Taxi Driver Online

ANGER AT GO-AHEAD FOR NINE MORE TAXIS

NEW taxi licences will cause hardship for drivers struggling for trade, angry cabbies have claimed.
This week, the Road Transport Licensing Committee gave seven applicants permission to run nine additional taxis to service the east district, which includes Douglas and Onchan.

The committee claimed the issue of the nine licences was in light of 'evidence of demand for additional taxis in the east district'.

However, a spokesman for the Manx Taxi Federation said the issue of demand had not been established.

The committee refused requests from a further four applicants for an additional six taxis in the east but says three more licences can be issued – meaning an extra 12 cars could soon be on the road.

'There is a feeling of tremendous dismay,' the drivers' spokesman said. 'We feel we have been let down, not only by the committee, but by the road transport act itself, which provides no support for us.

'There has also been a considerable downturn in business over the last two years. It's been a gradual downturn and operators are beginning to feel the pinch.'

He added: 'How on earth the committee justifies the additional plates is a complete mystery to us. They say there is evidence of need, but they haven't documented it in anyway.'

Before the committee was appointed to oversee taxi licence applications in April 2002, there were 100 taxis operating in the east district, which also includes Braddan, Marown, Laxey and Lonan.

The district now has 106 taxis and this week's decision will take the number to 115.

The Manx Taxi Federation spokesman added: 'Even if we had maintained the same level of business, so there had been no downturn, it means a drop of 15 per cent in our earnings.'

The four other would-be cabbies were refused because applications were treated 'on merit', committee secretary Brian Leece said, but there are three more licences up for grabs.

The committee is, however, to delay for six months further applications for the east after the 12 additional licences have been granted.

The committee acts under the provisions of the Road Transport Act 2001, which it said 'delimits' the taxi industry.

It is hoped an unmet needs survey will be undertaken this year. The cabbies' body wants the survey to be done by an independent organisation.

Taxi operators and MTF representatives turned out in their droves at committee hearings into the licence applications, held between November 8 and January 17, to raise their objections.

However, the objections have led the RTLC to adopt a new policy on the issuing of taxi licences.

Mr Leece said: 'A period of six months will now be allowed, from the date of the grant of approval of the final vehicle in the batch, in order to assess the impact of 12 vehicles before consideration is given to allocating a second batch.

'It is hoped that the review after six months will allow sufficient time to await the outcome of any taxi survey that may be agreed, and to enable the results of that survey to be used as a guide for Tynwald in determining the appropriate action.'

Cabbies upset at the threat of more rivalry staged slow-moving convoy protests last November and lobbied MHKs outside Tynwald.

The MTF has yet to meet to discuss the RTLC decisions in detail but plans to continuing lobbing MHKs.
24 February 2005

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Think of how stupid the average person is, and realize half of them are stupider than that.
George Carlin

So the world is going to end because a few more drivers have been given the same oppportunties as the rest.

But surely if trade is so pony, then why are those new applicants eager to join the trade. I suspect it's because they are already in it, and those having a rare up are more p***ed off at losing some journeymen, than anything else.

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IDFIMH

Sussex,you seem to be in the frame of mind that it should be a free for all,regarding the license of taxis.
I can see your point of view that the trade will level itself out,but some areas cannot afford to have too many taxis plying for trade,as this can be become a health and safety problem,as operators start to work too many hours,to make a decent living.
Not could for the health or good for the family.

Could,should read good!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Is it not then the case with anyone being able to license and operate a private hire car that they should also be starving to death?

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Think of how stupid the average person is, and realize half of them are stupider than that.
George Carlin

I note you're careful only to mention operators paul, so presumbably you're not worried about the health and safety and family of drivers who are disadvantaged by restricted numbers?

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Taxi Driver Online
www.taxi-driver.co.uk

Sorry did mean this lively bunch as well.