Taxi Driver Online

Just been layed off work and been thinking of doing cabbie/taxi work for the last two years so now may be the time to do it.

I have £20,000 to spend on vehicle and or hackney plate but have no idea how to go about it or what the going rate is for plates.

Have found out from LA that there not issueing any more hackney plates until middle of next year.

So my questions for those who know is want is the going rate for hackney plates in Chelmsford Essex?, what is the rate for hiring radio from operator? and with regards to vehicle what is the best way to go new or second hand.

Many thank mark magicmark@blueyonder.co.uk

Buying plates can be a risky business. Try reading our FAQ for some general info:

http://taxi-driver.co.uk/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=2658


Also try a recent thread with more specific info:

http://taxi-driver.co.uk/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=2697

I suppose a lot of this might seem like double dutch to people new to the trade, so please ask for any clarification on here.

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

Most of Essex's councils don't restrict, so go and license a taxi in one of those.

Else wait till the middle of next year.

_________________
IDFIMH

how would i found out which councils don't restrict and would i be able to use vehicle in Chelmsford

Well if you could there wouldn't be much point in Chelmsford restricting surely?

There are lists of councils that do restrict on the link below, so from that you can work out which don't:

http://www.taxi-driver.co.uk/quotalas.pdf

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

But didn't Chelmsford derestrict anyway?

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

i phone them today and they said they wasnt issueing any more plates until next year.
i`ll give them a another call tomorrow to see what the situation is.
Thank for the help.

They decided to lift numbers control on January 26th 2005 and it was to come into force in February 2005 but not until consultation with the police had taken place and sufficient Taxi rank space was supplied.

The actual minute is here followed by the item from the agenda of the 26th. I hope this clarifies the situation.

RESOLVED that the existing policy of limiting the number of hackney carriage vehicle licences be replaced with a policy of delimitation, with effect from 1 February 2005, and that this will not be put into practice until ongoing negotiations with Essex Police are concluded and subject to consideration of the report to the Licensing Committee on vehicle conditions, so as to ensure that sufficient taxi ranks and hail points are installed before the policy is implemented.
.............................................................................

Reports from the Cabinet Agenda item 6 Report 5 THE BOROUGH CABINET

Report from the meeting on 15th December, 2004

HACKNEY CARRIAGES LICENSING POLICY 1. At its meeting on 16th June 2004 the Cabinet agreed to establish a policy panel to consider the results of a recent consultation exercise on the quantity and quality controls applicable to hackney carriages. 2. The Panel met on 5th July 2004 to consider the largely polarised views expressed during the consultation. However, views were not focused on the interests and benefits of consumers, as required by guidance issued to local authorities by the Department of Transport after the consultation exercise had been undertaken. For this reason, the Policy Panel was requested to reconvene to help establish the Council’s position in the longer term.
3. The Policy Panel met on 2nd November 2004, following a further consultation exercise, to consider the views of those who had responded to this exercise, and again on 15th November to debate the issues raised.
4. Having carefully considered all the matters raised, it was the view of the Policy Panel that a specific case could not be made that it is in the consumers’ interest to continue the restriction on the number of hackney carriage vehicles and therefore it was not appropriate to continue with a policy of limitation. Further, no case could be made for delaying the implementation of delimitation. 5. Vehicle and driver standards were discussed and it was the view of the Policy Panel that a full report should be considered by the Licensing and Regulatory Committee, with a view to improving the overall standards wherever possible, to ensure a public transport service that meets the needs of the residents of and visitors to the Borough. Matters to be considered should include the age and colour of existing vehicles, the use of other livery details such as chequered strips, plate and door signs and taxi lights, driver training and identification standards.

RECOMMENDED FOR APPROVAL BY THE COUNCIL THAT:
the existing policy of limiting the number of hackney carriage vehicle licences be replaced with a policy of delimitation, with effect from 1 February 2005.

Regards

JD

Thanks that was very helpful.
looks like i`ll have to wait until next year as it seems a waste to buy one.

If a get a E7 or Eurobus which is hackney spec eg;WCA for Chelmsford and use it on a private plate can i transfer it to hackney when they start to issue them agian?
Mark

If you live near Chelmsford, a place I may be moving to next year , why not consider doing the Knowledge of the Romford and Barking Yellow badge area?

It takes about 2 years and will set you up well for life.

So GBC you are seeing the light. Moving out to the 'sticks' where the air is cleaner and the work is easy. Don't forget to spray your badge yellow or you will get stick from the regulars.

_________________
Make trafic wardens redundant. PARK LEGALLY.
Congestion charge! Before it was free.

Considering my next door neighbour is a Horse, I don't think I could get more into the sticks?

I'm thinking of moving back to somewhere nearer London!