Specifications for hackney carriage and private hire vehicles could become tougher as Kirklees Council consults on an updated policy.
According to YorkshireLive, Kirklees residents are being invited to have their say on the proposed policy changes which include emissions criteria, required signage, installation of CCTV, window tint restrictions, and the vehicle upper age limits for different types of hackney carriages, including wheelchair accessible vehicles (WAVs) and ultra-low emission vehicles (ULEVs).
Specifics of some of the new measures include using official door signs produced by the licensing service, all hackney carriage vehicles except for WAVs will cease to be licensed at 13 years old and any all-electric can remain licensed for 20 years subject to checks every six months after the 13-year-old mark.
Licensed members of the trade, responsible bodies and local councillors are also being invited to respond to changes to the specifications policy before midnight on Wednesday, November 22.
Results will then be presented to the council’s Licensing Panel later in the year.
Kirklees Council has already introduced stricter measures for those in the taxi trade with the controversial Fitness and Suitability policy coming into force in July.
This was condemned as “racist” and “draconian” during the consultation and sees drivers at risk of losing their licence should they accumulate seven or more penalty points on their licence.
Councillor Mussarat Pervaiz, Cabinet Member for Communities, said: “As a local authority, we have a duty to keep our residents safe, these proposed changes are designed to enhance the safety regulations already in place.
"This consultation provides an opportunity for the residents of Kirklees and anyone who uses the services of hackney carriages or private hire vehicles in the borough to have their say on the proposed changes to the Hackney Carriage and Private Hire Vehicle Specifications policy.”
More details on the consultation, the council’s current policy and the proposed changes to Kirklees Council’s Hackney Carriage and Private Hire Vehicle Specification Policy can be found on the council’s taxi licences webpage: https://www.kirklees.gov.uk/beta/licensing.aspx#taxi
More than 30 taxi drivers and businesses in St Helens have received a grant which has helped fund replacement vehicles.
According to the St Helens Sttar, the St Helens Business Vehicle Grant was launched in June this year, and has supported recipients by providing more than £160,000 to provide part-funding towards the replacement of older, non-compliant commercial vehicles that operate within the borough.
As part of the ongoing progress and support of the Air Quality Action Plan, DEFRA has provided investment to enable St Helens Borough Council and St Helens Chamber to help businesses and taxi drivers tackle the reduction in NOx (nitrogen oxide) emissions across the borough.
David Marnell, director of business services at St Helens Chamber, said: “The Grant has been extremely popular with local businesses and taxi drivers alike, and we’ve seen over 160 expressions of interest from those wanting to replace their commercial vehicles in preparation for the introduction of low emission and clean air zones.
“The grant will contribute to the cost of replacing older, non-compliant vehicles with new or newer vehicles that will reduce the level of NOx in our environment. So, it will ensure we as a Borough can reduce our emissions while making operating a vehicle in the area more cost effective.
"We’ve now opened Phase two for applications, and would encourage anyone who has an eligible vehicle to apply.”
Phase two of applications for the St Helens Business Vehicle Grant launched in July 2023 and will remain open until the grant is fully spent; with a total of £550,000 to be distributed to local taxi and private hire operators and businesses.
St Helens Chamber says eligibility criteria does apply with full details provided on its website.
David added: “So far, over 30 recipients have replaced an older vehicle with a Euro 6 standard vehicle. The predicted mileage for the replacement vehicles funded in part by the grant is just over 627,000 miles over the next 12 months”
“These have been a mix of nearly new or new vehicles including electric, hybrid, petrol or diesel ranging from a coach, heavy and light goods vehicles to taxis.
"Combined this investment had reduced NOx emissions by nearly 60 per cent whilst providing essential funding to our local business community.”
Cllr Kate Groucutt, St Helens Borough Council’s cabinet member for economy, business and skills, added: "I’m delighted with the response so far from the local taxi trade and other businesses in taking up this great opportunity to reduce their carbon footprint, supporting our borough on its road towards a greener future.”
Phase two of applications is now open, and interested applicants are invited to attend the upcoming Drop-In session at St Helens Chamber on September 6.
Taxi and private hire drivers in East Cambridgeshire will not be required to install CCTV in their cars.
According to CambridgeshireLive, East Cambridgeshire District Council has decided there is not enough evidence to support making CCTV mandatory for the taxis and PHVs licensed in the area.
The authority consulted with licensed drivers and members of the public on potentially requiring CCTV in taxis and PHVs.
While it only received 35 responses, officer’s said the “overwhelming response” from cabbies was that they currently felt safe at work, with only 20 per cent indicating they would support mandatory CCTV.
The majority of the members of the public who responded to the consultation said they currently felt safe using taxis, but four people did say they may use taxis more if mandatory CCTV was introduced.
Witcham Parish Council also wrote to the district council to say it thought mandatory CCTV in taxis would be “beneficial”.
However, the Licensed Private Hire Car Association wrote to the district council raising its concerns about making CCTV a mandatory requirement. The group said it was not anti CCTV, but was against the “blanket mandating” of its use.
They raised concerns about the cost to drivers of buying and installing the CCTV, saying this was estimated to cost over £500, as well as raising concerns over data management, and privacy.
The group also said some of its drivers had indicated that mandating CCTV was a “burden they could not survive” and could lead to drivers leaving the trade.
Officers told councillors at a meeting of the district council’s licensing committee on Monday September 4, that the licensed drivers in East Cambridgeshire were “very professional and very compliant” and said there were few issues raised with the authority because of this. They added that due to the “lack of evidence of an overwhelming underlying issue”, they suggested mandatory CCTV would be “disproportionate” and should not go ahead at this time.
Councillor Mark Inskip said he was a little disappointed at the number of people who responded to the district council’s consultation, but said he supported the officer's suggestion. He said it was “difficult to see a strong case” to bring in a mandatory CCTV policy.
Councillor Christine Ambrose Smith said she believed mandatory CCTV would create a “considerable cost” for drivers. However, she said while serious incidents where CCTV in taxis could have helped had not happened so far in the district, she said this did not mean it could not happen.
She said: “We do not know someone next week is not going to be raped, or in two months time a child might be abducted. Just because it has not happened to date, does not mean it won’t happen in the near future. I see the merits, but I can also see the problems that this would cause.”
Ultimately the committee councillors voted unanimously to agree that the evidence fell short at this time to mandate CCTV in taxis.
However, the committee did agree to update the wording of its policy for taxi drivers who choose to install CCTV, including that it would be a requirement for a driver to provide the footage to the district council, or the police, if lawfully requested.
Source: https://www.cambridge-news.co.uk/news/local-news/cctv-not-made-mandatory-east-27648322
As more and more electric and hybrid vehicles hit the road in a bid to reduce our carbon footprint, commuters in Llandrindod Wells are actually heading back in time in order to save the planet’s future.
Almost a year ago, the Llandrindod Wells Town Horse Park was opened by the British Horse Society (BHS) in order to celebrate the start of King Charles III’s reign.
The idea came from Penny Nicholson, who has now received her hackney carriage licence from Powys County Council.
She and gypsy cob Ozzy are now able to offer a climate-friendly, slow travel alternative to local residents, with two county councillors her first fares.
“Penny picked up her first fares for a trip to the lake in Llandrindod,” the BHS Mid Wales said in a post on their Facebook page on August 22.
“Councillor Jackie Charlton and Councillor Corinna Keynon-Wade said they had an enjoyable experience and it was a lovely way to take a taxi.
“Best wishes to Ozzy the cob and Penny. Llandrindod is very lucky to have the original and best green active travel mode of transport. Keep trotting on.”
Penny and fellow BHS member, Helen Donnan, were seen out and about in the spa town promoting sustainable equine travel with Ozzy back in May 2022, while Ozzy was also pulling his cart during the town’s Victorian Festival last August.
Penny is an ardent advocate for the inclusion of equine transport in the active travel agenda, with the obvious health, well-being and climate benefits it brings.
The only form of transport which runs largely on grass, it is a cheap or free and a quickly renewable fuel, and of course is in plentiful supply in Powys.
Drunken Lucy Baggaley damaged a taxi - after her concerned cabbie drove her to a police custody centre and raised the alarm.
StokeonTrentLive reports that the 29-year-old mum has 81 previous convictions for 165 offences.
Her latest conviction came when she was arrested outside the Northern Area Custody Facility, in Etruria, Stoke-on-Trent, on suspicion of criminal damage at 3.50am on July 16.
Now Baggaley has been hit with a £240 court bill at North Staffordshire Justice Centre.
Prosecutor Suzanne Swindail said: "The taxi driver said his customer in the back of his vehicle was acting strangely and he did not know what to do so he brought her to the custody facility.
"The defendant became aggressive. She pushed the rear of the passenger seat and ripped the centre console out by pulling at the lid.
"Police arrived to assist the driver. She refused to pay for the damage and was arrested for criminal damage."
In her police interview, Baggaley said she had consumed a lot of alcohol and sometimes became aggressive in drink.
Baggaley, of Silverdale, pleaded guilty to criminal damage.
The offence placed her in breach of a 28-day suspended prison sentence for a separate criminal damage offence.
Mike Kimberley, mitigating, said: "She had decided to go out in the town centre and binge drink. She became unwell and said she wanted to be sick.
"The taxi driver took her to the Northern Area Custody Facility.
"He got out of the car. She panicked. She pulled the seat and grabbed the centre console which gave way.
"She made a full and frank admission. She was intoxicated and had little recollection of what had taken place."
Magistrates ordered Baggaley to pay £100 compensation. She was fined £100 for breaching the suspended sentence and ordered to pay a £40 surcharge.
She was warned that any further offending before the suspended sentence expires in December will lead to her being sent to jail.
Source: https://www.stokesentinel.co.uk/news/stoke-on-trent-news/mum-29-notches-up-165th-8715369
A local councillor has sparked a debate on passenger safety after claiming that using locally licensed taxis is safer than hailing an Uber.
A taxi driver was attacked and subjected to racist abuse after two brothers refused to pay him up front.
Christopher Hilling, 64, admitted to engaging a child in sexual activity at Chelmsford Crown Court on Thursday 8 August.
Abdigani Ebrahim, 38, of Grangetown, admitted charges of affray and criminal damage following the incident in Northcote Street, Roath, last July.
The crackdown targeted drivers operating across council boundaries to ensure public safety and compliance with regulations.
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French taxi drivers are calling for government compensation after suffering significant revenue losses during the Paris Olympics.
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Ricky Harold, a 20-year veteran of the town’s taxi trade, was parked in a lay-by when his vehicle was struck from behind by a black Audi A2.
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An unlicensed taxi driver who picked up two vulnerable women in Aberdare has been ordered to pay nearly £1,500 in fines and costs.