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Cab drivers anger over North Herts licensing decision
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Author:  captain cab [ Wed Dec 08, 2010 8:31 pm ]
Post subject:  Cab drivers anger over North Herts licensing decision
Cab drivers anger over North Herts licensing decision

A COUNCIL’S decision to stop taxi drivers from operating under a zonal scheme has been met with anger amongst those in the trade.

Councillors at a North Herts District Council meeting held last night (Tuesday) have approved a new taxi licensing policy which will mean from next month all drivers of hackney carriage vehicles will no longer have licenses issued in zones – Baldock, Hitchin, Knebworth, Lecthworth GC and Royston.

Instead, licenses will apply throughout the district.

Over 20 people from the industry attended the meeting, with statements read out from three taxi firms asking councillors to reconsider many of the recommendations.

The owner of Tiny Taxis in Hitchin, Melvyn Day, was one of those to speak at the meeting and spoke to The Comet following the decision.

Mr Day, who has been involved in the trade for over 40 years, said: “I have been a very active member of the trade but for whatever reason there was a very poor response.

“I pleaded with them (NHDC) for it to be referred back and they said no. We made over 50 alterations and only 14 were approved.

“We now may experience a bit of discontent and arguments between Hitchin and Letchworth companies competing against one another.

“It’s not just the de-zoning though, it’s all the others too. They’ve put it through on the advice of council officers and not those who work in the trade.”

NHDC did consult on several occasions with the Taxi Forum – made up of taxi firms and drivers in the district – but admitted the number of responses had been low.

Speaking at yesterday’s meeting, Cllr David Barnard said: “The public can’t understand why a cab can’t pick it up from outside their zone so it makes sense.”

The new policy, which follows the Government’s Best Practice Guidance, will take effect from January 7 of next year, for a maximum period of five years.

source: http://www.thecomet.net/news/
Author:  GBC [ Thu Dec 09, 2010 4:08 am ]
Post subject: 
Thats interesting, this is where I live.

I know one thing, getting a Taxi in Letchworth (not that I go there that often nowadays) will be a nightmare at night. All the decent pubs, clubs and restaurants are in Hitchin.
Author:  Sussex [ Thu Dec 09, 2010 10:13 am ]
Post subject: 
One area, one fleet of hackney carriages.

Zones are good for no-one other than those keeping others out.

Bit like how some elements of the cab trade think it's great to keep their colleagues out of railway station. :sad:
Author:  skippy41 [ Thu Dec 09, 2010 10:47 am ]
Post subject: 
Sussex wrote:
One area, one fleet of hackney carriages.

Zones are good for no-one other than those keeping others out.

Bit like how some elements of the cab trade think it's great to keep their colleagues out of railway station. :sad:


Get it sorted Sussex writ-ted to the council and inform them that bad practice is afoot
Author:  Nidge [ Thu Dec 09, 2010 12:09 pm ]
Post subject: 
Sounds like one zone is busier than the other and the drivers of the busy zone don't want drivers from the not so busy zone working their patch.
Author:  captain cab [ Thu Dec 09, 2010 10:44 pm ]
Post subject: 
Sussex wrote:
One area, one fleet of hackney carriages.

Zones are good for no-one other than those keeping others out.

Bit like how some elements of the cab trade think it's great to keep their colleagues out of railway station. :sad:


I imagine the knowledge test for the entire county is a bit of a b*gger though :shock:

CC
Author:  Chris the Fish [ Thu Dec 09, 2010 11:53 pm ]
Post subject: 
captain cab wrote:
I imagine the knowledge test for the entire county is a bit of a b*gger though :shock:

CC

Might be a bit easier than you thought CC, it is only the "North" of the whole county of Hertfordshire. :lol:

Still, just the North of Hertfordshire is probably a b*gger though.
Author:  captain cab [ Thu Dec 09, 2010 11:56 pm ]
Post subject: 
Chris the Fish wrote:
captain cab wrote:
I imagine the knowledge test for the entire county is a bit of a b*gger though :shock:

CC

Might be a bit easier than you thought CC, it is only the "North" of the whole county of Hertfordshire. :lol:

Still, just the North of Hertfordshire is probably a b*gger though.


Every street in every village then?

And Norman Baker told the NTA how localised taxis were?

Is Norman Baker a liar?

These people are truly f*cking mental.

(not official NTA policy I might add)

CC
Author:  Chris the Fish [ Fri Dec 10, 2010 12:07 am ]
Post subject: 
CC, I was being flippant, I agree with you 100%.

It's all very well increasing areas, for Councils as a whole it has benefits.

But for Taxi (and PH) it is obviously detrimental.

After eight and a half years I know my around Plymouth fairly well. I can't imagine that I would know a whole county like Cornwall for example to the level that a passenger should have every right to expect.

Zoning is frowned on - and yet with increasing LA sizes, like whole Counties (or large parts thereof), it is ridiculous to do anything other.
Author:  captain cab [ Fri Dec 10, 2010 12:13 am ]
Post subject: 
Chris the Fish wrote:
CC, I was being flippant, I agree with you 100%.


I's expect nothing less :lol:

CC
Author:  Chris the Fish [ Fri Dec 10, 2010 12:15 am ]
Post subject: 
That I's flippant or that I's agree with you?
Author:  captain cab [ Fri Dec 10, 2010 12:18 am ]
Post subject: 
Chris the Fish wrote:
That I's flippant or that I's agree with you?


both probably :lol:

CC
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