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Posted on the 3rd February 2025 in PHTM News
CONSULTATION LAUNCHED ON STANDARDISING TAXI RULES ACROSS NORTH AND WEST CUMBRIA
A 12-week public consultation has begun regarding the future of taxi licensing in North and West Cumbria.
Currently, taxis in the Cumberland area still operate under licensing districts of the former Allerdale, Carlisle City and Copeland authorities, which means the rules and tariffs are different for each of them.
The consultation will explore whether to maintain this status quo or implement a unified, Cumberland-wide licensing policy.
The Cumberland Council’s regulatory committee approved the launch of the consultation on Friday, January 31, after reviewing a draft of the Cumberland Hackney Carriage and Private Hire Policy 2025.
The initial draft of this policy sparked controversy among taxi operators, who expressed concerns about stringent regulations, including dress codes, restrictions on eating in vehicles and a proposed penalty points system.
The updated policy features significantly relaxed dress code requirements and a fixed penalty scheme for breaches of vehicle licence conditions, such as lacking a valid MOT.
The committee agreed on a points accumulation limit of 12 points over the licence period: three years for drivers and five years for operators. Councillors were informed that officers used a template points system adopted by other councils nationwide.
Councillor Trevor Allison expressed cautious support for the system, stating: “It seems okay because at the end of the day a senior officer would have the final say on the penalty points.”
Councillor Sam Pollen concurred, emphasising the system’s role in protecting drivers and adding: “Looking at that it seems robust enough because there’s an appeal process.”
The committee agreed that the points should remain active for longer than one year to serve as a stronger deterrent.
The policy is set to take effect on April 1.
The committee also decided to establish a working group to analyse the feedback received during the 12-week consultation period.
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