Taxi Driver Online

Taxi marshals have been recruited to combat the growing disorder at cab ranks in ST Albans.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/beds ... 606033.stm

Isn't this the same ST Albans that has two types of plates, Restricted Red and unrestriced white?

Regards

JD

Dunno JD, but what's the difference?

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Taxi Driver Online
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I'm not so sure JD; I was of the opinion they delimited way back in 2000.

The local trade, no doubt led by the brain dead of the T&G/NTA got the hump big time when the council had the nerve to issue 5 more WAV plates.

They threatened this that and the other, but did say they wouldn't work on the millennium eve.

The council decided that if they carried out such a threat then there would be clearly significant unmet demand, and they therefore had no other option than to delimit.

If anyone wants to read the judgement and see what sort of leadership the cab trade has, then I will gladly e-mail them a copy.

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IDFIMH

At least the marshals will be able to see the cabs now.

http://www.thisishertfordshire.co.uk/ne ... ruling.php

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IDFIMH

It's Aylesbury vale that has the two distinctive plates. I can't imagine what prompted me to say ST Albans.

Regards

JD

Old age?

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IDFIMH

That could well be a contributing factor lol

Talking about Aylesbury they have a meeting at 6-30 tonight to determine their future hackney policy. My guess is no chamge.

Regards

JD

So what's the difference between the two plates John?

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Taxi Driver Online
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Aylesbury have a two tier hackney carriage licensing system consisting of 50 white plates and 47 red plates. The red licenses are unrestricted in number but cannot ply for hire in certain areas. The white plates are restricted in number and have a current grey market value of £60.000.

There is a Cabinet meeting tonight to determine future policy. I expect there to be no change except that they may issue a few more licenses to purpose built wheelchair compliant vehicles. My advice if you live anywhere near Aylesbury is to get your application in now, you never know what criteria they might use for issuing these plates.

Regards

JD

That's interesting - presumaby it's not the normal zoning scenario?

In which case it brings to mind our good old friend the Castle Point case, in which it was said:

There is to my mind an even stronger point against Mr Wolfe's contention. If he were right, it would enable an authority to create by its licensing system two classes of taxis: one unrestricted as to where a taxi could ply for hire and the other restricted. The latter would patently be a second class type of taxi which could not operate from all the stands or perhaps all the streets in the borough or district. That seems to me to be contrary to the whole legislative approach adopted more recently by Parliament in this area of activity, the approach being to allow, as far as possible, open competition in the trade.

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Taxi Driver Online
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I think it is two zones, it really couldn't be anything else. When I spoke to Aylesbury a few weeks ago I was informed the Red plates couldn't pick up in the main Town and some other areas. It sounds very similar to Bath. I was told there is a major problem controling the Red Plates. lol it sounds like the war of the roses the Reds plates versus the whites plates. I'll find out later today.

Regards

JD

I thought all this two tier zoning plates had finished. A court case was held approx 9 or 10 years ago when part of Ryedale [north yorks] boundries was brought into City of York boundries. A company called Country Cabs of Haxby nr York with 8 hack plates came under the licencing of City of York and was issued with "zoned plates" but could not pick up at a rank in the city. The owner of the cab company took the matter to York Magistrates court, he won his case on the grounds that you cannot have a two tier system when licenced by the same authority. I have tried to find the case law but unable to via the internet

I think we discussed the haxby case in another thread I'm not sure what the conclusion was. Wasn't it a magistrates court decision?

Regards

JD

Aylesbury Vale Decided to keep its current policy and review the situation in 12 month time. Apperently the red plates have unmet demand but the white plates don't lol. The Red plates can't pick up in Town.

Regards

JD

Well in legal terms it would hardly be surprising if it was.

So aren't different coloured plates fairly standard in zoned areas?

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