Plan To Resolve Berwick Taxi Loophole
October 27 2009
A new taxi licensing policy for Northumberland has been agreed in principle, in an effort to avoid a repeat of a recent controversy which sparked a High Court case.
Last year Newcastle City Council took the former Berwick Borough Council to court after Tyneside-based taxi drivers claimed their livelihoods were being threatened.
Drivers from across the UK travelled to Berwick to get their badges, with the result that more than 400 taxi drivers with plates issued in the Borders town were working for private hire firms in Newcastle and North Tyneside.
A year ago, a High Court judge ruled that Berwick Council had to consider where taxis were likely to work before issuing a licence.
Now, in response to the judgement, Northumberland County Council – which has responsibility for taxi licensing across the county – is bringing in a new system.
Its licensing and regulatory committee has agreed in principle the draft Hackney Carriage Intended Use Policy. The policy will ensure that in future licenses are only granted to those who intend to use them predominantly within the county, and standardise the way licenses are issued and regulated.
It will not be endorsed by the full county council until early next year, to allow councillors time to look in more detail at policies which are linked to the document.
Committee chairman, Coun Edward Heslop, said: "I am pleased that the policy has been agreed in principle, but also that the committee has recognised the need to take more time to look at some of the issues involved to ensure that the policy is fair, transparent and workable.
"These are not easy decisions to make due to the possible impact on people’s livelihoods and their personal and family circumstances. I am aware that this may lead to a longer period of uncertainty for those in the trade, but by the committee agreeing the policy in principle, it hopefully provides a clear indication of the approach that we propose to take."
In June last year, more than 100 Hackney cab drivers staged a go slow in the streets protest around Newcastle’s Civic Centre.
The drivers say livelihoods are being threatened and the public put at risk by cab drivers coming into the city from other areas.
Organiser of the original protest, taxi driver Graham Goldie said: "This is the first we’ve heard of the new policy, so at this stage it’s difficult for us to comment further."
Source; journallive.co.uk
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