Taxi Driver Online

Bolton taxi drivers planning action over 'unfair' licensing rules

TAXI drivers are planning to take industrial action next week in protest over what they claim is the council’s “unfair” licensing policy. Earlier this year town hall chiefs carried out a review which resulted in a number of drivers having their licences revoked after historical convictions were discovered.

The review followed the child grooming scandals in Rochdale and Rotherham, in which taxi drivers were implicated in child sexual exploitation. Town hall chiefs say they are keeping the public safe with a “robust approach” to private hire and hackney carriage licensing.

But drivers and operators complain they are being “tarred with the same brush” and licences are being revoked or refused for relatively minor offences or those committed several years ago. And they are gearing up to take industrial action next week – possibly in the form of a slow drive or a blockade of the town hall – to make their point.

Asif Vali, chairman of the Private Hire Operators Association, said: “Drivers in Bolton are upset the council is bringing in historical issues, problems that have take place in the past, back to licensing meetings. “When it comes to sexual exploitation of any nature that individual is not a fit and proper person, we have been clear on that.

“However they are tarnishing everybody with the same brush for minor traffic issues, complaints, motoring offences, just minor stuff. And Mr Vali believes someone who committed a non-sexual assault 20 years ago, should not have it held against them. He added: “How can you revoke it after 20 years? The council themselves have given that person a second chance.”

But Cllr Nick Peel, cabinet member for environmental services, said the council’s approach was the right one. He said: “The licensing authority in Bolton is determined to do its best to get rid of that small minority of drivers who are giving the rest bad name, and if the Private Hire Association thinks that by taking strike action it will deter us then they have got it completely wrong.

“Drivers are in an incredibly unique position where they are often alone with sometimes vulnerable people and in Bolton we expect the highest of standards from our drivers. The decisions made are entirely in line with our tough, zero-tolerance policy.” He believes the public will back the council in any dispute.

He said: “The public mood is ‘we want to feel safe’. The majority of our drivers have never had any issues. They just get on with the job and provide an excellent service. But there are a minority of existing drivers and new applicants we don’t deem to be fit and proper persons to be driving taxis in Bolton.”

In January a man who made a teenager pregnant while a private hire driver was refused a taxi licence because of concerns over his history of violent and inappropriate behaviour. And last month a taxi driver has had his licence revoked after a sexual assault allegation was made against him.

Bolton taxi drivers staged a strike in December ay to try to force bosses to raise fares, claiming they are earning less than the minimum wage.

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IDFIMH

So basically admitting that councillors in the past too lenient and/or reformed drivers will pay the price as a consequence.

Taxi drivers strike outside Bolton Town Hall



TAXI drivers went on strike today over an ongoing licensing dispute. The group of nearly 100 people gathered outside Bolton Town Hall and presented a petition to Bolton Council. Asif Vali, chairman of the Private Hire Operators Association, led the protests, which focused on changes to the council policy which could see some drivers lose their licenses. Town Hall bosses have said the issue is a matter of public safety and the changes are about dealing with a minority of drivers.

Mr Vali said that the protesters agreed that any sex offenders should have their licenses taken away but that it was “unfair” to target those with lesser spent or historical convictions. He added: “Some of these convictions are going back 15, 20 or 25 years when drivers were younger, and they did silly things like we all do.” He went on to say that the drivers had gathered more than 700 signatures and wanted to meet with council bosses within the week.

But Cllr Nick Peel, cabinet member for environmental services, says the council will not be swayed by strike action. He said: “It’s a complete fabrication that licenses are being taken away for minor issues. I want to make it absolutely clear that we will not back down.”

A council spokesman said that they had been in contact with both the Private Hire Operators Association and Hackney Drivers Association and would be discussing the issues. They added: “The policy enables Licensing Committee to consider police intelligence, criminal convictions and complaints when making a decision about granting or renewing a license. “We would like to reassure the public that we will continue to take robust action and if they have concerns about drivers they can report these to us.

“Similarly if a driver is unhappy with any licensing decision they have the right of appeal to both Bolton Magistrates and Crown Courts.” The policy changes came into force in 2016 but several drivers had their licenses revoked after a council review earlier this year.

Strike action had been threatened last week, and Mr Vali says that the strike could just be the first move in further action. However, the decision was not supported by all taxi and private hire drivers, with Charles Oakes, who runs the Hackney Drivers Association, criticising the strike. He said: “Nothing ever comes about in this trade because of striking. All you are doing is hurting the people that you are suppose to be doing a service for. “Sometimes councils don’t get it right but striking is not the answer.”

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IDFIMH

F*** me I thought he had eloped with the Captain.

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IDFIMH

and I thought he'd joined trotsky in the nursing home

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

They're both holding hands in Monaco sipping champers on Captains boat.

More likely..Guinness on his li-lo.

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Justice for the 96. It has only taken 27 years...........repeat the same lies for 27 years and the truth sounds strange to people!