Taxi Driver Online

Cabbies vow to fight all-white fleet proposals

TAXI drivers fighting moves to impose an all-white colour scheme on a county’s fleet are threatening legal action.

Adrian Fets, chairman of Durham Independent Taxi Association, said he was looking at seeking a judicial review, after councillors supported the proposals on Monday.

Members of Durham County Council’s licensing committee also recommended creating a deregulated, single hackney carriage zone, allowing unlimited numbers of vehicles to operate anywhere across the county.

Final decisions will be taken early next year.

Taxi drivers say a single colour policy would be costly and undeliverable; and a countywide zone would cause chaos in busy areas, such as Durham city centre.

Mr Fets said: “There’s no consideration for the trade, no consideration for the travelling public and certainly no consideration for the people of Durham.

“It’s going to be absolutely swamped with cars. It’s a World Heritage Site and you’re not going to be able to move. It’s going to be a circus.”

Mr Fets, owner of STL Cabs, previously led a year-long battle against proposals for an all-white fleet, which ended in success in 2005 when the nowdefunct Durham City Council dropped the scheme and had to pay thousands of pounds in legal costs.

He said the recession had hit taxi firms hard, with pubs and clubs opening fewer nights each week.

Yet, the number of hackney carriages in Durham City has increased from 64 to 74, all competing for eight rank spaces in North Road.

Mr Fets said if a countywide zone was introduced, there could be 1,006 vehicles fighting over the same turf.

Joanne Waller, the county council’s head of environment, health and consumer protection, said: “The licensing committee has been presented with a report following a comprehensive consultation exercise concerning proposals for the regulation of taxis.

“The recommendations of the licensing committee will be heard by cabinet and considered by full council in March, before a final decision is taken.”

The committee recommended an all-white policy for hackney carriages be introduced over five years and, following the introduction of a deregulated, single zone, a countywide demand survey be launched with a view to further regulation. All-white colour policies for hackney carriages are already in force in Chester-le-Street and Wear Valley, having been introduced by the previous district councils. No colour policies exist in other districts.

source: http://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/news/local/durham/

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Think of how stupid the average person is, and realize half of them are stupider than that.
George Carlin

If they are going to have one zone then they need to have the same conditions throughout the area.

But is the problem the colour of the motor or de-limitation?

Methinks the trade would accept pink cabs with blue spots if the council remained restricted.

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IDFIMH

I wonder if the new council has been informed of this.
I wonder if CC has a link to the case

Is it unique for a COUNTY be a LA?

they could still "zone" it, how will they do a knowledge test when there may be several large towns/cities in the one LA?

Cornwall is a unitary authority as well. There may be others, I'm not sure.

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Chris The Fish

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gdlyi5mc ... re=related

I think West Cheshire is a unitary authority but not sure about the zoning there or the knowledge tests etc

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Note to self: Just because it pops into my head does NOT mean it should come out of my mouth!!

You are correct, Cheshire West and Chester is also now a unitary authority which currently enforces the previous zones.

De zoning is on the agenda but cannot happen until all three zones have the same conditions throughout the area. We currently have 2 de-restricted zones and 1 restricted, we have 3 different fare structures and 3 sets of vehicle conditions. One zone previously allowed saloon cars (which has now changed) and the other 2 are all WAV.

The knowledge test for each area has been diluted and incorporated into a new driver qualification. Which is the same for all zones and results in a 3 year dual badge. We no longer have different badges for PH or Hackney.

We have been informed on numerous occasions that the zones were always intended to be a temporary measure but cannot be removed until we are all on a level playing field. However getting on a level playing field is easier said than done.

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http://chestertaxicall.co.uk

I think Rutland is the same.

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Grandad,

There is no legal provision to zone PH, so anywhere with a taxi/PH dual driver's license cannot zone drivers.

The issue Chester have at present is similar to the Durham situation, and I expect will have the same outcome.

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IDFIMH

I have a copy of the case, but via email.

CC

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Think of how stupid the average person is, and realize half of them are stupider than that.
George Carlin

This is insanity in its purest form......transport policy decided by some thick LO and even thicker licensing committee members.

A driver from 40 miles away could lawfully ply for hire in a city he's never been to and doesnt know his way around, indeed, by license doesnt even have to.

I can understand the colour policy and almost agree with it, but the de zoning? ffs

CC

_________________
Think of how stupid the average person is, and realize half of them are stupider than that.
George Carlin

I have it on good authority that the lads in Durham were offered help by a national union who offered to lobby the Labour councillors who were deciding on the future of the cab trade, but the lads in their infinite wisdom decided to go their own way.

Too late now.

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IDFIMH

http://markwilkes.mycouncillor.org.uk/2010/08/02/county-durham-taxi-consultation/



CC

_________________
Think of how stupid the average person is, and realize half of them are stupider than that.
George Carlin

_________________
Think of how stupid the average person is, and realize half of them are stupider than that.
George Carlin

Its always a joy to read a biased report

CC

_________________
Think of how stupid the average person is, and realize half of them are stupider than that.
George Carlin