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Posted on the 19th December 2024 in PHTM News
NORTH YORKSHIRE TAXI DRIVERS FEAR NEW RULES COULD DRIVE THEM OUT OF BUSINESS
Proposed changes to taxi licensing rules in North Yorkshire are facing opposition from drivers who fear they will be forced out of the industry and replaced by unregulated Uber drivers.
North Yorkshire Council is revising its hackney carriage policies to increase the availability of wheelchair-accessible vehicles (WAVs) and comply with equality legislation.
The council is drafting a new licensing policy and developing an inclusive service plan, as recommended by the Department for Transport.
A key proposal in the draft plan is to restrict new taxi registrations to WAVs, electric vehicles, or potentially hybrid vehicles.
Ian Lawson, chair of the North Yorkshire Disability Forum's Accessible Transport Group, urged the council to take stronger action to increase the number of WAVs on the roads, acknowledging the limited success of previous efforts.
However, Ripon-based taxi driver Richard Fieldman, representing around 100 drivers, warned that these restrictions could significantly impact the industry. He stated that many drivers would leave the trade if forced to purchase expensive WAVs, leading to a decrease in available WAVs.
Fieldman criticised the council for making taxi drivers "scapegoats" for past policy failures and expressed concerns about the growing presence of Uber drivers in North Yorkshire using unscrupulous practices to get trade.
He said: “They have a distinct advantage over us regarding licensing conditions and we must be able to have equal choice of vehicle over them.”
The meeting also heard from Selby taxi driver Graham Watson, who said he had driven 260,000 miles in four years in his WAV.
He said: “In the four years I have had my WAV, I have only ever carried six wheelchairs.
"I advertise that I am wheelchair friendly, I advertise on local radio, I advertise in local magazines and amateur dramatics programmes.”
Taxi drivers have urged the council to consider a more flexible approach, such as adopting the City of York Council's policy allowing taxis with low-emission Euro 6 engines.
Councillor Gareth Dadd, deputy leader of the authority, acknowledged the complexities of the issue and emphasised the importance of a thorough and open consultation process to explore all possible solutions.
A 12-week public consultation is scheduled to begin in the new year.
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