Sign of the times for taxi drivers and they're not happy
THE Association representing Berwick taxi drivers has attacked plans to make them display identical roof signs on their cars.
Berwick Borough Council is proposing the roof signs for all hackney carriages in the borough, to help distinguish them from private hire vehicles.
However, Berwick Borough Taxi Association is arguing that the change is unnecessary, as all hackney carriages (which can be hailed and pick up passengers on the street) in the town already display their own roof signs and none of the private hire vehicles (which must be pre-booked) have them.
They also argue that the plan penalises those operators who use their roof signs to advertise their business and are objecting to plans to charge them for the new signs
The association's secretary, George Richardson of Fife's Taxis, said: "We agree with the council that roof signs are the ideal way to differentiate between a hackney carriage and a private hire vehicle. But we do not agree that we need these identical roof signs with two Berwick Borough Council logos on them.
"We all have perfectly good roof signs already, and yet we're being told we'll have to pay £117 for these new ones. One guy has four vehicles — that's nearly £500."
Berwick borough licensing officer David Wilson was unavailable to comment this week, but a spokesman for the borough council emphasised that the plan was still at consultation stage and that everyone's views would be welcome.
A reply slip and a photo of what the sign might look like, has been included in the recent edition of the council's magazine Bear Facts.
You can also send in your views to the council by using the following freepost address: Taxi Consultation, Licensing Service, Berwick-upon-Tweed Borough Council, Council Offices, Freepost NEA 9139, Berwick-upon-Tweed, TD15 1ED or e-mail
taxis@berwick-upon-tweed.gov.
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