Taxi Driver Online

The Northern Echo

January 26, 2009

TAXI DRIVERS CONCERNED OVER CHANGE TO LICENSING

CONSULTATION is under way over plans to reorganise taxi licensing in the region.

Public meetings are being held across County Durham before the creation of a new "super" unitary authority.

Proposals have been drawn up to harmonise licensing arrangements in the seven districts that will be abolished at the end of April.


All taxi drivers will have to use white cabs and there will be a unified policy on fares, condition and age of the vehicle, if the plans are backed.

The first public meeting was held at the Abbey Sport Centre in Durham at the end of last week.

Drivers were talked through the new policy by Jane Kevan, licensing manager at Durham City Council, but drivers are concerned about how the changes will affect them.

Cabbie Philip Bell said: "People are concerned about whether we have to drive white taxis and what zones we will be able to work in.We know all of the rest of the policies.We have been in the game long enough.

"We are concerned about the future and all we are being told is what we already know."

Zones that the region's 2,500 drivers can operate in are due to be discussed at public meetings in the near future.

Councillor Simon Henig, leader of Durham County Council, assured the drivers their views would be taken on board.

He said: "All of the feedback will be taken down by our officers. We want everyone to know this is a real consultation process. We are here because there is going to be one council for the whole ofCounty Durham and council boundaries are going to disappear.

"It is an important change and it is important we get this transition period right."

The next meetings will be held from 1pm to 2.30pm today, at Sacriston Social Club, in Front Street, on Wednesday, at Seaham Leisure Centre, and on Friday, at Spectrum Leisure Centre, in Willing-
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At least they are being consulted!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

B. Lucky

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"Here's a simple solution. If you don't want to pay more for a premium service then wait in the queue, problem solved".
Skull on TDO

TF pi$$ed on his chips.

Didn't Durham lose a court case in respect of vehicle colour?

Regards

JD

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Copyright notice © The contents of this post are copyright of JD and are not to be reproduced outside of TDO without written permission.

Did the government not say scrap zones

I can't remember whether it went to court or was pulled at the last minute ................. however at least one of the councils has a colour policy in place.

Durham City Council is not the "new" regulatory authority, Durham County Council is.

Northumberland County Council (which includes Berwick) have not even started consultation, in fact no-one even knows who's going to be doing what up there yet.

The world of unification .................... probably as damaging as taxi deregulation.

B. Lucky

_________________
"Here's a simple solution. If you don't want to pay more for a premium service then wait in the queue, problem solved".
Skull on TDO

TF pi$$ed on his chips.

I think in the realm of taxi licensing it hasnt been thought out, but hey a few LO's on the dole has got to be a good thing?

CC

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

except when you wanna complain about PH drivers picking up illigaly/illagally/iligaly/ilegally/illegaly/illegally (take ur pick)
without being pre-booked lol

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now a licensed hackney driver

You need to consider the legislation regarding the transfer of undertakings, unfortunatley I would recon that few if any will end up on the dole.

The problem is that they will all be trying to get the top job.

B. Lucky

_________________
"Here's a simple solution. If you don't want to pay more for a premium service then wait in the queue, problem solved".
Skull on TDO

TF pi$$ed on his chips.