Taxi Driver Online

We don't want any more taxis

TAXI drivers in Great Yarmouth have hit out at proposed regulations which could increase the number of cabs in the town — and the hours they have to work.

Recommendations have been made by the Taxi Licences and Private Hire Vehicles Executive Advisory Group to the borough council to lift restrictions on the number of taxi licences it issues.

Disabled groups and the police have complained there are not enough taxis in the evenings or sufficient accessible vehicles.

Great Yarmouth Borough Council's executive is due to meet next Wednesday to make a decision on the potential increase.

However, taxi drivers in the area claimed there were already enough cabs in the area and said the changes would mean they would have to work longer hours.

Alan Patterson, a driver for BB taxis in Bradwell said: "There will be more vehicles on the road sharing a limited market. This can only be a bad thing for us. We will all end up working longer hours, fighting to keep customers.

"This does mean more customer choice but in my opinion there are already enough taxis in Yarmouth."

Under the plans new licences will only be issued to brand new purpose-built taxis and the project will be rolled out over the next three years.

Anthony McHugh, a taxi driver for Anglia Taxis for the last 30 years, said: "If anything we need fewer cabs to make the job more attractive.

"This new move will not do us any favours — we'd be better off on the dole."

"We will be working longer hours to make the same money and this will not keep drivers in the business."

A working group was set up earlier this year to consider the restrictions and it met with representatives from the trade, groups representing the disabled and other councils.

Drivers were generally against lifting restrictions but disabled groups said there were not enough taxis to cope with people with disabilities and there were issues with wheelchair access.

The police said they were worried there were not enough evening taxis to ferry around late night revellers.

Mick Castle, a Norfolk county councillor and borough councillor, said the moves would mean a big change from what taxi drivers are used to but it was the way forward.

"This seems like the most practical way possible to have extra cabs in Yarmouth.

"There is a five year period to change which will give taxi drivers time to adjust and they will need looking after in this period.

"We will make journeys more accessible for customers and better for disabled people in the long run although I have no complaints on how they are run at the moment."

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IDFIMH

I'll make it a priority to get the GY plate value information tonight. I wonder how much they are sitting on? The main reason why these councils are de restricting is becauase in the main they have very few WAVs. I don't think the existing drivers in GY should be that unduly concerned because the council will probably put a Quality control on numbers rather than Quantity control.

Best wishes

JD

So if they lose drivers then this will mean they will have to work less hours, surely?

They want the job to be more attractive (presumably for new drivers) but think that fewer taxis will achieve this?

As usual, it's not about reducing the number of drivers in the trade but packing them all into the existing vehicles are charging them top dollar for the privilege.

But I must say that I had it in my head that GY was unrestricted. In April we ran a story on Lincoln and mentioned the fact that GY had 154 taxis and 60 PH, whereas Lincoln had only 30 taxis with a similar population!!!

Protest over relaxation of taxi rules

Taxi drivers from Yarmouth and Gorleston plan to stage a protest today over proposals to relax licensing regulations in the borough.

Last night police warned of traffic problems, with up to 75 vehicles expected to turn out to object to Yarmouth Borough Council's plans to lift the restriction on the number of taxi licences it issues.

A police escort will accompany the campaigners when they set off at noon from Park Road, off Marine Parade, in Gorleston.

They will then drive in convoy along Southtown Road, Fullers Hill, Temple Way, King Street and Regent Street before ending their hour-long protest at Yarmouth Town Hall.

Yarmouth Borough Taxi Association secretary Sean Morley said: "There is not enough rank space in the borough for more taxis and the town's roads are already struggling to cope with large amounts of traffic.

"Drivers have to work long hours to make a living and this will put financial pressure on them."

But Tony Boyne, a director at Yarmouth taxi firm Swift, said he was in favour of the proposals. "A few drivers feel their jobs will be threatened and they will lose money, but that is rubbish."

Chris Skinner, the council's head of member and legal services, said the Government had advised local authorities to limit licenses only if they could prove there was no demand.

But he said surveys had shown a demand for taxis, particularly for accessible vehicles for people with disabilities.

A report to the council's executive committee recommended members approve plans to lift the licence restriction and let market forces prevail at a meeting tomorrow.

It also advises new licences should be issued only to brand new purpose-built accessible vehicles.

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IDFIMH

I've always had a soft spot of Great Yarmouth.


Drivers angry at decision on cabs

Taxi drivers have pledged to carry out a New Year's Eve boycott after Yarmouth Borough Council's executive voted unanimously to approve plans lifting licence restrictions.

More than 25 protesters packed into the public gallery with signs reading 'Save our jobs – Say no to more taxis', and heckled councillors after the decision was taken last night.

The group warned they would be parking their cars up on New Year's Eve, usually a busy time for cabbies, and would not pick up passengers.

As they left the meeting, many drivers shouted that the council would have to sort the problem out on its own, and that the councillors should "try living in the real world".

Yarmouth has 154 licensed hackney carriages and the borough council had put a cap on issuing any more.

However, the Government, acting on the advice of the Office of Fair Trading, recommended local authorities should limit the number of licences only if they could prove there is no greater demand for taxis in the area.

Council officer Linda Mockford told the committee that a demand for more taxis had been highlighted in the borough.

She added: "Groups representing the disabled said there were not sufficient accessible vehicles and the police said there were not sufficient taxis working in the evening."

But taxi drivers are concerned the move will result in a rush of applications for licences and lead to a loss of revenue for current licence-holders.

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IDFIMH

This one was always on the cards. Where there is a high percentage of H/C Saloon type vehicles you will find that Councils are more likely to remove restrictions in favour of Qaulity control. The only exception to this rule is probably Brighton who think they are somewhat unique.

There will be a great deal of activity in January with regard decision making, I expect it to be an eventfull month.

Best wishes

JD