Taxi Driver Online

TAXI drivers tonight launched a last ditch bid to stop councillors lifting a limit on unbooked cabs.

They said the move would massively hit their incomes in tough times and claimed people were happy with the existing service.

Wycombe District Council agreed to de-regulate hackney carriages in 2004 but the policy is only now close to being implemented.

The de-regulation plans have been on hold until rank space can be finalised. Officers say the plan can now go ahead.

Members tonight spoke out over plans for the council to pay for a new two-space taxi rank at Tesco in Eden, also opposed by drivers.

Taxi driver Khalil Ahmed told councillors tonight: “We as taxi drivers have already been exposed to the economic storm that has been brewing for the last six months or so.”

The move would lead to “financial ruin” for hackney carriage drivers, he said.

In a document given to councillors he said a survey by drivers found all hackney carriage users were satisfied with the service and two-thirds could get one in five minutes.

Nine out of ten said there was no need for more taxis, it adds, and the move would lead to further pollution in the town.

Half of private hire vehicles will become hackney carriages once the change goes through, leading to further congestion when ranks are full, it says.

Councillor Joel Foley told tonight’s meeting of the regulatory and appeals committee: “Things in Wycombe have changed drastically in the last 12 months.

“I am concerned about implementing any changes when there are so many changes going on in the local environment as well.”

But Cllr Roger Colomb warned that the council had to put the policy in place.

He said: “The council could be at risk that somebody who wants a licence could in fact seek a judicial review of the council because it has failed to implement the policy.”

Yet there was a strong debate about plans to put a the new rank at the Tesco car park as the council will pay for this in licence fees paid by taxi drivers.

Cllr Chris Watson said: “We already have as many ranks a town of our size is expected to do, so I don’t see why we should be asked to put up some more with the consequent increase in costs of taxis for the users of High Wycombe.”

He said: “We want some stability.”

Licensing officer Caroline Steven said the town was well supplied with taxi ranks but location had to be taken into account and the Tesco rank was therefore needed.

Yet Cllr John Savage said her suggestion that shoppers would not have to wait at the rank was “absurd”.

Businesses should pay for the rank, he said. Cllr Savage said: “We should not be paying for it under any circumstances, The rank is to make up for the former rank at Newland Street, which was closed when Eden was developed.

This has “had a significant impact on the taxi trade, having previously accounted for a large percentage of its day time work” a report to members said.

A new rank has now been created on Lilys Walk for three spaces and a further rank will be created later this year on the A40 outside the new Sainsbury supermarket, it adds.

Hackney carriages can now use the bus lanes in London Road and Corporation Street, the report says.

Also the rank on Marlow High Street will be moved to the other side of the road outside the Chequers pub.

Private hire taxi drivers have been prosecuted for operating as a hackney carriage and picking up un-booked fairs, Miss Steven said.

The committee noted the developments.

Anyone got an update on this, don't look good with 49 conservative councillors out of 63!

Regards
BB

_________________
Mick Hildreth (07814 032002)
GMB PDB P39 Southern Region Branch Secretary
mick.hildreth@gmbtaxis.org.uk
www.gmbpdb.org.uk