Taxi Driver Online

Cab colour code plans abandoned

A 15-month dispute over proposals to introduce a white-only colour code for all city taxi cabs has come to an end. Durham City Council wanted to introduce the code for hackney cabs in the city.

That was challenged by drivers' leader Adrian Fetts before magistrates where he was successful, but the council then appealed that decision at crown court. The judge there dismissed the council's appeal and after reading the report, the council has now decided to abandon the colour policy.

Dozens of taxi drivers marched through the city earlier this year to protest against the plans. The council said it had wanted to introduce the single colour for a number of reasons including distinguishing between hackney cabs and private hire vehicles.

Other reasons were ease of enforcement and standardisation with other authorities in the area. The council said the judgement from his Honour Judge Carr said the council had consulted adequately on the introduction of the policy and that the timescale had been reasonable.

But he did not accept that the colour was a means of distinguishing between hackney carriage and private users. He did not accept that the colour of the taxi would encourage individuals to use a taxi if they would otherwise not have done and so he dismissed the public safety argument
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is there an echo in hear?