Taxi Driver Online

No new cabbies on rank for year

No new black cab licences will be issued for a year in Reading following a plea from hard-up, overworked taxi drivers. Keith Johnson, chairman of the Reading Taxi Drivers’ Association, urged Reading Borough Council licensing committee to freeze the issuing of new taxi plates for three years.

But councillors decided instead to halt the issuing of new licences for one year and then review the decision in a year’s time. Hackney Carriage drivers from across Reading were in the council chamber on Wednesday night to hear the decision.

Chairman of the committee Councillor Jeanette Skeats revealed she had spent a day driving round with Mr Johnson on a fact-finding exercising which she described as “a real learning experience”. Mr Johnson’s case was that with 214 licensed Hackney Carriage drivers already plying their trade in Reading there was no room on the ranks for more.

He described the present situation on the taxi ranks where drivers were already forced to circle the town centre two or three times before they could get a space on the rank, and said taxi drivers were now forced to work 70 to 80 hours a week to make a living. He went on: “I believe it is not in the public interest and that the public are put at risk in our view if drivers are working that long.”

Mr Johnson said the recession was having an effect on the number of people taking cabs, but the real cause of the pressure was the marked increase in new licences – up 60 in the last year.

In March 2007, Reading Borough Council removed the limit on the number of taxi licences on offer, but put a strict limit on the drivers allowed to apply. Mr Johnson produced an account of his “normal working day” – the day he took Cllr Skeats on the road – and revealed his gross earnings for the day with tips were just £65 for 10 jobs in nine hours and it had cost him £12 in diesel.

Cllr Peter Jones wanted to know, given the cost of a new cab at £30,000 to £35,000 and the level of earnings described, “Who in the world, especially in the present climate, would want to apply for a taxi licence?” He said: “If you believe in market forces, then surely there is no need for us to limit the number of licences we issue.”

Cllr Deborah Edwards proposed the one-year freeze on new licences and Cllr Skeats described the move as “a happy medium”. Other committee members agreed and also said they would allow any application already in the pipeline to proceed.

Members were told the council would have to, by law, carry out a survey of drivers – costing £10,000 – if they decided to restrict the issuing of licences in this way. Drivers at the meeting acknowledged they would be expected to pay for the statutory survey through their annual licence fees if the issuing of licences was frozen.

After the meeting Mr Johnson said: “We would have liked the council to stop issuing licences for three years, but this is something better than nothing. We hope that in a year’s time they will agree to do the same again.”

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IDFIMH

That report has a few holes in it

CC

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

Such as

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Note to self: Just because it pops into my head does NOT mean it should come out of my mouth!!

A refusal is a refusal and the only reason to refuse an application is if the council are satisfied there is no significant unmet demand. Economics dont come into it.....just proving there isnt a demand.

CC

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

So they could stop and then somebody apply for a licence and challenge them. They would have to then prove there was no unmet demand by doing a survey?

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Note to self: Just because it pops into my head does NOT mean it should come out of my mouth!!

The act doesnt say survey.....just be satisfied theres no sud.......so basically yes....they must have some type of evidence to present to a court.

CC

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

If they don't have a survey what other type of evidence is there

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Note to self: Just because it pops into my head does NOT mean it should come out of my mouth!!

Not sure.....I wouldnt recommend a mori poll......thats what started the stockport crisis

CC

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

What's a mori poll

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Note to self: Just because it pops into my head does NOT mean it should come out of my mouth!!

That's what the judge said.

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Justice for the 96. It has only taken 27 years...........repeat the same lies for 27 years and the truth sounds strange to people!

Yeah but he wears a blonde wig

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Note to self: Just because it pops into my head does NOT mean it should come out of my mouth!!

no its grey

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

Oh that must be show him as a wise old person then. What is a mori poll

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Note to self: Just because it pops into my head does NOT mean it should come out of my mouth!!

Its a poll of public opinion carried out by a firm called mori......they usually the ones who tell us which government is gonna win an election because they surveys 100 retarded people in Birmingham.

CC

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

Got it, thanks

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Note to self: Just because it pops into my head does NOT mean it should come out of my mouth!!