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More consultation over controversial taxi rules (From Daily Echo)
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More consultation over controversial taxi rules
6:10am Thursday 7th May 2009
ANGER is mounting over controversial council plans to send all Southampton cabbies back to school and fit cameras in their cars.
Trade representatives yesterday won more time to persuade councillors to rethink new rules for the city’s 1,100 drivers.
They claimed the council had failed to consult them properly on proposals for compulsory BTEC qualifications in transporting passengers by taxi, digital cameras in cabs, and extra six monthly MoT tests.
Council chiefs insist the new licensing conditions were needed to tackle a “poor overall” standards in the trade after complaints doubled in the past two years and at least ten cars had to be taken of the road because they were dangerous. They said they had sent letters to all drivers and proprietors – but only got 41 replies.
But council solicitor Richard Ivory said it was the best ever response and he said the changes were “long overdue”.
Yet after hearing from the trade union and taxi firm bosses, councillors on the licensing panel voted to defer a decision pending further consultations.
Unite cab section chairman Perry McMillan slammed BTECs for experienced drivers as “unnecessary”.
Concerns were also raised about the cost and use of £625 cameras in cabs.
Around 110 of the city’s 550 private hire and 263 Hackney Carriages taxis already have them installed.
But the council, which says they will reduce crime and disorder and improve driver safety, admitted images have only been dowloaded a dozen times in the past two years.
Some taxi drivers and firms in Southampton have already signed up to take the BTECs.
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Your Say YourEcho
helhod, southampton/Arona says...
7:51am Thu 7 May 09
They stop in the most inconvenient places stopping traffic.u turns in the roads go down no entry roads .Park in bus stops so then the buses cant pull in for passengers which again hold up traffic behind .
Georgem, Southampton says...
7:58am Thu 7 May 09
What exactly is the "controversy" here? The fact that taxi driving is now to be slightly more difficult, thus removing it's status as the job anybody can do, or that the poor taxi drivers weren't asked if they wanted to prove they're at least slightly capable?
Unite cab section chairman Perry McMillan slammed BTECs for experienced drivers as “unnecessary”.
Why? A lot of jobs require actual qualifications these days
BP, Southampton says...
8:19am Thu 7 May 09
Is this the same Perry McMillan who believes he is the voice of Saints supporters?
Vonnie, Southampton says...
8:24am Thu 7 May 09
BTECs, regular vehicle inspections, and cab cameras can only help raise that standard. What are cab drivers so worried about? That they might actually have to provide the service that they charge the earth for?
Tobeblunt, Southampton says...
8:29am Thu 7 May 09
I seriously don't think that sending taxi drivers to college is going to improve their driving habbits, forward facing cameras and blackbox type recorders will.
Then if anyone has a complaint regarding their driving habbits the information can then be obtained and the driver prosecuted fairly.
i do however think they should be forced to take regular driving exams both written and on the road.
Condor Man, Southampton says...
8:42am Thu 7 May 09
These blokes are a disgrace to the city. I see people getting of the train ready to go on cruises being welcomed by a surly bunch who swear loudly in the street and are quite intimidating to the public.
greystonesben, Fareham says...
10:19am Thu 7 May 09
Why are the council citing the fact that images have only been downloaded 12 times in 2 years as a bad thing? Surely to not have the need to download images means that no crime has been committed which is a good thing?
It will also stop attacks from taxi drivers as they know they are being recorded and people can refuse to get into a taxi if they do not have cctv in them.
Emm_Roids, Romsey says...
12:28pm Thu 7 May 09
downfader, southampton says...
9:21pm Thu 7 May 09
Georgem wrote:Qualifications... funny as if you want to wash dishes in most catering jobs you need an NVQ to prove you can do it.
So does anybody have something to say about the story, or is it just the usual "take any excuse to moan about taxis"? What exactly is the "controversy" here? The fact that taxi driving is now to be slightly more difficult, thus removing it's status as the job anybody can do, or that the poor taxi drivers weren't asked if they wanted to prove they're at least slightly capable?Unite cab section chairman Perry McMillan slammed BTECs for experienced drivers as “unnecessary”.Why? A lot of jobs require actual qualifications these days
Odd but true.
I dont see the Taxi drivers protest as being a valid one. Bus drivers and HGV drivers have to take an advanced test, HGV drivers I think also have extra stipulations around their employment.
I think we'll see more of this with regards transporting goods and passengers in the future.
More consultation over controversial taxi rules
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sadtobehere, Southampton says...
6:21am Thu 7 May 09
The fares are far too expensive for the service offered. They park illegally and refuse to get out of the way for buses. There are far too many taxi drivers in some areas and they are intimidating. Taxi drivers park outside my home for hours yet the only way to book this taxi is by telephone. Since I am deaf, it is an insult to be constantly harassed by a service I am unable to use. Other cities have a text servcie to contact a taxi.