Taxi Driver Online

Council is under fire from irate taxi owners:

SCARBOROUGH'S taxi drivers have lashed out at the council – claiming that its licensing department is using "draconian measures" to regulate the town's cab trade.

They also describe the department's attitude as dictatorial. A petition is now circulating amongst taxi firms in town criticising the council's relationship with cabbies and asking the authority to investigate ways in which drivers can be allowed to operate without being in 'constant fear of losing their livelihood.'

Amongst their complaints the drivers list 'the relentless threat by officers to suspend or revoke licences for the smallest infringements' and say that increased regulations are driving people from the trade. As vehicle licenses for taxi drivers – of which there are around 600 in Scarborough – and firms are due to be renewed by October 31, drivers are unwilling to speak on the record in support of the petition as they are in fear of reprisals from the licensing department.

One driver, who asked not to be named, said: "They just seem to be rewriting the rule book as they go along. One example is the Criminal Record Bureau checks that every driver has to have done. We have to get it sorted through the council and that can take ages – I know one bloke who waited nine months.

You can't work until you get it through, so you can't earn. They've got you by the short and curlies." The CRB says it processes 90 per cent of standard checks within 10 days and 90 per cent of enhanced checks within four weeks.

The owner of one private hire firm said: "The increasing amount of regulations are putting people off coming into the business and lots of experienced drivers are throwing in the towel because they can't be bothered with the hassle. I can see a real serious problem in a couple of years time – there just won't be enough drivers there.

"Scarborough's a tourist town and taxis are an important part of the local economy. When we become a rarity then we'll be missed."

She added that she wholeheartedly supported the petition: "I think everyone here's signed it and I'm glad they have because we're being walked over."

Even the taxi driver who organised the petition is unwilling to have his name mentioned in this newspaper. He said: "This isn't an individual thing – we all feel strongly about this and until the petition, which has been very popular, we didn't feel like we had a voice.

It's not the regulations themselves that we're against – it's the way they're being enforced. You've got people threatened with suspension of their licenses for the most minor things – wearing tracksuit bottoms or having passengers get out on the road side door of the car on a road that is deserted. Things like that and the ridiculous delays in administration processes are totally unnecessary.

"The petition will be available for signing at Betty's Dial a Car offices until September 27." Scarborough council say that, though they sympathise with the drivers, they are disappointed that they have organised a petition.

Andy Skelton, head of environmental services, said: "I believe we have a good relationship with trade bodies representing the taxi and private hire trade. While I have some sympathy with the trade as regards the increasing costs that they are facing, particularly around fuel, I am disappointed that some drivers apparently feel the need to raise a petition. The council, councillors and senior officers are always more than willing to meet with individuals and trade bodies to discuss the issues they may have.

"While the council has not received a copy of the petition, even though we understand it has been circulating for some weeks, I understand it refers to issues around increased cost, falling customer income and other matters, which are common to many in the hospitality, tourism and transport sectors. If and when a petition is received, the matter will be reported to members."

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