Taxi Driver Online

Tonbridge cabby's call for less taxis


A TAXI driver from Tonbridge has defended his fellow cabbies following a complaint over their behaviour in the town.

Residents who lived near the Waterloo Road taxi rank recently hit out at the large number of the vehicles being parked at the rank, saying they were causing a nuisance to them and their neighbours.

But Ray Morgan, an independent taxi driver in the town, says his colleagues are breaking no rules and attributes any problems caused by cabs to their over-abundance on Tonbridge roads.

"There are far too many taxis in Tonbridge," said Mr Morgan, who has worked in the town for seven years. "You get people travelling from as far as south London to come and work in Tonbridge as a taxi driver."

He added many drivers used the Waterloo Road taxi rank because it was the most lucrative in the area.

"The fault lies fairly and squarely with Tonbridge and Malling Borough Council," Mr Morgan continued.

He said the council was giving out too many taxi licences, leading to large queues of vehicles at the rank.

Melvyn Wood, the council's licensing manager, said there was no limit on the number of hackney carriage (taxi) licences that could be issued. "This deregulation has been in place for a number of years," he said. "The Office of Fair Trading states that 'consumers do not benefit from limiting the number of licences issued and local authorities should not retain the right to penalise consumers nor to limit entry to the market of those willing and able to provide the services that the public demand'."

Mr Wood said to be licensed as a taxi vehicles had to meet strict standards and pass two MoT tests each year to ensure passenger safety and comfort.

While the council's current charge for a taxi licence stands at £226.25 for one year, this must be renewed annually for £185.

There are currently 154 licensed taxis in Tonbridge and Malling which can work anywhere within the borough.

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

So now we know where the thickest cabbies work.

They travel from all ends of the south to work where there's no work.

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IDFIMH

We get it in our area with drivers coming from as far away as Cambridge to work the town because a car which can only be licensed PH in Peterborough or cambridge can be licensed as a Hackney here.

Britain is a very unlevel playing field in taxi terms because some areas are open to all comers some are restricted and then there are rules on age colour of car etc which are also like a patchwork quilt so the softest licensing areas are like a magnet sucking in drivers from other areas where licensing is stricter

So the answer is mandatory WAV in Stamford and a stricter licensing regime?

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Former taxi driver

IMO the answer would be to have nationwide regs and take out that silly clause that allows councils to change the regs to suit re colour, age etc. Also at least now the taxis in Tondbridge know what to do to get the councils attention. Just legally rank up in the populated areas and annoy the neighbours

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

Nationwide regs?

Ok, whose standards should we have? Should we all have London or Manchester standards? or should we have hicksville (aka scottish borders?)

CC

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

I think a mix would probably do the trick. Obviously you don't want sloppyville standards and the higher the better as far as I'm concerned.

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