A PRIVATE hire taxi driver has hit out at Southampton City Council’s decision to reject a change to signage policy, which would have allowed drivers to work for multiple operators.

Currently, private hire drivers must have one sign with the operator’s name on it.

The rejected proposal would have allowed private hire drivers to have a choice of two signs – one with the operators’ name on it and one with the private hire licence details.

Operators’ names would not have been removed completely but instead a second sign would have been added, giving private hire drivers the right to carry out work for multiple operators in practice.

Officially, the council allows private hire drivers to work for multiple operators but according to private hire driver Ali Haydor, the current signage system means working for multiple operators is practically impossible.

Mr Haydor has said he and other drivers are prepared to protest and take union action if the council does not reconsider, as he feels their working rights have been infringed.

 

The proposals submitted to the Council. The above picture is the current signage and the bottom picture was the proposed signage.

The proposals submitted to the Council. The above picture is the current signage and the bottom picture was the proposed signage.

 

“When we asked the council for confirmation can we work for multiple companies they said yes we can, but just make sure that when you turn up to these jobs you have the correct signage. As you realise the current signage is a sticker and has the name of the company. The difficulty that we have, to put this in practice is that we have to take the sticker off and then put the one for the other company on.

“Trying to take these stickers off is not a two-minute job, how many stickers can we keep in the boot and how much money does that cost? The council says we can work for multiple operators but trying to put it into practice is basically impossible.”

Discussing the council’s consultation prior to their decision, 34 per cent of the trade wanted to keep the current sign policy, whilst 64 per cent disagreed with it.

“This matter was debated at a recent Licensing Committee meeting, where we welcomed a number of speakers to share their views," said a spokesperson for Southampton City Council.

"After reviewing all the representations, members decided that vehicles should continue to display Southampton City Council livery – something that’s been in place for 20 years – so that taxi drivers and users can have confidence in the licensing and safety of this mode of public transport.”

Mr Haydor said the rejected proposal would still have protected public safety due to visible licensing.