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| Cabbies vow to fight all-white fleet proposals http://taxi-driver.co.uk/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=15523 |
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| Author: | captain cab [ Wed Dec 08, 2010 8:32 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Cabbies vow to fight all-white fleet proposals |
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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| Author: | Sussex [ Thu Dec 09, 2010 10:16 am ] |
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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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| Author: | skippy41 [ Thu Dec 09, 2010 10:42 am ] |
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Quote: 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.
I wonder if the new council has been informed of this. I wonder if CC has a link to the case |
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| Author: | wannabeeahack [ Thu Dec 09, 2010 11:03 am ] |
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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? |
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| Author: | Chris the Fish [ Thu Dec 09, 2010 11:13 am ] |
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wannabeeahack wrote: Is it unique for a COUNTY be a LA?
Cornwall is a unitary authority as well. There may be others, I'm not sure. |
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| Author: | toots [ Thu Dec 09, 2010 11:31 am ] |
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Chris the Fish wrote: wannabeeahack wrote: Is it unique for a COUNTY be a LA? Cornwall is a unitary authority as well. There may be others, I'm not sure. I think West Cheshire is a unitary authority but not sure about the zoning there or the knowledge tests etc |
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| Author: | Chester J.D. [ Thu Dec 09, 2010 12:45 pm ] |
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toots wrote: Chris the Fish wrote: wannabeeahack wrote: Is it unique for a COUNTY be a LA? Cornwall is a unitary authority as well. There may be others, I'm not sure. I think West Cheshire is a unitary authority but not sure about the zoning there or the knowledge tests etc 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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| Author: | grandad [ Thu Dec 09, 2010 1:50 pm ] |
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I think Rutland is the same. |
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| Author: | Sussex [ Thu Dec 09, 2010 10:11 pm ] |
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JDBubbles wrote: 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. 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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| Author: | captain cab [ Thu Dec 09, 2010 11:45 pm ] |
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skippy41 wrote: Quote: 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. I wonder if the new council has been informed of this. I wonder if CC has a link to the case I have a copy of the case, but via email. CC |
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| Author: | captain cab [ Thu Dec 09, 2010 11:53 pm ] |
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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 |
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| Author: | Sussex [ Fri Dec 10, 2010 10:02 pm ] |
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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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| Author: | captain cab [ Fri Dec 10, 2010 10:14 pm ] |
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http://markwilkes.mycouncillor.org.uk/2010/08/02/county-durham-taxi-consultation/ 
CC |
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| Author: | captain cab [ Fri Dec 10, 2010 10:20 pm ] |
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http://www.durham.gov.uk/Pages/displaym ... x?comid=23 |
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| Author: | captain cab [ Fri Dec 10, 2010 10:45 pm ] |
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Its always a joy to read a biased report
CC |
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