Taxi Driver Online

Well, as portrayed this certainly seems shambolic

Of course, no doubt there are arguments either way, but if the times reported for access to the office are correct then...

As for the failure to issue licences after the council is defeated in the courts

(Worth recalling that Calderdale Council mainly covers Halifax.)


Improvements for frustrated Calderdale taxi drivers promised

https://www.halifaxcourier.co.uk/busine ... ed-8811680

Calderdale councillors have pledged to help exasperated taxi drivers finding it challenging getting the help they need amid limited taxi licensing office opening hours.

Drivers’ concerns have been taken up by Independent councillor Osman Khalil and the council’s new leader, Coun Daniel Sutherland.

There are also issues with drivers losing their licence but being cleared after going to court of law and the council not then reissuing licences, said Coun Khalil (Ind, Park).

He said it was a conservative estimate there were more than 1,000 drivers in Calderdale with many facing issues whereupon they needed to visit the taxi licensing office to sort things out.

But it is only open for three hours on a Wednesday and three hours on a Friday – he described only six hours of access as “an absolute mockery of justice and fair rights”.

“These drivers face many challenges whilst trying their utmost best to uphold the laws and abide by the rules set,” he said.

“In return they seem to be vilified by many.

“All they are trying to do is earn their livelihood, to keep their families going, to have some dignity and respect.

“There have been instances where a driver has lost his licence, gone to the courts of law and got cleared, yet Calderdale Council will still not reissue a taxi licence.

“This is a request to the leader of the council and cabinet to increase the opening hours of the licensing office and have more transparency on how licence applications are dealt with.”

Responding to the issue, raised in public question time at July’s cabinet meeting, Coun Sutherland (Reform UK, Illingworth and Mixenden) said his administration was “really committed to supporting the licensed trade to be able to operate effectively”.

The office’s opening hours had steadily fallen after lockdown and he had asked officers to request a trial period where it would open for an additional slot.

“What I’ve said to them is go away and work up the details and we’ll do that for a trial period and let’s see if it works,” said Coun Sutherland.

“From my perspective they are working class people going out there trying to earn a living and we should be doing all we can to facilitate them to run their business,” he said.

Coun Sutherland said the question went into other area about which there needed to be further conversations.

“I’m sure the licensing committee would be interested in your input too.

“But to get us started and as a commitment from this cabinet, we are willing to open up for an additional session and then let’s see where we go from there and we’ll pick it up,” he said.

And our old mate Wharfy used to work there.

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IDFIMH