Angry drivers fear taxi fares will increase across Cornwall if controversial plans get the go aheadAngry taxi drivers in Newquay fear passenger fares will increase across Cornwall if changes to the way the council grants licences get the go ahead.
The drivers have condemned a Cornwall Council public consultation on changes to the way it grants licences, and say the consultation has "more holes than a colander".
They say that if approved, the council's proposals to increase costs and regulation could cause fares to rise for passengers across the county.
Newquay Taxi and Private Hire Drivers' Association chairman Mark Formosa said: "There are so many inconsistencies and so much missing information that the council's only course of action has to be to start all over again.
"The council has been unable to answer many of the questions we asked about the proposed changes, mainly because they said they were still working up the details.
"They want tougher testing of new and existing licence holders and say drivers will have to pay for the tests - but they are unsure who will have to take the tests, or how much they will cost.
"How can anybody possibly give a considered opinion on something when we do not know what it is we are being asked about?"
Steven Pendleton, a taxi driver in Newquay for the past 20 years, says he is "alarmed" at the proposals.
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"Cornwall Council's proposals to increase costs and regulation would mean the increases would have to be passed on to the customer in higher charges," he said.
"It seems this bogus consultation is just a sop to try and minimize resistance to the council's aims, which is simply to maximize their fees at every opportunity.
"Cornwall council should not be using local businesses in Newquay as a soft target to raise money, especially when they are wasting so much money elsewhere."
Mr Formosa, who is a former councillor on the old Restormel Borough Council and served on its licensing committee, is calling on licensing portfolio holder and Newquay Cornwall councillor Geoff Brown to scrap the consultation.
Mr Formosa added: "We are also detailing the dreadful errors in the consultation for our local MPs to ask questions about how much money has been wasted on this exercise."
Cornwall Council was contacted for comment by Cornwall Live.
source:
http://www.cornwalllive.com/angry-drive ... story.html
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