Bolton

GOVERNMENT plans to cut ‘red tape’ for taxi operators in Bolton could put the public at risk, an MP has warned.

Julie Hilling, who represents Bolton West, has spoken out against the Deregulation Bill which is going through Parliament.

If made law, the changes would mean private hire firms could ‘sub contract’ bookings to operators licensed in a different area.

Opponents to the system say customers would be less able to choose a company that they feel is safer and more reliable.


In addition, anyone with an ordinary drivers’ licence would be allowed to drive a private hire car when it is ‘off duty’.

Ms Hilling said there was already too little regulation of the industry, and that further deregulation would not help protect the public.

She said: “We do not have national standards. When the system as a whole is fractured, there are all sorts of ways through it.”

At a meeting in April, Ms Hilling, along with MPs David Crausby and Yasmin Qureshi, joined forces with the Police Crime Commissioner, union GMB and the National Private Hire Association to denounce the plans.

Asif Bali, chairman of the Bolton Private Hire Operators Association, said his organisation currently has an arrangement whereby a call for a cab can be passed on to another company. But he added proposals to run ‘off duty’ private hire cars for personal use could put the public in danger.

Comment; Manchester Council were not invited to the meeting held in Bolton. Organizers were fed up with Manchester sending 'apologies for absence' for every other meeting they were asked to attend.

To be fair it is hard for Manchester staff to attend any meetings, they only work a 43 week year, despite charging the License fee payers for 52 weeks.(source Grant Thornton, external auditors.)

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North Tyneside.

A cabbie's efforts to go green have been thwarted to council red tape.

Taxi driver Grant Miller, who bought an electric Nissan Leaf for £15,000, was told he couldn’t use the car as it didn’t meet licensing regulations.

Council bosses in North Tyneside say the rear windows on the car are too dark.

Now Grant, of Denton Burn, Newcastle, is having to folk out £130 per week to insure a hire car to continue his work as a taxi driver, while his new electric car sits at home.

The 43-year-old said: “I do a lot of miles and I just wanted to do my bit for the environment and that’s why I decided to buy the car.

“I didn’t think there would be a problem but when I tried to put it on the road as a taxi North Tyneside Council said I couldn’t because of its tinted windows.

“It’s a beautiful car and I can’t use it. It’s just ridiculous.”

North Tyneside council said their policy requires rear windows to have a certain level of light transmission.

Self-employed Grant, who has been a taxi driver for eight years, said he will now have to sell his car or apply for a licence in a different local authority.

He says he has contacted suppliers Nissan but they say the windows come standard on his model of car and they can’t replace them.

He added: “The car is just sat there and I can’t use it. I was just trying to do my bit for the environment.

“I’d read a lot about electric cars and I thought it would work really well.

“You can get 90 miles out of them, which would give me time in between fares to charge it up.”

Grant, who has had the car two weeks, put more than a £5,000 down as a deposit and is continuing to pay finance on the car.

A North Tyneside council spokeswoman said: “The council supports and welcomes drivers who use energy efficient vehicles and new technology.

“We are aware that Mr Miller is in discussion with a supplier about ensuring a vehicle meets the public safety aspects of the council’s licensing policy. We have been assisting Mr Miller in this process and will continue to do so should he make an application for a new licensed vehicle.”

They said that their taxi policy requires that the level of light transmission in the rear windows needs to be at least 34% and the rear windows on Grant’s car were at a level of 22%.

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Cardiff taxi driver Mohammed Ali has been found guilty of raping a young university student as he drove her home from a birthday celebration with friends in the city centre.

The married 40-year-old cabbie had denied it, claiming the student had asked him for sex by touching him without his permission and refusing to take no for an answer.

The jury verdict against him at Cardiff Crown Court was unanimous.

A judge will pass sentence later today.

Ali, of West Luton Place, Cardiff was told to expect a significant prison sentence.