Taxi Driver Online

More than 500 private hire drivers across Telford & Wrekin are planning to take advantage of a legal loophole to avoid a rise in licence fees.

The drivers are planning to give back their licences to Telford & Wrekin Council and instead apply for hackney carriage licences from Shropshire Council as the fees are lower.

David Edwards, head of county public protection at Shropshire Council, said a hackney carriage licensed by Shropshire Council was able to undertake booked appointments anywhere in the country.

Councillor Miles Hosken, cabinet member for community protection and cohesion at Telford & Wrekin, said there was case law that enabled private hire operators to apply for licences wherever they chose.

Telford & Wrekin Council’s decision would see the operator’s annual licence fee rise from £462 to £2,495.



Read more: http://www.shropshirestar.com/news/2011 ... z1B2P9G0s6

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Do not argue with an idiot. He will drag you down to his level and beat you with experience.

Believe me, don't get Mercury X2

ops licences? not outside thier own LAs

vehicle licences only if they run on an ops licence held in the same LA

huh?

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Of all the things ive lost, i miss my mind the most

That's a new one on me too.

However, if shropshire read the Berwick case they can ask the question of area of intended use.

In determining whether to grant a licence under the said section 37 a licensing authority may require an applicant to submit information pursuant to section 57 Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1976 in order to ascertain the intended usage of the vehicle.

CC

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

That article couldn't have been timed better.

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IDFIMH

i can have a VEHICLE licence (plate) - private hire - anywhere so long as i run via a base in that area, or id have to have a hack plate

i know of no LA that issues OPS licences to anyone out of thier LA

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Of all the things ive lost, i miss my mind the most

Presumably the councillor is confusing HC and PH; I mean, if they're going for HC licences then they won't need an ops licence.

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Caledonian Cabbie

correct.

It seems to me this Berwick scenario has escalated, it's down to the will of Shropshire council now to refuse applications as the Berwick judgement suggested they can.

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 suppose he is in fact correct if you include the text that I've added in brackets, but he could have expressed himself less confusingly.

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Caledonian Cabbie

Taxi licence switch could cost Telford council £120,000


A decision by private hire drivers in Telford to jump ship and get their licences from Shropshire could cost the neighbouring authority more than £120,000 a year, it was revealed today.

About 600 private hire drivers in the town could give back their licences to Telford & Wrekin Council and instead apply for hackney carriage licences from Shropshire Council as the fees are lower.

Under Telford & Wrekin Council’s proposed fee rise, an operator’s licence would cost £200, plus £45 per car, while a private hire licence would cost £170 per year.


Read more: http://www.shropshirestar.com/news/2011 ... z1BK86Cnbb

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

All the uk PH have to do now is find an unrestricted cheap council and get licenced hack with them
Who is the cheapest unrestricted BTW?????????????

Why would they want to?

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

Because that suits Skippy ffs.

CC

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

Oh right

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

Just came across this story from last year, I guess these guys didnt want to go for their fare increase?

http://www.shropshirestar.com/news/election-2010/2010/05/01/politicians-back-taxi-fare-fight/


Politicians back taxi fare fight


Telford taxi drivers’ fight against fare rises has been given a boost with major political figures backing their campaign against proposed operating hikes.

Former Home Secretary David Blunkett spoke of his surprise at the hike during his visit to Telford this week, while fellow Labour MP John Spellar has also lent his support to the campaign.

Telford & Wrekin Council proposals for taxi operator licence changes could see firms more than £15,000 out of pocket. As a result of the increased operator charges taxi bosses feel they would have no option but to raise the minimum fare from £3 to £15 – a 400 per cent increase.

Mohammed Zaman, manager of Central Taxis, said: “The current fee is £462 for a fleet of more than 50 vehicles. They want to change that to a flat fee of £300 plus £65 a vehicle to include taxi marshalling. We have 235 cars so it will cost us a lot.

“We are one of the bigger firms but it will hurt every firm. We’ll have no option but to increase the fares for journeys. We don’t want to do that and we want the public to support us and get this changed.

“We have petitions going into every taxi office and we will be asking customers to sign up when they get in a taxi.”

The petition has been signed by Wrekin election candidates Paul Kalinauckas (Labour) and Ali Cameron-Daw (Lib Dem).

Mr Kalinauckas added: “Many people rely on mini cabs to get around and these proposed increase will send fares through the roof. The charges for licenses have got to be fair and not penalise the drivers.”

And Mrs Cameron-Daw added: “We cannot afford to give up on this. The issue is ridiculous and they need someone to carry the fight.”

A Telford & Wrekin Council spokesman said a final decision had yet to be made.

“We are currently undergoing an extensive pre-consultation process to explain the context of the report to the trade and meetings are ongoing as part of this.”

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

They've got to be joking surely?

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