Taxi Driver Online

New taxi rules are not 'fare'!




FIGHT: Tariq Mahmood and fellow taxi drivers stage their protest at Newcastle Town Hall during April last year.

TAXI drivers have won more time in their fight against plans to tighten age restrictions on their vehicles.

Newcastle Borough Council had planned to stop re-licensing Hackney carriage saloon cars once they become eight years old.

A draft policy had been put together by the authority which officers hoped would be rubber-stamped with a view to bringing in the stricter rules on March 1.

But councillors were forced to defer any decision after accepting a three month consultation had not reached enough taxi drivers.

Chairman of the Newcastle and Kidsgrove Taxi Association,Tariq Mahmood, aged 51, of North Road, Cobridge, says they had been left in the dark.

He said: "We did not know what options were being considered by the council until the day before the meeting."

The existing option, which formed part of a draft policy put together last year, would have seen 'non-purpose built' Hackney carriages and private hire vehicles only given a licence up until they were eight years old.

However a fresh option had been put forward for consideration which would see drivers of vehicles above that age invited to prove their taxi was in 'exceptional condition'.

But to show that the car would be put through a Motor Vehicle Inspection report before having to under a second test at a council dept six months later. If it passed that, a 12 month licence would be granted.

Mr Mahmood said: "We're not happy with that option because it would cost us hundreds of pounds to get these checks done. It would make more sense to put that money towards buying a new car rather than doing this.

"The council is making it impossible for us to do our jobs."

Stoke-on-Trent City Council's policy states that Hackney saloon and private hire vehicles must be tested every six months after they reach 10-years-old.

Mr Mahmood added: "A lot of Stoke-on-Trent taxi drivers take passengers to Newcastle so I don't see why it is unsafe for people to come into our cars but it is fine for them to travel in cars licensed that are older than eight years."

Taxi user Brian Birks, aged 75, Wolstanton, said: "I don't see what the problem is in letting taxi drivers use vehicles older than eight years."

Councillor Kyle Robinson, who is chairman of the, authority's public protection committee, said: "Officers will look into details of the consultation after some concerns were raised.

" If they find there were problems there may be another consultation. We hope to know by March 20."


Read more: http://www.stokesentinel.co.uk/New-rule ... z3SwoC34NO

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