Taxi Driver Online

Nottingham Evening Post

September 20, 2006 Wednesday

HEADLINE: Row over taxi rules

Private hire taxi drivers claim city traffic restrictions unfairly benefit hackney carriages. At least one firm is considering leaving the city to avoid the restrictions.

Milton Street, Glasshouse Street and Lower Parliament Street were barred to general traffic a year ago, but remained open to buses, taxis, disabled drivers and delivery vehicles.

But from October 8 private hire drivers - who cannot pick up on the street - can enter this Turning Point zone only from certain points in a bid to stop ordinary drivers flouting the restrictions. Hackney carriages, Nottingham's green London-style cabs, are not affected.

The council says allowing private hire taxis access would encourage ordinary cars to keep flouting the rules.

The Association of Notts Private Hire Operators wrote to the Local Government Ombudsman claiming this would give hackneys an unfair advantage. Hackneys could access parts of the city directly, while private hire taxis would have to take a roundabout route at a cost to passengers, it said.

The ombudsman referred the complaint back to Nottingham City Council, which is determined the restricted access experiment will go ahead. It will change signs and restrict entry points to the Turning Point zone.

Mark Cartledge, chairman of the Association of Notts Private Hire Operators, will appeal against the council's decision if it refuses to compromise.

He said other cities had zones where licensed private hire taxis are allowed entry but other drivers are not.

"Our members could relocate to the boroughs," he added.

Ordinary saloon cars can be registered as hackneys in boroughs such as Rushcliffe and Gedling, and enjoy the same privileges as Nottingham's distinctive green hackney cabs.

Ian Pole, of DG Private Hire, Sherwood, said the row had become ridiculous.

"Moving is a serious consideration for us," he said. "I have contacted Gedling Borough Council and had their licence rates sent to us. I don't think finding premises in that borough would be a problem."

Bob Bolus, city project manager for Turning Point, said the 18-month restrictions experiment would be re-assessed after six months, with any objections then taken into account.

"At the end of the experimental period the scheme would be referred to the portfolio holder for decision (on whether to make restrictions permanent)," he said.

sean.kirby
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Which sums up this mess to a tee.

Non-local licensed cars can use the bus lanes, whereas the local licensed cars can't.

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IDFIMH