyneside Council have just decided in their eyes that taxi does not mean private hire,” said Mr McGuinness.

“It’s crazy because the bus lane does not run through a residential area, it is just linking business parks.”

He added: “They are hammering local business once again. This is the first time we have received fines for this.

“Newcastle City Council allow all taxis of all boroughs to use their bus lanes.”

But a spokesman for North Tyneside Council insisted it was common knowledge under legislation when signs indicate a taxi is permitted to use the road refers to hackney carriages only.

The spokesman said: “Under national legislation, wherever signage indicates that a taxi is permitted to use a bus lane this refers to hackney carriages only, not private-hire vehicles.

“Private-hire drivers should be aware of this.

“We regularly remind local companies at taxi forum meetings, the information is on the council’s website and the same legislation prevents private- hire drivers from parking at taxi ranks.

“If anyone wishes to challenge their penalty charge notice there is an established appeals procedure in place.”

But LA private hire has claimed the enforcement camera is targeting private-hire taxis and is simply a way for the council to make money.

Mr McGuinness, said: “It’s just a money-spinning exercise. It is so annoying. It is not in the public interest for private-hire taxis not to use that road.”

The road was funded by Nexus to improve bus access between Balliol Business Park and Gosforth Business Park.

The council has said where signs indicate taxis are eligible to use the bus lane it refers to a vehicle licensed under Section 37 of the Town Police Clauses Act 1847, a hackney carriage and not private-hire vehicles.

Mr McGuinness said the move is hurting businesses in the borough.

He added: “We have a contract at the other end of the road and now we are having to tell customers we have to add another mile to their journey going round the long way and adding about £1.50 to their fare.

“For our contract, £1.50 over three months or so is a lot of money.”

He added: “It is stifling growth. Drivers are now saying they do not want to do jobs in that area.”


Read More http://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/north-ea ... z2MrVgATsi

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

So with this signage how are some ph permitted to use the bus lanes in some areas surely the councils should have signage that says ph It seems to me that Mr McGuinness hasn't opened the proper channels of communication with the council prior to this happening or perhaps he did and being told they couldn't use the bus lane instructed drivers that they could, having a 'Griffin' moment perhaps

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Note to self: Just because it pops into my head does NOT mean it should come out of my mouth!!

Newcastle hasn't got any bus lanes - they have no car lanes. North Tyneside is a different area and has a company called blueline there - the sad truth of this is - the guys at LA are licensed lawfully in Newcastle, if they done the illegal thing (well frowned upon thing) of licensing their cabs as hackneys in another area - they wouldn't have been prosecuted......pretty sh*t and it makes a mockery of doing the right thing.

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

That aren't Taxis they are Private Hire



They haven't just decided it's been like that for years, if they intended for you to be a Taxi they would've given you a plate.

Bollocks.

All it needed was the traffic order to say 'taxis' means a vehicle licensed under the 1847 or the 1976 act.

Lazy and ignorant traffic civil servants must be universal thing.

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IDFIMH

How about the Nottingham version then "Buses and wheelchair access vehicles only"

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

All done correctly with a traffic order.

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Grandad,