Older cabs could be taken off Northamptonshire’s roads but drivers warn plan could put cabbies in financial difficulties Published on Wednesday 21 September 2011 16:19Private hire cars could be taken off the road once they reach eight years old under new legislation being considered by Northampton Borough Council.
The authority tried to implement an age limit on private hire cabs six years ago, but scrapped the plans following a backlash from drivers.
Now, the council’s licensing committee is looking at the proposals again after officials warned older vehicles operating in the town consistently failed spot checks, with problems as serious as disintegrated brake pipes.
In a report to be seen by members of the council’s licensing committee next week, the authority’s principle licensing officer, Phil Bayliss, said an age limit would reflect policies already imposed in Daventry, Kettering and Wellingborough.
He said: “A number of councils have introduced an age policy with regard to these vehicles and all have proved successful in improving the quality of vehicles and enhancing the image of the trade in general.
“There has also been a noticeable decrease in the failure rate when these vehicles are tested.”
The licensing expert also claimed the introduction of an eight-year age limit on private hire cars in Northampton would lead to the creation of a high- quality fleet of more reliable, safer and less polluting vehicles working in the town.
But private hire drivers have repeated the opposition they raised to the plans back in 2005.
The chairman of the Northampton Private Hire Association, Kevin Willsher, said: “My phone has been ringing red hot since the proposals came out and the opinion of the trade is very powerful.
“Things are difficult enough already for drivers. A lot of them are in debt with their mortgages because of the recession and if this goes ahead, they’ll have to get finance to buy new cars. Even if you’ve got a brand new car, if it’s not serviced properly, it can be in a bad condition within a year.”
If the proposals were implemented by the council, they would be rolled out over two years.
The plans will be discussed by the council’s licensing committee during a meeting at the Guildhall from 6pm on Tuesday, September 27.
Source; http://www.northamptonchron.co.uk/news/ ... _1_3076020
Login
Register
FAQ
