brightonbreezy wrote:
TAXI drivers are calling for limits on the number of hackney carriage licenses to protect their livelihoods.
A union has come out in support of drivers who say they are already struggling to make a living as people turn to private hire cars and fear that growing unemployment could make picking up fares even more difficult.
In a report to go before Bracknell Forest Council’s licensing and safety committee on Thursday, spokesman Andrew Watson, from union GMB Professional Drivers Branch and Bracknell Licensed Taxi Forum (BLTF), laid out his colleagues’ fears.
He said nationally there was a rise in unemployment which could have an affect in Bracknell.
He said: “Unemployment figures are up. This could mean an influx of hackney carriage applicants.
“If this was the case it would put the drivers’ livelihood in serious jeopardy.”
Many of the 70 taxi drivers in the BLTF are self employed and want limits on the number of licenses because they are worried an increase in competition would harm their trade.
A protest was held earlier this year against the council and its charges and it is hoped the meeting this week will bring a solution.
The hackney carriage drivers, whose cars can be flagged down and do not need to be prebooked, want the council to carry out an unmet demand survey to see just how many taxis are needed in the town.
If the council adopts a limiting policy, surveys would need to be done every three years – and paid for by an increase in license fees.
Mr Watson said: “If a survey was carried out and its conclusion was no unmet demand in the town, we would hope for the downward trend of numbers to continue.”
Mr Watson also said the regeneration of Bracknell town centre will be hugely beneficial to taxi drivers.
He said: “The regeneration, if successful, should stretch the fleet to day shift and night shift as it used to be, thus ensuring drivers can generate enough revenue to continue to deliver the high quality service that the residents and visitors of Bracknell have enjoyed for many years.”
Committee members will also be asked to vote not to increase the hackney carriage fare tariff on account of rising petrol prices, to make licensed drivers attend a first aid course and to set criteria for advertising on taxis.
I'd like to see a limit on all licences not just hackney carriages. These private hire firms that keep taking on drivers to line their own pockets without any regards to whether drivers are earning enough money just don't know when to say NO if asked for a set. When I approached the firm I work for they said ask the licence dept. to restrict plates. Pardon me but that's a load b*^^*^ks. Since we were derregulated, or whatever you want to call it, our private hire system is now flooded with Hackneys, me thinks somebody is taking the p. I just wish that all the drivers whether they are PH or HC would work together to make a fair system for everybody, I mean there must be one. The only people making money out of this game at the minute are companies and the licensing dept. who incidently are crying poverty here.
With regards to first aid training, they could train me until they were blue in the face but I'd still just dial 999 cos if you do something wrong they'll sue you when they're better, it's just not worth the risk.
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