Perth taxi policy row
A PRIVATE hire taxi operator yesterday called for the local authority to deregulate the trade and end years of a lucrative “black market” trade in their prized plates.
Bernie Munro was responding to last Friday’s PA article highlighting fears voiced by several key players in the local taxi industry.
They expressed “deep concern” that Perth and Kinross Council could be tempted to deregulate the Hackney cab trade, creating a “free for all” on Fair City streets and jeopardising ongoing investment in vehicles, support services and staff.
But private hire operator Mr Munro, of Bernie’s Taxi Services operating from Perth’s Oakbank Road, insisted it was time to open up the market in the best interests of drivers and the public.
He said: “Last week, some operators were warning us of chaos, job losses and madness if the council contemplated deregulation of taxis. That shows only their self-interest in the black market of taxi plates and the stranglehold they have at present on the taxi business.
“But does the council have any option but to deregulate taxi plates due to the greedy minority of plate holders who control the majority of council plates?”
Mr Munro said single Hackney taxi plates had changed hands locally for sums up to £50,000.
“Yet council officials tell us taxi plates have no monetary value other than the annual administration charge of £240,” he protested.
Mr Munro said it was high time the council reclaimed control of their own taxi plates.
He questioned how often a taxi plate was ever handed back to the council which had given it out, perhaps decades ago.
“That just doesn’t happen – they have acquired a currency,” he insisted. “Older drivers looking to retire see it as a nest egg. I have every sympathy for them but it was never theirs to sell on.”
Another driver told the PA: “Why should you have to dip into a black market to earn an honest living?
“Deregulation would open up the market, be fairer and still provide the public with a good service.”
He maintained that in the past the local authority had vetoed the transfer of taxi plates between operators, but claimed around a third of the 73 plates were controlled by “one man who has never driven a taxi”.
Mr Munro added: “Perth taxi needs should be decided by the people of Perth, not a handful of operators. The public are happy to get a taxi when they need one.
“If deregulation would threaten 300 jobs, how many jobs would it create? The opinion of a few multiple plate owners should not fool the people of the Fair City.
“Could it just be possible we can look forward to a fair market in the taxi business, where hard working taxi drivers can serve the customer rather than black market middlemen?”
A spokeswoman for Perth and Kinross Council said: “We are aware of a number of different cases where the taxi business is subject to a partnership agreement.
“In those cases, the taxi plate is held in the name of the partnership. That is an acceptable method of holding a taxi plate in terms of the legislation.
“There is nothing in the legislation which prevents one individual from holding more than one taxi operator licence either as an individual or in partnership.”
http://www.perthshireadvertiser.co.uk/perthshire-news/
Login
Register
FAQ
