Taxi Driver Online

I think I understand: If the council decides there is unmet demand and license more taxis PLUS put the fares up, then there may be more taxis chasing fewer passengers.

So it's best to wait and see rather than go for a fare rise straight away?

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The higher the fewer.

WHY PLATE VALUES ARE NOT A BARRIER TO NEW ENTRANTS IN KINGS LYNN, AND THE NEW VEHICLE RULES ARE.

Here is the logic of my statement. I do not recall seeing KL mentioned in your list of plate values, so I think it safe to assume that plate values in KL were, either minimal, or non-existent. But, let us rewind 12 months, to january, 2005. I decide, after being made redundant from a factory in KL,
that becoming a Taxi {Hackney Carriage) is the life for me. I am told that the only way to achieve this is to buy an existing license, or licensed vehicle, from a present licensee. (An enathema, to some, I know) I am put in touch with a chap, called "John Doe" who says, he can get me a plated, tested, four year old, Ford Mondeo for £7,500. Or a plate transferred into my name for £5,000. I take option one, and with insurance at £3,500 for my first year, off I pootle to join the queue on the rank, and wait my turn, (1 hour wait, £3.60 dead money!) There is no unmet demand, but I manage to make a living. Just, working all hours.

Fast forward a year. Same bloke, same redundancy. Been down the council today, and they say I can have a plate for free! Whoopeee! I don't have to pay some scabby driver £5,000 for a plate that's not his to sell! Thank you TDO, thank you JD, and thank you Sussex, you have saved me five grand. Hold on, what was the other bit, Mr Licensing Officer, if I want to put on a Hackney Carriage in KL, I will have to put forward a Wheelchair accessible vehicle, (WAV) that is less than a year old, with less than 15,000 miles on the clock, for testing and approval? Well, who the hell sells a second hand WAV with less than 15K? Yes sir, I know thats my problem, not yours, but basically West Norfolk Council are saying put on a NEW cab? Yes sir I KNOW they are not SAYING that, but that's what they MEAN, isn't it. NO COMMENT?!! What kind of help is that?!!
OK, don't panic! I'll buy a brand new WAV! after all, my plates a freebie!
So now, instead of being able to buy a second hand plated mondeo for £7,500, I've got to buy a TX11 for £30,000+, or an E7 or similar for £20,000+, plus insurance testing and plating, so instead of buying into a controlled market for a start up of £11,000, the council say I must spend £23,500 to £33,500 plus, to start up in a de-limited market, I can't see the LOGIC in that, so it's back to the factories for me, being unemployed, who will lend me that kind of money?

Incidentally, the safety question. when, in 2003 the OfT published their report into the Taxi industry, the safety factor they were talking about was not the safety of vehicles, but the (supposed) safety of passengers, unable to hail a taxi for immediate hire. And if a punter, in any area, has ever flagged down a Hackney carriage taxi on a dark and rainy night, after waiting more than 30 seconds to find one, and then rejected that said taxi on the grounds that the vehicle was "unsafe", do tell.

Not happy in Kings Lynn? I should think not. The council were given poor advice when it was claimed that they were liable to a legal challenge. They do not appear on your list, and the conclusion of asurvey was no unmet demand.

your argument makes perfect sense, but as we know its the "journey men taxi drivers" or the poor "folks" who are being deprived, or its some "wanna plate".

this council seems to have been nobbled, know what i mean?

I would be interested to know if there are any journeymen drivers in Kings Lynn. Everyone on this site tends to judge the situation in another licensing area by the situation in their own. Kings Lynn is a smallish town in a very rural area miles from civilisation, without meaning to show disrespect. The council ruling against all logic,will be the ruination of the taxi trade in West Norfolk.

Surely if there aren't that many journeymen, then there wont be an influx of new owners. Unless there's a secret store of licensed cab drivers hiding somewhere.

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IDFIMH

i know theres a secret stash of customers out thier, all waiting to come out of the woodwork to ride in the nice shiny TX's or the Bread Vans......

It just goes to show that the first part of your statement rather than being logical is rather illogical. There are 65 councils out of 99 that are not on the plate value list, that's a massive 65.7% So how do you draw the conclusion one way or the other what the plate value of Kings Lynn might be?

It might fit in nicely with your statement that plate values are not a deterrent but most people will probably think that your reasoning is totally illogical in assuming that 65 of 99 councils have negligible plate values. If you think the other 64 councils don't fit into the same category as kings Lynn, then perhaps you can tell us why?

JD

Total nonsense.

First of all you haven't got a clue what plates are fetching in kings Lynn, therefore your scenario is hypothetical and totally irrelevant. I'm surprised a man of your intelligence didnt come up with a more realistic figure as to the value of plates.

Why did't you assume plate values are twenty grand or maybe thirty grand? Find out what rents are being charged in Kings Lynn and it will give you a good indication to the value of plates?

If plates were as low as the hypothetical price you suggest then there would probably be no opposition to removing restricting. The councils decision on vehicle policy will be implemented regardless of what control policy is in place? So with or without quantity control the cabbies of Kings Lynn will be subject to higher vehicle costs no matter what, or hadn't you realised that?

If plates were, or as low as you hypothetically suggest, then the only barrier, "excluding quality vehicle control" is that of restricting numbers. If vehicles are of a low standard and plate premiums are low, then it is obvious that the new restriction would be that of quality control.

The main democratic principle to a policy of quality control is that everyone will have the same opportunity.

Quantity controls no doubt work against equal opportunities, therefore no matter what value is attached to plates, restrictions based on quantity control are discriminatory. Quantity controls discriminate against people who hold the same qualifications as those who find themselves in a position of being favoured by such restrictions. Yet they are Ineligible to drive and own their own cab because of the policy of a council.

It should be remembered that it is up to the licensing authority how high they raise the bar in respect of quality vehicle controls, just as any other policy they may have used in the past, or might use in the future?

JD

Granted, the OFT in respect of that isolated passage were infering to passenger safety but Kings Lynn were most definately talking about vehicle safety when they wrote.

The report strongly supported the concept of quality regulation as a means by which to regulate driver and vehicle safety.

and this.....

The existing policy requires that all new hackney carriage licenses are only given to vehicles which are fully wheelchair accessible. In order to improve
the quality, safety and environmental impact of the fleet it is proposed that the following policy is adopted.

And this....

All conversions will confirm to the M1 standard as determined by the Department for Transport “Safety of wheelchair occupants in road passenger vehicles” publication.

And this from the OFT.....

regulation – limiting the number of taxis reduces availability and lowers the quality of service to the public. These restrictions should therefore be lifted

• quality and safety regulation – there are compelling reasons to regulate to safeguard driver and vehicle standards. But there are questions about whether quality regulation always achieves its goals proportionately

best practice in LAs’ application of quality and safety controls to ensure the needs of local people are met and that individuals and businesses are not deterred from supplying taxi services

And this from the OFT.....

The main arguments which could be offered in favour of quantity
controls are:

• that there is no excess demand for taxis. We reject this as our research shows that demand is there but is not being met • that they ensure the quality and safety of the fleet in terms of vehicles and drivers. We believe that effective quality regulation, rather than restricting taxi numbers, is the reliable way to ensure this.



JD

Just how many LA's with a so called "plate value" below £6,000 are worth a mention on your list?

How many with a plate value above £25,000 did you judge to be not worth a mention?

Nil Nil? So,produce a plate value list that shows the lot, and not an edited highlight?

And if not? why not?

Need a start? Lincoln? £4,000 to £5,000? maybe? Isthat helpful?

Why do YOU assume there is a rental market at all, in Kings Lynn? As I said, it's a small market town?

You are talking out of your orifice, JD. Go to KL, and find out for yourself the misery for all, that this stupid policy is producing? I cannot believe that you are seriously supporting the policy decisions of West Norfolk Council?

In view of all the above bollaux, would you rush to Kings Lynn for a free plate?

Yes or no JD? do you think you could make a living there?

No I wouldn't, but that's not the point. The question is are the good customers of KL being served well by restricting their choice?

Also if the trade there is not up to much, why would anyone with a brain cell want to work their? Are they charity workers?

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IDFIMH

Well, a survey, which the council chose to ignore, said that the people of Kings Lynn ARE being "well served"

How goes the survey in your parish, Sussex? Got your free plate yet?