Woking cabbies 'angry' at council's decision to issue clearer guidance on dress code and personal hygienehttps://www.getsurrey.co.uk/news/surrey ... n-15975905The drivers feel Woking Borough Council has tarnished the entire taxi trade
Image: Get Surrey/Darren PepeTaxi drivers in Woking have expressed anger at the council's decision to issue a clearer set of standards in relation to personal hygiene and "acceptable standards of dress".
Woking Borough Council's (WBC) licensing committee discussed and approved new guidance relating to hygiene and dress code at a meeting on Tuesday (March 12).
This decision was made after the council received a number of comments from customers complaining that some taxi drivers were dressing in a way "considered to be unprofessional".
However, taxi drivers feel they have been unfairly targeted by the council and claim there has been no consultation on these issues.
Ifran Khan has been working as a hackney carriage taxi driver in Woking for six years.
He said: "We are generally quite angry because it’s a predominantly Asian trade within Woking and we feel that nobody has consulted the trade at all.
Image: Get Surrey/Darren Pepe"If they [the council] are listening to the public in regards to this, they haven’t listened to the public in regards to other aspects. The council can’t pick and choose what they want to do. They have not fully consulted with us.
"We as a whole trade haven’t been consulted."
He added: "The good thing is the council have decided to do this forum. Hopefully all these conditions will be raised there and hopefully we can move on from there."
Burhan Khan said: "My concern is that there’s obviously people that need to clean up their act, but what they've [the council] done is they have actually tarnished everyone with the same brush and it has actually tarnished our reputation.
"Our ultimate aim is that we want to work with the council. The council, on many occasions when we have spoken to them, they said you are the ambassadors of the organisation and we want you to promote the town.
"Now, if the council are not talking to us and we’re hearing this from a third party, then how can we be ambassadors? They are not helping us at all."
Vicky Baker, another hackney carriage driver, said the council should talk to specific individuals rather than grouping everyone together.
Mohammad Zubair, owner of private hire taxi company Galaxy Cars, feels WBC has portrayed a very negative image of the taxi trade.
Image: Surrey AdvertiserHe said: “I do not understand why WBC has labelled and portrayed the whole trade in such a negative manner. It amazes me that the council do not consult with the trade if it has any such issues or complaints.
"Instead, they have created a very negative image of the whole industry within the local community, which is totally incorrect and uncalled for [...]"
The new guidance will be added to the Hackney Carriage and Private Hire Licensing Handbook.
The handbook contains information, policy and guidance for drivers, applicants and members of the public.
Councillor Debbie Harlow, Woking Borough Council’s Portfolio Holder for Licensing, said: “We have observed and received comments from members of the public that some drivers are dressing in a manner that is considered below the standards expected of professional drivers.
“The enhanced dress code guidance, which was approved by the licencing committee on Tuesday March 12, provides drivers with clarity to the existing guidance contained within the Hackney Carriage and Private Hire Licencing Handbook which was published in 2018. The guidance is by no means unique to Woking and can be found in many other local authority licensed trade policies.
“Clearly this guidance should not affect the majority of drivers who act in a professional manner. Instead of targeting individual drivers, the guidance provides simple, straightforward good practice to all.
“We understand the vital service taxi drivers play within our community and, as the licensing authority, we want the licensed taxi trade to be a well-run, professional service that is befitting the borough. Rather than creating a negative image, asking drivers to adhere to this guidance will only serve to improve the professional image of the licensed taxi trade within and beyond the borough.”
Full Statement from Galaxy Cars Galaxy Cars wrote:
"Galaxy Cars, as a company based in Woking since 1980, and as chair of the Woking Association of Taxi Car Hire (WATCH) have and will always cooperate and have cooperated and worked with Woking Borough Council (WBC) fully.
“We already have a dress code and hygiene policy in place. In fact in 2011, via Woking Asian Business Forum, we delivered Woking Together programme, where we delivered customer care courses to taxi drivers and to make them ambassadors of Woking. Sometimes we pick up passengers whose visit could be the first visit in Woking and it’s vital that we portray a good image of Woking.
“However, I do not understand why WBC have labelled and portrayed the whole trade in such a negative manner. It amazes me that the council do not consult with the trade if they have any such issues or complaints. Instead, they have created a very negative image of the whole industry within the local community, which is totally incorrect and uncalled for.
“Woking Borough Council does not seem to realise the very hard and unsociable working environments that the many taxi drivers are doing in providing an excellent service to the community.
“Taxi drivers are regularly having to deal with passengers that have lost their senses through drink and drugs. They are not only having to deal with such passengers vomiting in the car, but are also likely to have to deal with the physical and verbal abuse that often comes with it and running away without paying fare.
“We are fully aware of requirement First Aid, disability awareness, safeguarding, customer care in BTEC courses etc.
“We feel that the default position of Woking Borough Council licensing department is totally uncalled for and is totally uncooperative with the taxi industry.”
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