Taxi Driver Online

Well the good old NTA and TGWU tell us all cabs are double shifted and that is the reason a restrictive policy supplies a better service to the public than an unrestricted policy. You are now telling us that is not the case so who is right and who is wrong you or the NTA and TGWU?

You talk about the misery for all, I suppose this is because Kings Lynn have implemented a policy of quality vehicle control but you forget that it is their perogotive to introduce such a policy, the same as it was to sustain a policy of restriction by numbers.

Everyone in Kings Lynn now knows the rules of the game, its a level playing field. The decision of Kings Lynn to implement Quality control is down to the council and no one else. You forget Jimbo that it was the NTA and TGWU who said Councils know what is best for their area, so don't try and blame Kings Lynn council policy on anyone but themselves because the NTA and TGWU agree with what they are doing.

JD

I am not a member of the NTA the TGWU or the CIA. I do know for a FACT that there is not a single double shifted Cab in Lincoln, and there is not a single rented plate or cab in Lincoln. I would wager that the same applies in Kings Lynn. If only the internet could reach so far we could possibly know for a fact.

Well you have said on previous occasions that there are no double tracked cabs in Lincoln, so I take your word for that, until of course it can be proved otherwise?

I don't know the state of play regarding double tracked cabs in Kings Lynn but it seems to me that moving from quantity control to quality control has hit one of your raw nerves?

You conveniently forget that you are a supporter of the NTA and TGWU policy that a council knows best so I cant understand why you are uptight about a democratic council decision that has nothing whatsoever to do with you but has everything to do with the citizens of Kings Lynn? Unless of course you think Lincoln may go the same way as Kings Lynn?

JD

What do you mean by your first paragraph? If you are calling me a liar, the easy way to check is to call the taxi licensing officer, ask how many licensed Hackney carriages there are, and how many badged drivers there are. I could tell you but you seem unprepared to accept my word.
I will not lose sleep over that, honest.

para 2, I have no raw nerves, but we know how the trade in Kings Lynn are looking forward to the new rules like a hole in the head.

para 3 There you go again, putting words in my mouth. I am more anti-union, than I am anti de-limitation. Why do YOU think Lincoln might go the same way as Kings Lynn?

The DfT 2004 figures show 58 taxis, 91 taxi badges and 14 dual badges. Thus I think it's safe to assume that most taxis have more than one driver.

And the Lincoln figures show 30 taxis and 44 drivers

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Taxi Driver Online
www.taxi-driver.co.uk

I wasn't calling you a liar, I told you I accepted your word that there are no Taxis double shifted in Lincoln. However I am curious to know how the system works and in particular when do drivers sleep and what times of day are not covered by these single shifted cabs? Or do you work a 24 hour shift, or perhaps let the private hire vehicles pick up when you guys are in bed?

JD

I can tell you there are not 44 active drivers in Lincoln, and also there is no unmet demand. (a survey proved it) Lincoln is sleepy hollow personified.

I wonder why West Norfolk Council paid out for a survey, and then ignored the findings? If it was their intention to deregulate, why bother spending (other people's) money on a forgone conclusion? After all, it would have been their "perogative" to say, de-limit, without a survey?

A very valid question.

Maybe they wanted the survey to make the decision for them, and have someone/something to blame the decision on.

If they did then they knew diddy-quat about surveys cos they only give recommendations.

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IDFIMH

Good question - the only thing I can think of is that they changed their minds after the survey was commissioned/conducted.

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Taxi Driver Online
www.taxi-driver.co.uk

If you read the licensing report to Cabinet on the 8/6/05 it explains matters quite clearly. There are a number of reasons raised in respect of removing restrictions. It was the local taxi owners who pushed for a survey, the council granted them that wish, then studied the survey and every other item of information at their disposal and then decided on what was best for the public of Kings Lynn.

As the NTA & TGWU says.....Councils know best?

JD

Suppose, then that every LA decided to follow the West Norfolk route, and de-limit, and insist on brand new WAV, purpose built, or E7 type,or similar? After every Taxi driver in the land had been compelled to buy a new WAV on the grounds of "safety". In a few years time, when drivers were thinking of replacing their cabs with a brand new cab, how would they then dispose of their good condition, (say) 5 year old cab worth thousands, but now worthless, because no LA will test a second hand cab? Logic?

There will always be areas that allow sheds to be licensed, such as Blackpool and Liverpool. Even the 'best in the world' allow cabs to be at least 10 years old.

But doesn't all this happen at present? All vehicles run out of time, and they end up being squashed. But should we be offering up sheds anyway, or should we be offering a decent modern fleet for our customers.

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IDFIMH

The West norfolk policy will encourage the keeping of vehicles way past their sell by date, in the future, but you are too flipping dense to see why. got your free plate yet, by the way?

I'm not in the habit of supposing anything. Councils know best, ask the NTA and T&G? Their policy.