Nothing particularly new here, but slightly different angle. No mention of the recent fake driver case, though, which you'd think might be relevant as regards a lack of taxis and the safety implications, although that might strengthen the council's argument with regard to the colour code.
On the other hand, if someone will get into a two-door Fiesta 'taxi', what use a colour code for purpose-built HCs?
Plymouth's taxi shortage set to get worse as hackney drivers quit
https://www.plymouthherald.co.uk/news/p ... se-8097953
Plymouth Licensed Taxi Association writes to councillors saying lack of cabs will hit hospitality businesses and put women at risk
Plymouth taxi drivers have warned the council that a shortage of cabbies is likely to worsen causing problems for the city’s hospitality businesses and women’s safety. In a strongly-worded letter to councillors the Plymouth Licensed Taxi Association (PLTA) said an increasing number of hackney drivers are being forced into retirement and accused the authority of being more interested in turning the colour of cabs from black to green and white.
Martin Leaves, secretary of the hackney cabbies’ PLTA, said he had requested a meeting with councillors from all parties but was “disappointed with the lack of response”. He said: “The only reply came from the independent group, saying they will look to meet us in the near future.”
Mr Leaves, a former Tory councillor and an honorary alderman, said he was “very disappointed with the way taxis are being ignored” by the administration. He called on voters and business owners to support moves to scrap the taxi policy brought in last year, and make it an issue in forthcoming elections.
Cabbies have been unhappy for nearly a year now since Plymouth City Council approved the Hackney Carriage and Private Hire Licensing Policy 2022 which removed the limit on hackney cab numbers and insisted the famous black cabs were coloured green and white by 2027 - something Mr Leaves said will cost drivers money.
His latest missive to councillors complains that drivers are struggling to make ends meet and are therefore leaving the trade or having to work exceptionally long hours.
He said the shortage of cabbies is having a negative impact on the city’s hospitality industry, with people staying at home rather than facing a long wait for a ride home. And he said it is also doing nothing to make women feel safer at night.
In his letter to councillors Mr Leaves wrote: “Here we are in a cost of living crisis, taxi drivers are being pushed into retirement due to the taxi policy, forcing taxi drivers out of pocket.”
He added: “The recent taxi policy which got implemented last May, has seen no new taxis brought into service, drivers are still walking away with no new blood coming into the trade. As a result over Christmas I lost count on how many people said they won't go out too much as it's too much hassle getting home, due to lack of taxis, which is all caused by the city council's taxi policy.
“Putting people off going out can be very damaging to our night time economy, hitting publicans and our hospitality businesses, putting more jobs at risk. At a time where we have vulnerable women struggling to get home safely, all this council seems to care about is having a taxi livery that’s not easy to get, nor is it cheap to do. But, really, is it more important to have green white taxis than to have no taxis at all?”
Mr Leaves stressed, in his letter, that he had been a “lifelong” Conservative and suggested councillors look up the principles of the Conservative party “which were once about deregulation, cutting red tape, letting business choose for themselves rather than be held back by central control”.
He wrote: “Why are they so tunnel visioned and sitting back watching drivers being forced out of work at a time we need more drivers to assist our city partners who rely on our service to bring customers to the hospitality businesses and take them home safely.”
Mr Leaves said that as a former councillor he understood the financial pressures facing the authority but stressed enforcement is still needed to tackle “illegal” parking on taxi ranks. And he said: “While parking charges are being increased there is little action to tackle the motorists who avoid paying parking fees, especially after 9pm where people park illegally and do not get a parking ticket.”
He wrote: “I share the anger of many customers who struggle to get a taxi. Please get behind us and lobby your councillors from now until the elections. I call on the hospitality and publicans to get behind the taxi trade which is being brought to its knees, we need this taxi killing policy to be stopped. Do we really want to be a city with no taxi service at a time when buses are being cancelled?”
