Taxi Driver Online

Herald Express (Torquay)

May 26, 2007 Saturday

Cab firm loses sign change bid

Policies which separate cabs from private hire vehicles are to stay unchanged in Torbay.

A private hire firm hoping to set up business in the resort asked the council to change policies on signs to allow it to give its name and number on vehicles. However after a two-hour debate, which included cabbies and the private hire firm, councillors decided not to change their policies as they said the present rules helped with identification and were in line with best practice.

Plymouth private car hire firm Taxifast asked the council to allow door, bumper and roof signs which would give its details and telephone number.

However council rules do not allow the use of the words 'taxi', 'cab' or ' for hire' if the vehicle is for private hire, as it cannot ply for hire and can only respond to advance bookings, while a hackney cab can be flagged down or picked up at a rank.

Any idea of a change was opposed by the Bay's hackney carriage licensed holders who said it would cause confusion and could lead to private hire vehicles being flagged down by fares, which would be an offence if they took the passenger.

The hackney trade alleges private hire drivers sometimes pick up fares to which they are not entitled when they are flagged down. Taxifast chairman John Preece said the signs would clearly say 'advanced bookings only' and any of their drivers who touted for business would be fired. "We don't see a problem with these signs only a plus." He said the company would consider a legal challenge if its application was refused. "We are a quality operation and if we can't bring that quality then we don't come to Torbay."

Denis Hext, chairman of Torbay Licensed Taxi Association, said: "It invites confusion when the name Taxifast would be displayed on each door. "When the name is Taxifast it clearly would be confused with a taxi. "We already have a confused public and this is going to make it worse."

Nigel Frost, of Torbay Cab Company, said: "How can you have the words taxi on a vehicle if it is not. It is just ridiculous. "You cannot put the word taxi on a vehicle that is not a taxi."

He said the present system is clearly working well in Torbay and there is no need to change it. Cllr David Thomas said it was only recently he realised there is a difference between the two types of vehicles and they way they operate.

"If we go with these changes it will be adding to the general confusion," he said. Cllr Robert Excell said: "I think it will be total confusion. It is a bad idea when we have so many foreign students."
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1 nil to the council this time round

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Legal and proud

Loads a love from BERTIE !!

Cllr David Thomas said it was only recently he realised there is a difference between the two types of vehicles and they way they operate.

Well what a surprise, local councillor who didn't know the difference between PH and HC, I wonder if he's the only one?

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Our safety is Paramount

Probably quite a few of them, but only a few who will admit to it in public.

But it puts into perspective the "councils know best" mantra.

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

One of ours thought it was unreasonable that he couldn't get a Gosport cab from a supermarket in Fareham on a Friday afternoon.

Now bear this in mind the firm he phoned was 5+ miles from the supermarket and the local Fareham cabs ranked at the supermarket. On this he based his opinion to back delimiting. They sure know best don't they?

Its a pity we could not get some taxi drivers elected on to the licencing committies to keep them right .What chance have we got if the councillers do not know how we operate,but are part of the commitee who punish a taxidriver if there is a complaint against him/her

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www.youtube.com/watch?v=z07K29Fc15U

There are taxi drivers elected as councillors Badger ............... but because of vested interest they would not be able to get on the Licensing Committee.

The Northern Region GMBPDB will actively encourage members to join the local Labour Party and then when possible support any member who decides to stand for election.

There are some who would like to keep politics out of our trade ................ but as we all know politics is involved in every aspect of our lives and work .................. probably better to get involved I think.

You could alternatively stand as an Independant.

B. Lucky

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"Here's a simple solution. If you don't want to pay more for a premium service then wait in the queue, problem solved".
Skull on TDO

TF pi$$ed on his chips.

Which will no doubt work wonders on all those Liberal councils you have up there.

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IDFIMH

Until recently it was always Labour in Newcastle and Gateshead, but now we have the Liberal ones in Newcastle and Labour still in Gateshead. Sometimes it makes me wonder what went wrong

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www.youtube.com/watch?v=z07K29Fc15U