Can't disagree with what's being said here in general terms, but not sure if some of the comments are likely to be detrimental to the drivers' case rather than contributing to it.
I mean, stating that the
whole world will view councillors as 'jokers' is likely to make them change their minds, or double down?
Anyway, full size photos of the drivers etc on the website and a couple of other images, if anyone's interested.
Taxi drivers rubbish 20mph limits and warn fares could go uphttps://www.bournemouthecho.co.uk/news/ ... -fares-go/
Image: Daily EchoTAXI drivers in Bournemouth have hit out at BCP Council over its “ridiculous” proposal for default 20mph speed limits across the conurbation.Cabbies have ridiculed the council and its leadership for its “pointless” idea which runs the risk of ‘slowing down jobs and pushing up fares’.
BCP Council is currently working on plans to roll out reduced speed limits, led by road safety portfolio holder Millie Earl.
Kevin Conroy, a taxi driver of 25 years, said the council should be focusing its attention on fixing the potholes “the size of craters” - but the authority would rather be “seen to be green”.
He added: “For safety it’s good, but it would make it more difficult and longer to do a straightforward job.
“For example, a trip to the station from Gervis Place could take five minutes usually, but with 20mph it could take eight minutes.
“I also don’t know how they would enforce it; you see bikes and scooters driving around much faster than that and they don’t catch them.”
He added: “The council is quite often in Private Eye and they are bought in airports, so they are getting worldwide fame for being jokers.”
Image: Daily EchoNebas Karin, a driver of 12 years, said he was in London recently where 20mph has been imposed and he said it is “too slow to drive on”.
“It will be a nightmare,” he said. “Fifteen-minute journeys would take 20 minutes, it will slow us all down.
“There are already too many things slowing us down on the roads and 20mph would just cause more problems.”
Meanwhile Mamad Bastani, who has been in the trade since 1992, warned fares could rise if journeys are taking longer to complete because of slower speed limits.
He said: “The point is at Bournemouth council there are five people who will make the decision for everybody else.
“At the end of the day, any idiot who will speed will do so regardless of what speed limit there is.”
Meanwhile driver Sadam added: “The council don’t listen to anybody. Whatever they want, they get. They need to fix the roads.”
Cllr Earl previously said the council is “keen to hear the views of the whole community” through a consultation.
But a report looking into 20mph has already been made, suggesting £149,000 will be needed for an initial roll out before residents have been consulted.
Last month, a Christchurch councillor said the process so far has been “backwards” because residents haven’t been consulted. Cllr Earl met with the 20 is Plenty group earlier this year.
An Echo poll in November showed 82 per cent of 2,871 people would not support a blanket 20mph speed limit, 17 per cent would and one per cent didn't know.
Cllr Earl said: “We have a 97.5 per cent chance of survival if you’re struck by a vehicle going 20mph compared to 80 per cent if you’re going at 30mph.
“That’s because the stopping distances are a lot shorter, we have a lot more control and it slows everything down.”
Image: Daily Echo
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