Taxi Driver Online

Cabbies' chance to have their say

PUBLIC meetings are set to be held to discuss a proposed new taxi policy before a new council is created in April.

At present each of the seven district councils of County Durham, including the District of Easington council and Sedgefield Borough Council, have their own fares, licensing fees, bylaws and conditions for 1,500 Hackney Carriages and private hire vehicles.

A consultation is due to be launched this month by Durham County Council regarding a new proposed policy to come into effect when the new unitary authority is formed to cover the whole of County Durham.

The meetings will be attended by licensing officers to outline the proposals and discuss the issues raised.

A draft of the policy has also been sent to taxi drivers and owners, businesses, residents and users, so they can have their say.

The Easington district meeting will be held at Seaham Leisure Centre on Wednesday, January 28, from 1pm to 2.30pm.

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

Anyone want to take a bet it will end up as one big licensing area and every taxi will be able to ply anywhere in the district.

No taxi restrictions and no zones.

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IDFIMH

I suppose the consultation wont be as democratic as to ask "do you want a unitary authority?"

CC

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

Free-for-all feared on the taxi ranks


TAXI drivers fear a “free-for-all” on the ranks when licensing rules regarding fare pick-ups change in April.

The abolition of the seven district councils on March 31 will lead to the new single authority taking charge of licensing of taxis in County Durham.

Each of the seven district councils has its own set of fares, licensing fees, bylaws and conditions but none has a formal taxi policy.

Cabbies in Durham city centre fear that others from outlying towns and villages will move in to cash in on the lucrative weekend trade.

One long-serving cabbie, who asked not to be named, said: “It will be a free-for-all.

“There will be nothing to stop drivers from places like Stanley and Spennymoor plying their trade on the Durham ranks. This will affect our business but will also lead to a shortage of taxis in other towns and villages where the trade is not considered as lucrative.”

Durham County Council officers are carrying out widespread consultation on a draft policy to come into effect with the new unitary council in April.

Council leader Simon Henig described the issue as “one of the most challenging we need to resolve as part of local government reorganisation”.

He added: “Should we keep seven separate zones after the new unitary council comes in next April or move to a single zone with the same set of standards throughout? This is an important issue affecting our economy and transport strategy and potentially one of the most challenging issues we need to resolve as part of local government reorganisation.

“For that reason, it is vitally important to get the views of the public and taxi trade on all possible options, including a third option of a transition period if we adopt the same standards across the county.

“I hope that as many people as possible will submit their views.”

As part of the consultation, which ends on February 20, seven public meetings are to be held, starting on Friday, January 23, from 1pm to 2.30pm at the Abbey Leisure Centre, Durham.

Other meetings to be held from 1pm to 2.30pm are at Sacriston Social Club, Front Street, Sacriston, on Monday, January 26; Seaham Leisure Centre on Wednesday, January 28; Spectrum Leisure Centre, Willington, on Friday, January 30; Spennymoor Leisure Centre on Monday, February 2; and Glaxo Social Club, Barnard Castle, on Tuesday, February 3.

The last meeting will be on February 4 from 6.30pm to 8pm at the Civic Hall, Consett.

Licensing officers will attend the meetings to outline the proposals and discuss issues.

The draft policy has also been sent to taxi drivers and owners, businesses, residents and users so that they can contribute their views.

Currently there are 1,500 hackney carriage and private hire vehicles in the county and 2,500 licensed taxi drivers.

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

Doomed they are.

The lot of them.

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IDFIMH

Its going to be extremely amusing though

CC

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

Its no diffrent than the others that merge together across the uk.

It happen here, no differance,

and soon with another neighbour two towns

Are you lowering your fares too or are you going from delimited to limited (or vice versa)?

CC

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

1 April 1997. they came together form unitary authority

nearly 10yrs ago, still limited,