Wakefield taxis face massive shake up
Licensing bosses in Wakefield are lining up a sweeping review of the city’s taxis.
The changes will include a rise in fares, the introduction of a knowledge test for drivers and a new requirement for all operators to have held a UK licence for a minimum of two years.
The measures will be debated at a meeting of the licensing sub committee tomorrow.
Introducing a knowledge test would mean hackney carriage and private hire drivers would have to sit a test which would include basic literacy and numeracy, local knowledge and customer care.
A report to the committee says the knowledge test would apply to new applicants, drivers who have had a substantiated public complaint and any licence holders who have asked for an interpreter at any formal meeting with the council.
The report adds: “The test will be set to the appropriate standard ensuring that all applicants have the same knowledge of the Wakefield district enabling them to provide a consistent level of customer service to both citizens of Wakefield and those persons visiting irrespective which form of transport they use.”
At the same meeting, the committee will also consider a fares increase for council controlled hackney carriages. Increases would include a rise from £2 for the first part mile to £3, 6am to midnight, and £3.50 from midnight to 6am.
Each subsequent 10th of a mile up to five miles would go up from 10p to 14p, 6am to midnight, and 16p, midnight to 6am.
A “soiling charge” of £30 would also be introduced.
The committee will also discuss the introduction of new regulations that would mean all newly applying private hire and hackney carriage drivers would need to have held a driving licence for a minimum of two years.
A report to the committee recommends the measures “to ensure that those persons making application to become a private hire or hackney carriage driver within the district are competent in their driving ability”.
source:
http://www.yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk/
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