Taxi Driver Online

Taxi drivers take unanimous decision to strike if new licensing rules are introduced

TAXI drivers in Rossendale have taken a unanimous decision to strike if new licensing rules are introduced.

Drivers have expressed anger at Rossendale Council’s revised licensing policy and said that their concerns have been completely ignored.

David Lawrie, chairman of the Rossendale Taxi Association, has said that if the new rules are enforced at a meeting on Tuesday then the drivers will have “no choice” but to strike.

The revised draft policy sets out extra training required by drivers and also proposes a new ‘intended use policy’.

If adopted, the council will be able to suspend, revoke or refuse to renew a vehicle licence if the driver intends to ply for hire outside the valley.

Council bosses have produced the revised policy after a month-long summer consultation in which taxi drivers, eight neighbouring councils, councillors and MPs responded.

Mr Lawrie said: “We have had meetings with the council and they have completely ignored all of our concerns.

“The new intended use policy threatens the livelihoods of every driver.

“The council has said that it wants to bring this in to address the increase of out of out-of-town drivers.

“This is ridiculous as hackney drivers can ply their trade anywhere.

“It could well mean that more than 2,000 cars are forced to work within Rossendale which would be chaos.”

The report states that the new policy may cause “hardship in certain cases”.

A spokesman for the council said: “The policy does need to be changed, and the extended consultation process took on board many of the comments from the Taxi Association.

“We have organised to meet imminently with the Taxi Association to see how we can avoid any potential strike action.”

The proposed changes come after Nasir Ali, 26, of Minnie Street, Keighley, admitted that he drove a hackney carriage vehicle plated by Rossendale Council when without the correct council-issued licence to drive it, on March 23.

He received a six-month conditional discharge and was ordered to pay £240 costs.

Usman Ali, 23, of Chatsworth Street, Keighley, received the same sentence as he was owned the cab.

source: http://www.lancashiretelegraph.co.uk/ne ... ref=twtrec

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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 the chap is wrong.

And if he thinks a hackney driver can ply for hire anywhere - I think he will fail any test his council bring in.

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

He didn't say that they could ply for hire. He said they could ply their trade, which would mean that they can work for a PH circuit in other areas. I think they are really worried that their little circumvention is about to be closed.

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Grandad,

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

“It could well mean that more than 2,000 cars are forced to work within Rossendale which would be chaos.”

I doubt it they will just re plate their vehicles elsewhere

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

That will effect most of Northern England if they do.

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IDFIMH

As far as I know the Rossendale Association is basically Rossendale drivers that work there.

If there is a local knowledge test, they will pass it, its the flag of convenience merchants that wont

I tend to disagree with you on the use of the word 'ply' when others would have been less controversial.

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

Taxis striking won't have any impact on the people they are trying to influence now if 1000 pseudo Ph vehicles wanted to drive around Rawtenstall in a protest that would be effective and generate a lot of publicity. However I can't see that happening and to be fair this is more about belatedly trying to shut the stable door which should have happened ages ago I think the truly local cabbies should have little to fear from it

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

in fairness to the genuine Rossendale drivers - they are usually quite successful

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