Taxi Driver Online

Red tape could be removed on taxis

The number of taxis on Wolverhampton’s roads will soar under plans to scrap “unfair” licence conditions in a move to have enough cars on the streets to cope with late-night revellers, it was revealed today.

New taxi drivers would be told they no longer have to buy brand new cars or renew their licences every year as part of the plans. There are currently 123 black cabs in the city and council bosses said they wanted to remove the red tape to boost the number on the roads.

A consultation has now been launched into the new proposals, which aim to cut lengthy waits for cabs during peak times and reduce opportunities for illegal and possibly unsafe operators to go to work.

Wolverhampton City Council spokesman Tim Clark said: “The council is seeking views on making changes to its licensing conditions for hackney carriages in order to make it easier for current drivers to stay on the road and for new drivers to join the trade.”

The authority will consult on changing the renewal period for drivers’ badges to every three years, rather than every year, to save them time and cash.

In addition, the council is asking people what they think of ending the current system which means new drivers have to buy a brand new taxi that can cost up to £30,000. Council bosses said buying a brand new taxi could be a barrier to newcomers wanting to join the trade, and that many believed the system was “unfair” because existing drivers can replace their taxis with a vehicle that is up to 10 years old - providing it is newer than its predecessor.

Representatives from both the hackney carriage and private hire trades, late-night city businesses, police and community groups are being asked for their views about the new plans.

Council chief regulatory services officer Nick Edwards said: “We have a good night life in Wolverhampton and we want it to be even better, but at the moment there are not enough black cabs.

“This means people face a wait to get home or in some cases use illegal and possibly unsafe operators instead. We think that by removing red tape and making it easy for people to join the trade and to stay in the trade, market forces will then determine the right level of taxi provision in the city.”

The consultation will run until the end of September.

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IDFIMH

How long is a lengthy wait. People wait for buses and trains for upto half an hour.



Would that be their drivers licence or their vehicle licence. If its their badge then surely that doesn't save that much time or money. Having said that it doesn't take that much time or money for your plate if you keep on top of your vehicle. I think it will only reduce the time and effort for the LO.

I'm all for improving the service but not at the expense of flooding the market or at the expense of passenger safety all for the sake of a couple of hours on a weekend

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

It wasn't that long ago that Wolverhampton cabbies were charging 50p a head to pick up at bus stops, going back to the city centre, when returning from dropping in a suburb; that's how bad the work was there.

And as for no cabs on nights; would you work nights for 50p extra per hiring & if the hiring is ten miles the fare (PHTM League Tables of Fares) is 90p less than on days, even with the 50p night charge?

Who would want to work nights at those rates? That's why all the drivers are on days.

If they put a proper night tariff in & waited a year to see the results, I bet the situation would improve ten-fold.

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Kind regards,

Brummie Cabbie.

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Sounds like London before 2002.

Now the tariff reflects the anti social hours, taxis are in greater supply and obviously takings for the night men are up.