A judge has told Berwick Council to rethink its policy on taxi licences after Tyneside cabbies protested over an influx of rival operators.
Newcastle City Council brought the High Court case, complaining Berwick Council was issuing hundreds of licences which could be used anywhere in the UK.
The town has 672 licensed Hackney carriages, one for every 40 residents.
Berwick Council has now been advised by the court that is should only license taxis intending to operate locally.
The court heard the streets of Newcastle were flooded with Berwick-licensed taxis doing private hire work.
‘Local in character’
The border town’s cheaper and easier regime had seen a rapid increase from just 46 licensed Hackney carriages in April 2006, the judge was told.
The court heard Berwick licensed cabs were common in town’s across the North East and some drivers lived as far afield as the West Midlands, Wales, Liverpool, and Surrey.
Judge Christopher Symons QC rejected Berwick Council’s arguments that it is obliged by law to issue a Hackney carriage license to any applicant, so long as they and their vehicle are “fit”.
He said the taxi-licensing regime, which dates back to 1847, was designed to protect the public and was essentially “local in character”.
He said: “The licensing system should operate in such a way that the authority licensing Hackney carriages is the authority for the area in which those vehicles are generally used.”
“If the Hackney carriages are used in areas remote from Berwick, enforcement will be very difficult and impracticable.”
Judge Symons said his ruling would remain at the authority’s discretion.
A spokesman for Newcastle City Council said it was “delighted” with the outcome of the case.
Berwick Council said it was now preparing a new policy in light of the ruling.
Source: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/tyne/7711503.stm
{ 112 comments… read them below or add one }
i hope berwick has the balls to go on as it has but i dont think they will a lot of taxi driver s will be very upset it`s gonna cost a lot more now other councills will charge more thats the sickener
The views expressed in this site do not necessarily reflect the views of TooManyTaxis or the general U.K. Hackney Carriage Trade
i have not read the full judgement yet, but it does seem that the judge has some sense and has looked into things closely.
p.s. i am up to page whatever
if admin is willing to publish this post, here are some highlights that matter from my point of view, others will read the judgement and have different points of view,, that is democracy.
It also limits the number of hackney carriage licences it issues, as it is entitled to do under section 16 of the Transport Act 1985 because it is satisfied that there is no significant unmet demand for the services of hackney carriages within the city.
It was thus decided by Parliament, from the outset of the licensing of hackney carriages, that licensing should be dealt with locally rather than nationally. The right to ply for hire is limited, by the licence, to the immediate locality and no right to ply for hire is given for any wider area.
The 1976 Act was adoptive, that is it only applies in those parts of the country where the Act has been adopted. However most authorities have adopted the Act including Berwick and Newcastle.
“the grant of a hackney carriage licence may be refused for the purposes of limiting the number of hackney carriages in respect of which licences are granted, if, but only if, the person authorised to grant licences is satisfied that there is no significant demand for the services of hackney carriages (within the area to which the licence would apply) which is unmet.”
Newcastle use section 16 to limit the number of hackney carriage licences granted but Berwick do not.
In my judgment the major purpose behind the 1847 Act, and indeed the 1976 Act, is the safety of the public by which I include both the travelling public as passengers and other road users. Thus the scheme of the legislation is directed towards having safe vehicles, fit and proper drivers and appropriate conditions of hire.
The fact that Berwick now has a large, but remote, fleet of hackney carriages has had the effect of persuading Berwick that they need to have testing stations over a wide area well removed from Berwick-on-Tweed. Mr. Holland, who appeared before me for Berwick, told me that due to the large number of licences being issued Berwick has a financial surplus which they use in part to pay to have a vehicle on the road in the Tyneside area to keep an eye on their hackney carriages.
MY VIEW IN CAPS, PMSL AT THIS COMMENT… “has a financial surplus which they use in part to etc.”
HERES THE NITTY GRITTY….It seems to me that it must be desirable for an authority issuing licences to hackney carriage to be able to restrict the issuing of those licences to proprietors and drivers which are intending to ply for hire in that authority’s area. Similarly it must be desirable to be able to refuse to issue licences to proprietors and drivers who do not intend to ply for hire, to a material extent, in the area of the licence grantor.
Roll on Xmas, i am skint !!!!
The views expressed in this site do not necessarily reflect the views of TooManyTaxis or the general U.K. Hackney Carriage Trade
@Sam Harrington,
The problem with this part of the judgement, in my view that the Judge appears not to understand either the spirit of s16 of the Transport Act or the history of legislation, because my understanding of the amendment is that a council now has a duty to issue a licence unless they take the view that there is no significant unmet demand, and they can only reach that conclusion if they conduct an impartial survey, moreover if a council is not minded to conduct a survey then there is no mechanism to prevent the issue of a licence, or to compel a council to revisit a delimitation policy. This has been the position in caselaw after caselaw, an example is Egan v Reading, in which Reading followed DOT guidelines and voted for a policy to issue licences in tranches this was succesfully challenged in the High Court. To my mind the ruling should have concentrated on the Gladin ruling and ruled that though it was legally correct it has been subsequently misinterpreted, how it could or would be enforced is another matter.
The views expressed in this site do not necessarily reflect the views of TooManyTaxis or the general U.K. Hackney Carriage Trade
back to square one then,cause berwick,tynedale and derwentside wont give a flying f**k,because very very soon they wont exist.so will the new northumberland county council attach regulations to their hack licences….now to upset a lot of you out there,i hope they dont attach regulations to licence…..and heres where i upset you,because i fully support what mr.shanks of blue line taxis is trying to achieve,a one plate system or whatever you want to call it,hack grivers are dinosaurs who havent gone with the advancment of technology,times have changed,the hire and reward game has moved on over the years you have to move with the times….or sadly get left behind,dont get me wrong,im a hack driver (tynedale) and would love to go back to the days when i could work the ranks and make a decent living,but those days have gone.im no greenhorn ive been doing this job for the past 25 years,tynedale hack driver,newcastle hack driver , gateshead private hire driver,and as for the local knowledge tests some of you bleat on about, they arnt worth a w**k,and you know it,ask around the ranks and taxis offices,they can give you the answers because the dumb councils never or rarely vary the questions
my fist day as a newcastle hack driver,punter jumps in gives me an address in gosforth,and i didnt have a clue..oh if only i had sat nav back then,and as for having a go at the big operators…why?
is it just envy.obviously blue line,mr.shanks is no dummy he must be doing somthing right,so to you ian shanks i say…..DONT LET THE B******S grind you down and keep fighting,because there are plenty of drivers like myself out there who back what you are trying to do,
and to you cynics about to jump in with a stinging reply,yes i know he wants you working his office so he can charge you office rent and get even wealthier,but HELLO……thats what he is in bussiness for,to make money,thats why we all do this,anyway enough of my prattle, ishall sit back and wait for the verbal torrent of abuse for applauding what mr.shanks is doing within the taxi trade,
PLEASE NOTE:i do not know ian shanks,i do not,and have never worked for blueline taxis
The views expressed in this site do not necessarily reflect the views of TooManyTaxis or the general U.K. Hackney Carriage Trade
So what happens to all these bandits that are working outside Berwick at the min ? Do they all have to go back where they belong or are they still allowed to work outside their area ?
The views expressed in this site do not necessarily reflect the views of TooManyTaxis or the general U.K. Hackney Carriage Trade
Well!
Lets get the Camera’s out and see all these f*cking idiots running to North Tyneside & Newcastle for a application pack, what sickens me the most is these two idiot Councils will dish them out, all these Polish/Iranians and the Lasses with their pink Steering wheels & private plates will be applying!
NOTE: ACCORDING TO THE HACK BOYS THE COUNCIL VIEW THIS SITE SO READ THIS…..
JUST THINK COUNCIL BOYS AND GIRLS, IF BERWICK WERE GOING TO LAST AND EVERY DRIVER LICENSED THEIR CAR IN BERWICK, YOU LOT WOULD BE APPLYING FOR A BADGE TOO!!!……and working for a Operator, not a cushy Council job with Pension and OK pay!!
SO SHOW SOME RESPECT WHEN THESE HALF WITS COMING RUNNING INTO THE OFFICE AND HOLD THEIR APPLICATIONS BACK OR LOOSE THEM HA!HA!
THEY HAVE SCREWED US AND NEARLY SCREWED YOU IN THE LAST TWO YEARS…SO PAY BACK TIME………PLEASE!!!!!!
IDEALLY CAP THE NUMBER OF BADGES FOR THE NEXT SIX MONTHS!
AND MR AND MRS COUNCIL IF YOU HAVE TAKEN A DRIVER TO COURT AND REMOVED HIS BADGE AND HE IS NOW BERWICK…DON’T GIVE HIM/HER BACK IF THEY APPEAL!!!!
KIND REGARDS
Stephen
PS The next time we are passing Harvey Combe we will see lots of papers hanging out your bins (Applications)…………..in our dreams!!!
The views expressed in this site do not necessarily reflect the views of TooManyTaxis or the general U.K. Hackney Carriage Trade
Jimmy d, you want some abuse ! youve earned some, your a first class cock s*cking SOAB , get your big fat head out of shanksys a**ehole you C**T ! and F**K OFF back to TYNEDALE you F**KING OLD HOMO, go on F**K THE F**K OFF, B***ARD !!!
The views expressed in this site do not necessarily reflect the views of TooManyTaxis or the general U.K. Hackney Carriage Trade
It may not be finished yet! – Remember there’s a right of appeal and one side has excess funds with only a few months to go?
The views expressed in this site do not necessarily reflect the views of TooManyTaxis or the general U.K. Hackney Carriage Trade
Nobody’s appealing, Berwick Council Have accepted the Judgement and are on the record saying they are changing their policy and if you mean Berwick has excess funds,there won’t be much of that left after their Court costs plus half of Newcastles. Berwick had their fun and raked in the cash…at the expense of the true Pawns in the game…You,Me & every other little man who just wants to make a crust! So don’t allow yourself to be the Big players mouthpiece,just accept gracefully and get back to coming out to work and feeding your Family!
The views expressed in this site do not necessarily reflect the views of TooManyTaxis or the general U.K. Hackney Carriage Trade
The real big players are not the money people,they are the silent ones in Licensing,the legal people,the people who understand and can make sense of the Judgement. whilst Taxi drivers & operators, who think they know everything because either they have money or they listen to people who have money,chase their tails and shout names at each other. All the while the real professionals in all this are ensuring that this does not happen again. Heads will be rolling and new policies will be getting drawn up,mystery shoppers will abound and the only Court cases will be Taxi drivers who are being looked at more closely than ever before because people got Greedy and drew a lot of attention to the Trade. Drivers should view this as a learning experience and not become infected with the Greed of those that collect their rents!
The views expressed in this site do not necessarily reflect the views of TooManyTaxis or the general U.K. Hackney Carriage Trade
What is quite funny about this whole sorry saga,is that,at any time in the past two years,any local authority could have written into their licencing policy that any private hire operator is only allowed to employ vehicles and drivers licenced in that borough.
The views expressed in this site do not necessarily reflect the views of TooManyTaxis or the general U.K. Hackney Carriage Trade
Chris…..I take it the red bull has kicked in?
CC
The views expressed in this site do not necessarily reflect the views of TooManyTaxis or the general U.K. Hackney Carriage Trade
Newcastle City Council stopping out of town plates.
Letter sent out to proprietors stating that the practice is illegal!
The views expressed in this site do not necessarily reflect the views of TooManyTaxis or the general U.K. Hackney Carriage Trade
well said chris,for an interbred hillbilly retard your spellings not to bad,youve missed your vocation in life,you should have been a teacher,now p*ss off back to the rank and scrape a few pennies together,buy a nice new shiny car then take yourself off to blueline taxis and and beg the wizard of transport (shanksie) to be allowed into the brotherhood of wisdom and enlightenment,namley blueline taxis,where upon you may find calm,serenity and decent earnings,peace be with you wan**r
The views expressed in this site do not necessarily reflect the views of TooManyTaxis or the general U.K. Hackney Carriage Trade
Another Chapter on this website has opened with the outcome of the infamous Court case, but once again people are “Beefing up” Blueline Taxis, on this Topic it’s “Jimmyd”, previously we have had “BLT Driver and proud of it” and “SC”, these Articles on this well run website are open to discussion regardless of who we work for and what we drive, but the Articles are Topics, NOT excuses to praise BLT!!!, no one can discuss, argue anything because someone comes on here praising BLT!
If Admin stuck on a Article about America’s first Black President, then some idiots comment would contain stuff about “BLT”!!!!!
Now I have met Mr Shanks and he comes across a decent bloke that clearly invests his income back into his Business, and has a fair few customers, he also contributes on here, I am not allowed to work for him, but I still think he runs a sound show after viewing his operaton!
So will people refrian from referring to BLT everytime a Article is put on here, it just causes arguements and challenges and leaves the Topic behind.
JimmyD mate we know about BLT, keep your comments about the out of town Hack crap!, not BLT!
Regards
Stephen
The views expressed in this site do not necessarily reflect the views of TooManyTaxis or the general U.K. Hackney Carriage Trade
Err toonhack have you read the judges ruling?Berwick hacks are doing nothing unlawful and newcastle cannot prosecute!
Sorry to put a dampener on things,but read the facts first!
The views expressed in this site do not necessarily reflect the views of TooManyTaxis or the general U.K. Hackney Carriage Trade
Do people think Berwick will really be changing their policy? I personally think Berwick will be sitting tight until the new Northumberland council comes into action, at this point they will roll out a new set off policy’s they have all ready decided on for the new council, as they must have already have some thing ready with the merge of all the LA’s
The views expressed in this site do not necessarily reflect the views of TooManyTaxis or the general U.K. Hackney Carriage Trade
Ian Shanks Will become the first Geordie President of America in 2012.
Then his dream will become reality.HE WILL RULE THE WORLD!!!!!
The views expressed in this site do not necessarily reflect the views of TooManyTaxis or the general U.K. Hackney Carriage Trade
Well where to start lets see the judge if i have read this correctly and I’m sure someone will tell me if i have not he stated that a hackney carriage is a vehicle that works from a rank and plys for hire from there and a private hire vehicle works from an office so if this is correct then what about the hacks that work from an office are they hack or private hire or just bit of this bit of that also regarding the taxi ranks do they not state the number of cars permitted at so called rank is eg 4 6 8 ect ect and if you are not on or within these markings on the road then you should not be “ranked up” someone needs to check the ranks and move them on as they are causing an obstruction did ntc know that the rank in tyne mouth goes from the arch all the way past the priory even as far as the gibraltar rock i am sick of people whinging on about private vehicles parking in taxi ranks if the enforcement officers did there job also the police and if anyone who is not a hackney carriage (north tyneside) parks within the rank markings then they should be either given a ticket or removed these hack drivers are quick enough to complain if a berwick or private hire park within these places but not private vehicles and think they have the god given right to just park as they like where they like when they like well come on someone get things sorted out and finally i am still waiting for a response from Mr newton regarding foreign drivers do they don’t they take locality tests so i look forward to some responses to my queries
The views expressed in this site do not necessarily reflect the views of TooManyTaxis or the general U.K. Hackney Carriage Trade
All you half wits bleating on about Berwick/Northumberland not changing their licencing policy,need to realise or try and find out who is going to be the new Head of Licencing.
When you do know,then you will realise that said policy is already in the process of being changed! YOU F*CKING WANKERS!!!
The views expressed in this site do not necessarily reflect the views of TooManyTaxis or the general U.K. Hackney Carriage Trade
stephen mate,i dont care how blueline taxis run their bussines,but i do find it amusing how the mention of the unmentianable co,really brings out the worst of people,but you cant mention the farce of out of town hacks without mentioning blt,its because of them were in the position were in,shanksie already stated that after losing his cross border hire case with newcastle council some years ago he then got a ruling the following year which started the whole sorry saga of out of town plates,im lucky because i hane not been directly affected by bandits,cos contrary to what u think CHRIS (f**k off back to tynedale) i never left tynedale im not one of the bandit plates,i just happen tp like winding people like you up and yanking your chain.
as for the ruling at high court,it doesnt solve a great deal,because it is still open to interpratation,people are already interperating to suit their own opinions,and being cynical,berwick tynedale and derwentside councils arnt going to do much about this ruling cos they wont be here in 4 or 5 months so they will just let this rumble on and back heel it to the new la nothumberland county council,by the way dont expect anything fantastic from them either,
six weeks ago the news i got from my local councillor who took my qestions and points to county hall regarding taxi and ph licensing withinin new la was that they dont have a clue,they have nothing in place regarding tarrifs testing,this new licensing is going to be no different from newcastle or ntc
The views expressed in this site do not necessarily reflect the views of TooManyTaxis or the general U.K. Hackney Carriage Trade
Lets hope all the out of Town School runners get peddled ASAP, it’s disgusting someone LIGHTLY Police checked doing School runs, come on NT Council start getting shot of the Bandits doing School runs!!!
The views expressed in this site do not necessarily reflect the views of TooManyTaxis or the general U.K. Hackney Carriage Trade
Stephen your quote below !!! i have never said you could not as you have never asked !!
“I am not allowed to work for him”
The views expressed in this site do not necessarily reflect the views of TooManyTaxis or the general U.K. Hackney Carriage Trade
Stephen when you got the trip bus to school the driver might not have had a crb check but its not like that now infact it the driver is a bandit from he WILL of had a least 2 crb checks one from bandit land and one from ntc ! if your not sure best to says nowt it makes you sound like a rite PR£CK
The views expressed in this site do not necessarily reflect the views of TooManyTaxis or the general U.K. Hackney Carriage Trade
stephen(fka central enth)
you-ve been a taxi driver 2mins and you spout out a load of shite,youre a hipocrite with regards to berwick plates and badges.you-ve got one yourself.get your facts right about the school runs,a berwick driver gets the same enhanced crb as a north tyneside one does and is then given the ok by north tyneside to do runs.keep paying bundy top dollar to run arond in a doblo that is past its best or you could always jump in one of his top of the range berwick plated vehicles(fiat mutipla or w reg mondeo etc)
The views expressed in this site do not necessarily reflect the views of TooManyTaxis or the general U.K. Hackney Carriage Trade
yt
youre another one whos been a taxi driver for 2mins and claims to know it all.get your head outve m**vs arse and get back on the mcdonalds rank or join the rest of the polaroid brigade at mainline taxis
The views expressed in this site do not necessarily reflect the views of TooManyTaxis or the general U.K. Hackney Carriage Trade
yt
why do you and others have a go at ian shanks?the majority of yous wouldnt know him if he past you in the street!! at least the bloke has the balls to put his money where his mouth is and challenge local authorities via the legal system.unlike yous lot that sit around all day bitching like women but doing sweet fa about your grievances.put up or shut up!!!
The views expressed in this site do not necessarily reflect the views of TooManyTaxis or the general U.K. Hackney Carriage Trade
There are Sooo Many Taxi Lawyers on this site You May Want to Buy The Book: See The Ad Middle Column,Button on Taxis By James Button,it costs a couple days takings for a Hack or a Mornings work for BLT & Proud of it!
The views expressed in this site do not necessarily reflect the views of TooManyTaxis or the general U.K. Hackney Carriage Trade
I am not having a dig at BLT, but i would like to know why a BLT Doblo North Tyneside Hack works Tynemouth on a Friday night ? said vehicle was there tonight, and it was one of the worst nights i have known, crap sums it up. From previous comments, said BLT Doblo would earn much more working the office, so whats going on ?????
I suspect said BLT Doblo owner may be taking the weekend off (cos he’s earned his bit during the week) and renting/lending Doblo to a friend or maybe someone claiming benefits. I hope someone can enlighten me.
The views expressed in this site do not necessarily reflect the views of TooManyTaxis or the general U.K. Hackney Carriage Trade
Big Boobs/Boots whatever!
Let me update you, my Berwick badge expired last week, and I have not renewed it because it was obvious that the Toon would pull something off, secondly I no longer Drive a Doblo, thirdly, I have been in and out of this game for 14 years, that may be nowt to you, but it’s longer than 2 minutes!!!!.
The W reg Mondeo used to be my own with a NT Plate on, so I don’t want it back thanks, and the Fiat Multipla is out to a full-time Driver.
If Mr Shanks can take a dig then so can you whoever you are!, I hate saying this to you, but I like the comment about Mainline Taxis or shall I say “Buy me out later Taxis”, but for the record I think the Hacks are leaving…it must have been Rent time!
Calm down my friend, I take it you must be a School runner then???..to go on like this!
Regards
Stephen
The views expressed in this site do not necessarily reflect the views of TooManyTaxis or the general U.K. Hackney Carriage Trade
he proberbly worked the ranks like some others do because they get led to believe the streets are paved with gold when in fact as you have said it can be bloody hard work for you lads.
The views expressed in this site do not necessarily reflect the views of TooManyTaxis or the general U.K. Hackney Carriage Trade
Admin….in view of the speed Mr Button’s views are being found to be incorrect do you think that book should be placed in the fiction section?
CC
The views expressed in this site do not necessarily reflect the views of TooManyTaxis or the general U.K. Hackney Carriage Trade
Big boots! you think you know me better than you do! I’ve been a taxi driver since 1983!
Anyway,I keep trying to get onto McD rank,but there’s always some mouthy tw*t in a clapped out Scudo sat there!!
The views expressed in this site do not necessarily reflect the views of TooManyTaxis or the general U.K. Hackney Carriage Trade
yt.thought that kid with the big mouth and clapped out cab got crashed into by a police vehicle?people in glass houses shouldnt throw stones it wasnt that long ago you drove about in a clapped out laguna!!
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k9 you just proved you don’t really know what you are talking about.
The person who is now,and has been known for years,as big boots,is somebody totally different.We were having a bit of a joke between ourselves(or so I thought).But unfortunately,someone has took it upon themselves to hide behind his name to come on this site.
I know that everyone knows who I am.I have even displayed my name on the back of my car!
You forgot to point out aswell that,apart from the Laguna,I also drove about in a clapped out 406!But they didn’t belong to me.The Superb I drive about in now does though!
The views expressed in this site do not necessarily reflect the views of TooManyTaxis or the general U.K. Hackney Carriage Trade
CJS – you say I’m mouthing for a big player – and not entitled to voice the facts? the fact they can still appeal?
The views expressed in this site do not necessarily reflect the views of TooManyTaxis or the general U.K. Hackney Carriage Trade
Stamper. I didn’t say you ‘were’ mouthing for a big player, I said don’t allow yourself to be the Big players mouthpiece!Of course you can voice the facts like everyone else on here including me and the fact is:Berwick Council Have accepted the Judgement and are on the record saying they are changing their policy.Berwick will have no say in the matter soon so why would they appeal,there will be no Berwick Council to lodge an appeal. Northumberland CC certainly won’t.Everybody secretly knew that Taxis from 60 Miles away couldn’t possibly work legally here as there was no way to enforce them. If the law is going to allow that then why have enforcement at all…for anybody. If that was the case eventually you would have every man and his dog driving the wifes Micra out on a weekend looking for fares. There has to be a legal structure to Taxi & Private Hire operations, for the benefit of you,me and the fare paying passenger. If things slide it soon becomes a freeforall and I can’t believe anyone wants that.
The views expressed in this site do not necessarily reflect the views of TooManyTaxis or the general U.K. Hackney Carriage Trade
CJS – 9O percent spot on! But why would Northumberland CC refuse to re-license Berwick Cars, – as theres a right of appeal at the Mag Courts? and what grounds would they have to refuse? – as historically the driver and car have already been licensed? – All 700 of them!
The fact that Berwick B.C. got it wrong, does that mean the proprietor’s have to pay for Berwick B.C. mistake?
Would you therefore agree with the Wrexham Case:- prosecute offenders if they continue:- No Drivers current lic or Car Lic Plus No Insuance, and also the Operator for using the above – 1976 Act section 46 1(e)?
The views expressed in this site do not necessarily reflect the views of TooManyTaxis or the general U.K. Hackney Carriage Trade
After reading all of the above it looks like a lot of people have got there knickers in a twist.
Read the facts, the judge has left it to the discretion of Berwick council to decide who they issue plates to.
Nothing has changed.
The views expressed in this site do not necessarily reflect the views of TooManyTaxis or the general U.K. Hackney Carriage Trade
Another interesting user name “PROUD BERWICK HACK DRIVER”!
It appears since Thursday that people that work out of Town are standing up and defending themselves???, is’nt it a little too late really, I know Newcastle have not clearly achieved anything, but could’nt the Berwick Boys, all the PH formed a association, or even just had a Website like this for them to stick on PRO – Berwick, Derwentside and all PH topics??, instead for the last two years they have just worked in the shadows unless their were some canny flimp jobs out their, I know I stir, but often I have made a point that Berwick Drivers ARE Police checked, it’s going to end up like that saying “shutting the stable door when the Horse has bolted”, Saturday night in Town next to Mushroom a Berwick Driver was holding his own with a right ding dong with two Toon hacks, I did,nt need to rush home to watch Setanta’s Calzaghi fight!!, normally he would have just beeped them back and drove off!!!
So PROUD BERWICK DRIVER, I think it’s you Guys that have your Knickers in a twist!!!….and it may be too late….well according to Mr Savage!!
Stephen
The views expressed in this site do not necessarily reflect the views of TooManyTaxis or the general U.K. Hackney Carriage Trade
Well Said Stephen! “Proud Berwick Hack Driver” you’re just bored with nothing else to do! (Or you soon won’t have) – Your a wind up merchant! Or should I say “Sad Act.”
The views expressed in this site do not necessarily reflect the views of TooManyTaxis or the general U.K. Hackney Carriage Trade
Well Mr Shanks is right again!!!
he stated on a early comment that their will be the same number of Cars next year on the road!, Hmmmm, I thought at the time!
However on Thursday gone their was three Berwick Hacks that I know at Large working at three separate Coastal offices, I won’t mention them, but the Drivers have had a makeover at the weekend, they now have Cars with “North Tyneside plates on”,OOOOOH, one has done really well passing that defunct locality Test when he can’t speak English, can barely manage to write out a reciept!!!!….well done to the Man!
Strange outcome when so many Locals fail it!!!!
I am mythed!!
Regards
Stephen
The views expressed in this site do not necessarily reflect the views of TooManyTaxis or the general U.K. Hackney Carriage Trade
Pround Berwick Hack, so nothing has changed eh?
just what part of the judges comments regarding section 97 did you not understand?
heres a few of the judges quotes;
- If hackney carriages are working remote from their licensing authority a number of, at the least potentially, undesirable consequences follow.
- The licensing authority will not easily keep their licensed fleet under observation. It will be carrying out its enforcement powers from a distance. The licensing authority where the hackney carriage has chosen to operate will have no enforcement powers over the vehicle although it is being used in its area
- Further, unlike its own licensed vehicles, the hackney carriage from remote areas will not be subject to the same conditions and byelaws as the local vehicles. It is no surprise that the legislation provides for testing and testing centres to be within the licensing authority’s area
- It seems to me that it must be desirable for an authority issuing licences to hackney carriage to be able to restrict the suing of those licences to proprietors and drivers which are intending to ply for hire in that authority’s area
The views expressed in this site do not necessarily reflect the views of TooManyTaxis or the general U.K. Hackney Carriage Trade
- Similarly it must be desirable to be able to refuse to issue licences to proprietors and drivers who do not intend to ply for hire, to a material extent, in the area of the licence grantor.
- Further the 1847 Act provides for licences to be granted for hackney carriages to ply for hire within the prescribed distance (i.e. within the area of the licensing authority).
- Having regard to the policy and objects of the Act in my judgment Berwick in exercising its discretion under section 37 of the 1847 Act should take into account where the hackney carriage will be used.
- On one view what happens to hackney carriages owned, kept and used outside the Borough are really not Berwick’s concern but the concern of the area where they are operating.
- In my judgment a local authority, properly directing itself, is entitled, and indeed obliged, to have regard to whether the applicant intends to use the licence to operate a hackney carriage in that authority’s area and also to have regard to whether in fact the applicant intends to use that hackney carriage predominantly, or entirely, remotely from the authority’s area
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- However it would seem to me to be difficult for any local authority to justify exercising their discretion by granting a hackney carriage licence to an applicant when the authority knows that the applicant has no intention of using that licence to ply for hire in its area
- I consider that it would be perfectly proper to seek such information to ensure that Berwick’s hackney carriages are intended to be used in their area and thus any enforcement powers can be exercised locally
ps Berwick Hack & Proud, have a good christmas watching the tele, while the rest of us will be out working!
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If Newcastle are still claiming victory?????
Can we see some signs of this victory, ie chase all those Flimpers back to Berwick that work at A-Line!! (Newcastle), do you agree Andy Warhol?
All this victory parade, and the bandits are still at large!!!
I think Mr Savage should have had three Shredded Wheat before he went on Radio, A Red Bull or some strong Coffee!!, he reminded me of Commical Ali, from the last Gulf War, claiming victory when the enemy (Americans) were accross the road in Baghdad!
NOW NEWCASTLE IT’S BEEN A SLOW WEEK, CHRISTMAS IS COMING, GET YOUR FINGERS OUT OF YOUR ANAL AREA AND GET DOWN THEM OFFICES AND GET THE BOYS FROM BERWICK SORTED???..that’s if you did actually win!
NO POINT IN ASKING THE SWEENEY……..ALAN NEWTON(NORTH TYNESIDE COUNCIL) IS THERE?? ….actually he looks a bit like John Thaw!
Regards to you all
Stephen
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IMO Mr Savage came across as a typical jumped up council employee, refusing to acknowledge that the judgement was not “cut and dry” and judging by the lack for response to the Berwick drivers still working in the area, only backs up that its not the clear victory he is claiming because he’d be out there himself enforcing.
As for Alan Newton, I was part of the NTC policy review and the issue of Berwick cars was raised, to which his response was “there is no point us as a council doing anything as Newcastle are sorting it out”
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In my eyes ian shanks had mr savage backfiring,and it will all come out in the wash!
All i will say is keep your eyes peeled on the wrexham case!
Good luck to whoever needs it!!!!!!!!
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The reason that the Berwick plated cars are still in Newcastle,is very simple,they all know what the legitimate Newcastle drivers have known for years,Newcastle City Council couldn`t give a `….k about the taxi`s in town,and the only time they will do something,is when some innocent member of the public is either injured,assaulted or hopefully not worse.
This whole sorry state of affairs has come about because of NON ENFORCEMENT of the LAW,by those who should know better.
As Judge Symonns QC has stated,it is for local government to enforce their own bylaws,traffic laws and license conditions,NOT the high court.
Other areas do it…so why can`t Newcastle, is it a case of can`t,OR WON`T act.
Come on MR Savage,or Mr O`Brien,in fact Mr O`Brien along with a police officer,at our last meeting in town,told us all they were going to carry out `covert and overt` stings against these rogues….2 weekends….was that it!!!
Law enforcement is a 24hr,7 day a week,52 weeks a year job…messers Savage/O`Brien.
To finish…..a message to ENFORCEMENT…..please don`t piss us about gentlemen,alot of drivers,operators stand to loose their business if YOU don`t deal with this….You know what happens when an animal is trapped with its back to a wall……WE WILL TAKE ACTION….AGAIN….be warned….No threats gentlemem…..
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the way i see it is that the plate issued before the judgment have no change on them ! its only new plates that are be issued that will have the condition applied to them !!
anyway is anyone answering the question ??
if a gateshead car can come across the bridge into Newcastle and vice versa to do private hire work and north tyneside cars can cross the border to do private hire work in Newcastle and vice versa
would it not be correct that a northumberland car can cross the border into Newcastle and vice versa as we will all be neighbouring authority’s ?
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@ian shanks, to answer your question re:-
—————————————————————–
anyway is anyone answering the question ??
if a gateshead car can come across the bridge into Newcastle and vice versa to do private hire work and north tyneside cars can cross the border to do private hire work in Newcastle and vice versa
would it not be correct that a northumberland car can cross the border into Newcastle and vice versa as we will all be neighbouring authority’s ?
——————————————————————
i think everyone knows what the law intends and means, if the pick-up or drop-off falls within the licensed area of the vehicle doing the job then there is no problem. so please stop trying to look for loopholes in the laws to exploit. if you want to dominate the north east or the whole country for all i care, open offices in the appropriate areas and use licensed vehicles for the appropriate areas, its not rocket science.
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@joe king, hi joe, what happened the other day in shields re the police raid, i got the late edition of the chronicle and it was full of all sorts of stuff, drugs, offensive weapons, stolen goods etc.
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@Sam Harrington, dunno mate, you better ask bundy or maybe the ginger muppet, and the rumours about central changing their name to whiteline are not true.
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@ian shanks, it just seems strange that a berwick hackney plated vehicle that is ‘crossing’ over ‘this’ border or, ‘popping’ into ‘that’ area for a bit of private hire work now and then, isnt actually allowed (by blue line’s rules) to have the hackney carriage rates of it’s liscencing authority on it’s meter.a cynic might say that the the proprietor is, for want of a better expression, taking the p155.
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A Central driver phoned Berwick today to ask about applying for a Plate.he was told "call us back we're busy trying to find a way around the ruling!"
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The only things that have been decided are –
Newcastle cannot prosecute those using HC to fulfil pre-booked hirings in the toon, and it doesn’t matter where that HC is licensed.
Berwick have to pay half the costs of Newcastle.
Berwick are advised to rethink their policies.
Berwick are advised to lie about their policies to stop people from applying in the first place.
appart from that the ruling says or does F**K all.
waste of time and money if you ask me.
CC you mentioned Jimmy Buttons book, well I’d put it straight in the bin cause people in this game believe fiction as if it was fact.
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I asked the question previously on a separate
string but nobody answered.
Is a hack from Newcastle allowed to work out
of Blue Line?
I booked a taxi in the last few days and was
sent a Ncle hack. Should Ncle remove his plate?
Or is distance between licence office and booking
office relevant?
A BLT DRIVER – NO KWARMS ABOUT BLT JUST
ASKING A CIVILISED QUESTION – IT COULD BE ANYWERE.
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As far as I’m aware if the phonecall was taken in North Tyneside for example the fare should either begin or end in North Tyneside,I would think if the fare began in Newcastle and a Newcastle plated car came for you that would be ok.If the fare began in North Tyneside and the same car came for you that would probably be wrong but who knows! everything seems more up in the air than it was before the court case! Re: a Newcastle Hack working out of Blueline or a North Tyneside Hack working out of say Lansdowne I would say that was wrong.Reading North Tynesides Draft Pri/Hire & Hackney carriage policy which states “Operator,Vehicle & Driver must all be licenced by the same Local Authority” To me that says it all! I don’t know how anybody could interpret that in a different way.
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@NTH,So what will happen with the likes of taxicall? whomm have their office somewhere in the midlands i think?
Yet they use newcastle and nt hacks?
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@Pandora,
why should’nt he !! you got your car MOT in one area and driver anywhere in the country !
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TFollowing the handing down of my judgment in draft I heard Counsel on the appropriate form of relief that I should grant. In my judgment the appropriate relief, and the relief that I therefore grant, is by declaration as follows:
(i) In the proper exercise of its statutory discretion under section 37 of the Town Police Clauses Act 1847 a licensing authority is obliged to have regard (a) to whether the applicant intends that the hackney carriage if licensed will be used to ply for hire within the area of that authority, and (b) whether the applicant intends that the hackney carriage will be used (either entirely or predominantly) for private hire remotely from the area of that authority.
(ii) A licensing authority may in the proper exercise of its discretion under the said section 37 refuse to grant a licence in respect of a hackney carriage that is not intended to be used to ply for hire within its area and/or is intended to be used (either entirely or predominantly) for private hire remotely from the area of that authority.
(iii) In determining whether to grant a licence under the said section 37 a licensing authority may require an applicant to submit information pursuant to section 57 Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1976 in order to ascertain the intended usage of the vehicle.
Berwick will pay half of Newcastle’s costs of the action to be assessed if not agreed.
Note 1 Wilson No 1 paragraph 11 [Back]
his still confuses me but!!!!
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Also why cannot an out of area hack not take a phone booking?
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simple, berwick are acting inappropriately by purposely issuing licences to work from another LA. Like the judge says, it takes away the power of enforcement and saftey aspects regarding the car/driver from newcastle.
i think berwick will issue a statement to say that as of 31/03/08 they will ask where the liceneces will be used and not issue to people who wish to use them elsewhere. (as the judge said).
so i do belive they are here for a bit longer yet.
but come one people, none of you houestly believe it would be rational to go to a LA miles up the road for a plate and badge to work, in some cases, 100′s of miles away do you? You dont hounestly believe that it was acceptable to take the responsibility of the driver and vehicle saftey away from the LA that it is used in. You dont believe that citys such as newcastle find that it is safer to have a knowledge test to show that the driver has a basic understanding of the area he is working in, shouldnt be undermined?
and as for the supposed comments made by berwick, if these are true, it is disgraceful that they continue to try and undermine councils. I mean less we forget, berwicks WHOLE argument was based around that they thought they were legaly oblidged to issue plates to people irrelevant as to where they lived or worked in the country. And this was dissmissed by the judge whole in no cetrain terms they were NOT oblideged to issue licences to those that they know would use them elsewhere.
i just hope wrexham win and sort this out once and for all.
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Andy, once the Northumberland County council is in place and current drivers have to replace their badge what to stop them saying that they intend to work from Blue Line during the week, then at weekends they will work the ranks in Hexham,Blyth,Morpeth,Cramlington etc etc? which basiclt is what a few Newcastle hacks do now, only difference is drivers from Northumberland CC have more towns/ranks to chose from?
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sc, firstly no one is aware of how the LA of the Northumberland Council will proceed. Whether they will remain individual or join as one remains to be seen. They will probably remain seperate untill a later date as there will be more important issues on the NC agenda.
Newcastle should not be issuing licences to those that they know will be using them outside there LA, and I believe they will stop this practice.
You all seem to be wishing for further loopholes and ways to exploit the law. Yet you forget that Berwick will openly admit that there case was built on not that they did not wish to issue plates and cause neighbouring councils problems, BUT they were legally olbliged to do so. Now that the Judge has said to the contary (section 37) I cannot see how or why berwick would look to try and seek further ‘loopholes’.
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just some quotes from Mr. Wilson and the IOL …
… David Wilson, the borough council’s licensing manager, said: Berwick Borough Council has always recognised that law evolves and accordingly is taking steps to ensure that it will probably the first council in the country to address the issues identified by the judge.”
The council will now prepare a policy setting out how it proposes to deal with applications for licence renewals and applications for new licences by other people.
Once the council has a draft policy, consultation will take place with the general public, the taxi trade and other councils including Newcastle
to me that doesnt seem like a LA that wishes to cause further problems. Or do the Bandits read this differently?
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Andy, I am not looking for loopholes as I dont have a Berwick plate, but I think people need to realise that it not a clear victory as people are claiming, and if Newcastle expect other councils to follow the law to the letter, they maybe best starting to do so themselves, at which point this board will be full of drivers moaning about get warnings or even having their badges taken of them for not following the law to the letter.
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Also having just spoken to Alan Newton, he wished Berwick had won the case outright, so to force the government into standardising the whole trade across the country. He also stated the a he expects a North tyneside hack to be in North Tyneside when it receives private hire job, see how many drivers complain if they start to enforce that
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FAO Ian Shanks, As you are very keen to point out about “when Berwick becomes Northumberland” will you at that point allow your drivers who have a Berwick plate have the correct hack rates on their meters? because as it stands right now, you claim that hack drivers should be able to work anywhere as a private hire because they can still hack in their LA area, yet your lads clearly will not be if they dont have the correct rate on their meters! It also shows you done trust the Berwick lads not to flimp or rip off your customers if you insist they only have Blue Lines rate on their meters, yet let Newcaslte and North Tyneside hack have the correct tariffs and Blue lines on their meters
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Just to add to the last comment,no matter which area a hackney carriage comes from,as the law stands,as I understand it, the hackney must have the tarriff as laid down by his OWN licensind authority on his meter.
He may also have additional tarriffs on the meter provided that the extra tarriffs do not amount to more than the LA set tarriff,what ever that may be from his own area.
In addition,some LA`s,ie Newcastle,unless an Airport car,do not allow their licensed taxis to have anything BUT the council tarriff on the meter. Therefore,in the case of a 2/3 car job,with different plates in use,the customer is the loser.
Local licensing is for public protection and safety,not for the benefit of someones bank balance or to help circumnavigate the licensing laws.
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hey u lot i seen some bitchin in my time and yes!! i got plenty to bitch about. ffs the lot of u are acting like 5 year olds errrr no my 5 year old is more mature!! The fact remains there are too many taxis but greed and the genral attitude of all councils esp berwick stinks. God i bet my toliet waste pipe smells better, it is all about the money that is what pays bills divers are suffering all operaters cant see that. Can u read then!! nah nobody cares or gives a stuff until some 1 is killed or raped by a foreign driver. and this is what it boils down to customers want there service and could not care either most on there way home are drunk and want to go home asap so stop moaning and get back to work and let the big wigs work it out there will be winners and losers. NOW DO WHAT U THINK !!! i am sick of reading this cr@p
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If any one thinks the IS toomanytaxis why not sell your plate and work from a propper taxi office ???????? one day 1 man will have all the work mark my word that day will come .
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@FOXY GINGERBALLS, selling a plate don’t mean there’ll be less,there’ll still be too many, who would buy a plate anyway the games knackered! one day the offices will be knackered too mark my word that day will come! And Foxy Gingerbollock the man who will have all the work aint who you think it is!!
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I am moving to Cramlington in readiness for next April.
The nightlife is great – the shopping is excellent.
I might catch those two runners I had last year –
Bastards – I will find you for real!!
Anyone want a lovely semi in Wallsend with running water?
About £120k will cover it. Great schools close by etc.
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@Pandora, “The nightlife is great-the shopping is excellent”
You want to be a Hill Billy pet????, or is Ashington too complex?
The Cramlington I know is just full of Roundabouts and of course Manor bloody Walks!
You lot running to Hill Billy land won’t be alone you know!, all our foreign friends with Berwick Cars will be thinking the same!, that’s 700 new migrants from North Tyneside and Newcastle!, going to cosmopolitan places like wee Ashington and Cramlington for the Nightlife???????, their is a good few Blyth Valley hacks who can’t wait to get their teeth into their new residents!!!
Regards
Stephen
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“Anyone want a lovely semi in Wallsend with running water?”
FFS
An oxymoron surely
CC
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@Captain Cab, Is it not unlawfull to have a semi in wallsend or as mr shanks might say illiglalalityyyy
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John or John Dodds,whichever one you are?
I may be wrong but as far as i can remember it is stated on the newcastle meter certificate that as long as the extra tarriffs are below the current hackney tarriff,then it does not need to be added to the certificate.Have they changed their policy?
After all what about five star,lansdowne,they have different tarriffs.What about noda/metro do they not have a different tarriff?
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@ Big Silver…..perhaps not, but it should be
CC
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Admiski, Ian shanks will skip your question as he did when I asked, which just go’s to prove the whole Berwick thing was not for the benefit of the trade as he claimed, it was no more then a way he could get more driver on his books! if what the Blue Line drivers say is true, that would be an extra 80-90 driver, put that in to the way he thinks, that would be an extra £8000 to £9000 per week rent, more if they hire a car from him! so it no wonder he’s fighting the council every step of the way!
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@John,
john don’t be a knob all the time !! this is whats wrong with the trade , you all like making up nonsense and then go around believing it and adding more and more nonsense in each conversation
it has been explained in the past when i wrote my first article that i went to berwick for their obstructiveness of allowing a polish driver after several months of fighting with them. so read the facts
Blue line do not have 80 or 90 polish drivers (but wish i did) we have in fact for the record now only 8 EU drivers and 2 Russian, we did have as many as 14 at one time but some have returned home.
again repeating myself, my statement said after winning the high court case in 2003 and getting some Tynedale plates at the time to simply prove the point that this could be done, we then sat on this judgement and had no plans on doing anything about it until the obstructiveness of the council to the point where we had no choice to get this individual working. we reluctantly did this and many people have jumped on board of their own doing.
my views once this was done is maybe this could be a “TOOL” to get the antiquated laws reviewed and changed !
so read and know your facts and ask admin to give you the article i wrote before you like many other drivers wobble your gums in a attempt to make your self look good.
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@Ian Shanks, So mr shanks how many days did yiu go to the high court then was it the three or was it just the one ? you see you say it was three but your manager told me it was one ? dont you think you should sort out your owen office before you try to sort out taxi licencing law ? one of your managers told me you dont talk to paul irwin now why is that then ?
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@foxy gingerballs, During the Court case I read this site everyday and Ian Shanks was giving regular updates daily, So he was either there or did a good job of making it up!?!
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@CJ, Well lets see then hope your as quick to say sorry IF mr shanks tells the truth remember the making it up part !!!
The views expressed in this site do not necessarily reflect the views of TooManyTaxis or the general U.K. Hackney Carriage Trade@CJ, his manager told me he only done one day he says he done 2 now we all know it was not three like he says from the start told you all lets see wot comes out next ?
The views expressed in this site do not necessarily reflect the views of TooManyTaxis or the general U.K. Hackney Carriage Trade@foxy gingerballs,
i was in court for the first two days of the hearing and flew to frankfurt the afternoon of the third day but did not attend on the third day if it makes any difference ! but if you want to believe other people that may or may not know more about my life and arrangements you do so, as what you think about me is matter less. spoke to my mangers and they know nothing about your claims or have you simply been talking to a driver with aspirations of being a manager !!
i will go on to say in this game everyone looks after themselves and i should do the same myself, i have and do speak to other operators and have no problem in a joint cause to benefit the business and myself but don’t we all do that ? but as you have mentioned in a earlier post you feel i have fell out with everyone !!! would i care if i had ?? the answer is no, we have been around 50 years without the trade working together and i guess another 50 years will pass and the trade will still not be together ! this trade is full of envy and selfishness to see anyone person make a bob or two more than the next man ! but if people want to work and speak i have no problem.
anyway back to you !!! i would address your source of information, and lets not look at every post and use it as a platform to take snipes and cheap shots at someones entry’s.
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@Ian Shanks,
The views expressed in this site do not necessarily reflect the views of TooManyTaxis or the general U.K. Hackney Carriage TradeWhether you went for one day or three days, you still stood up for what you believed in and posibly still do, you want to remind your latest critics, that it should be Mr Savage from Newcastle Council that they ant to get their teeth stuck into, as you know when he was asked, Have Newcastle won?, he replied “Yes”, SO as I have said where is the evidence, I think folk should pursue him to see what he is going to do, because more Foreign Berwick drivers have turned up this week at the coast!!!!
Secondly if you have fallen out with a certain operator….Good, because he ain’t ever backed you on here has he when you have taken a barrage of abuse off us lot!!
Regards
Stephen
PS I think Newcastle Council should be the new enemy!!
@foxy gingerballs,
just spoken to Paul Irwin to ask him if had has had any issues we need to sort !! other than being busy lately he said not at all and hope to catch up very soon !!!
you boys have so much shit going on in your lives don’t you if only you could concentrate on real issues and make progress of some description rather than just “tittle tattle”
sorry for busrting your bubble and informing your so wrong !!
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@Ian Shanks. who said Polish drivers? I was referring to Berwick licensed driver, and as you have already point out, allot of the Berwick car you have on your books wont pass North Tyneside’s stricter standards,so I stand by my statement “it no wonder he’s fighting the council every step of the way!”. I hear your now advising your North Tyneside drivers to apply for a Berwick badge in case they need to rent a Berwick plated car off you? not really helping them save money are you asking them to have two badges, just saving yourself money by not plating car at North Tyneside.
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@John,
all our cars are to the same standard which is a VOSA test station standard that can not be avoided and because we have a large fleet of both vehicles and offer our owner drivers free loan car in the event theirs breaks down by holding either badge simply assures them of a car in the event of a break down !! it not obligatory
ps stop proving me right !! and stop being a knob
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Yet again Ian you only read bits that suit you (just like the council rules eh) I did not say your Berwick cars dont meet VOSA test standards, I stated allot of your Berwick cars dont meet NORTH TYNESIDE COUNCIL’S STANDARDS, but in case this is still confusing for you I am referring to, tinted windows, size of the car, number of seats etc.
p.s. didnt prove you right, just proved that yet again you only read what you want to.
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@John,
while car manufacturers build cars, the department of transport allow them on our roads of England and insurance company’s are happy to ensure them to do the job we do. North tyneside get them selves concerned that we the driver who has had a enhanced CRB check may all of a sudden turn into a dangerous person and take advantage of a member of the public behind some slightly smoked glass while styill driving the bloodly dangerous car, and you think they are better standards GET A LIFE !
i guess your car is a bog standard old wreck because you have obviously never had to buy a car for a long time ! you should not have to consider when walking around a car lot saying i can’t have that one because of glass and i can’t have that one unless i go to another authority such as Newcastle with my luxury JAGUAR
you ever thought its North Tyneside that may have bad rules and standards ?? which could lead to driver being force to go else where such as Berwick !!
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@ian shanks, which could lead to driver being forced to go to a place like Berwick?
If it wasn’t for the fact Berwick have bent over to be as accommodating as a lady of the night in Bangkok, do you honestly believe half the owners would have gone there?
If a person is aggrieved by conditions they have the right of appeal.
CC
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@Captain Cab,
i am starting to get board in constantly repeating myself
were drivers pushed or pulled ?
by this i ask were drivers enticed up to berwick or did they get pushed by unsatisfactory service or standards in their own ares ?
why do you think a driver would travel from as fare afield as some people have to simply licence a ford tourneo that their LA would not ?
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@ian shanks, you fail to answer the point Mr Shanks, I merely state that if a driver is aggrieved by conditions they have the right of appeal.
You’ve already used this right of appeal on numerous occasions, and with a degree of success?
In answer to your question to me, from the outside looking in, I would suggest it looks like no other reason than to circumvent licensing rules locally, with a degree of mischief on the part of the licensee.
I think there can be little doubt if a knowledge test were in place within Berwick, or if testing were local to Berwick, then the number of vehicles licensed would have been considerably less.
However, I see a certain degree of hypocrisy from others in this, Newcastle is over-run with vehicles licensed elsewhere on a weekend, and even during the week, it seems obvious this has happened for years and a blind eye has been thrown, yet as soon as a Berwick HC appears there’s outrage.
CC
The views expressed in this site do not necessarily reflect the views of TooManyTaxis or the general U.K. Hackney Carriage TradeFYI Ian, I have a 57 plate Mondeo, which I bought from new, but when i did by it I made sure it complied with the LA rules and didn’t go looking for loop holes so that I could save money and get a fiesta!
Maybe North Tyneside has got some things wrong, but Berwick’s “if it passes an mot it will do” approach is far from right, 6 seater doblo’s? Toyota Corolla hatch back? the list is endless, the public should be given a standard of car, that is easy to get in and out of, comfortable for the number of average size adults it is licensed for. Is this not part of customer service you keep banging on about?
The views expressed in this site do not necessarily reflect the views of TooManyTaxis or the general U.K. Hackney Carriage Trade
@John,
i don’t think i have any of the vehicles you refer to ? and as a operator will buy and use cars that i feel my customers deserve.
in some cases i could criticize councils for licensing some old sheds that are dated and tired but they do. if customers where to make a issue then i would obviously consider their concerns. but for a council to refuse tinted glass in the interest of public safety is a bloody insult to this trade !! what to they think us drivers are going to be up for f–k sake ?
remember the council are civil servant there to assist us and guide us in the running of our businesses not laying down the law a preventing us from doing perfectly reasonable things and forcing us to wait unreasonable times because of their restriction to have options !! remember the BEST VALUE policy the council were supposed to off the public !! they simply ignored it when it came to us and many other things because it doesn’t suit their way of operating !! is that fare ? could we just ignore things ! i think not
The views expressed in this site do not necessarily reflect the views of TooManyTaxis or the general U.K. Hackney Carriage Trade
@John, What about an individual who buys a car they can afford which may be smaller than what you consider a decent size.
Your comments seem to be aimed at operators buying vehicles but please think about how your requests may effect other individuals. A mate of mine put a Vauxhall Astra hatchback on the road and it met the minimum dimentions with literally millimeters to spare, and by the way it wasn’t Berwick.
Rules and Regs are there for a reason, and that reason is for the benefit and safety of the public NOT solely for the benefit of the drivers.
The views expressed in this site do not necessarily reflect the views of TooManyTaxis or the general U.K. Hackney Carriage Trade
So whats being said about the local authority who declares their standards are higher than another but doesn’t trust the drivers they licence to the point that they don’t allow darkened or even blacked out windows.
Does this not say more about the regard of a person fitness and propriety to become a licensed driver and if a person should be considered as such are the public not to be assured that by getting into a taxi or private hire car that the driver will do them no harm.
I suppose what I’m saying is that if a council needs people to be able to see into a taxi or private hire vehicle to be sure that nothing illegal is taking place in there surely they should consider whether the person who holds the licence for the vehicle and the person who’s driving it be considered fit and proper.
Seems straightforward to me …………. but there again common sense usually is easy and straightforward.
The views expressed in this site do not necessarily reflect the views of TooManyTaxis or the general U.K. Hackney Carriage Trade
Ian, you did have a hatch back Toyota Corolla working from your office and you have got VW touran plated as a 6 seater, which if an old person was to get, they would struggle to use the rear seats. The point I am making is just because a car is passed by the ministry to transport has passed it as safe to be on the public road, doesn’t make it suitable for the general public to use as a taxi, as you have stated you would like the to be a national standard like buses? buses have a very strict accessibility/emergency exit criteria, so if a national standard was to be put in place, it maybe stricter then the LA have now.
As for tinted glass, I agree, its a crazy rule, which was no doubt put in place before the CRB check.
As for passing old sheds. You must agree that just because a car is only a couple of years old, it doesn’t mean its in good condition, if its been used as a taxi from new its going to be worn out after 3-4 years, which is why North Tyneside test twice a year (I think Newcastle test 3 time per year) yet Berwick only test once a year?
I am struggling to see how the fare paying public benefit from any of Berwick’s rules? It seems they have in place to ensure public saftey
The views expressed in this site do not necessarily reflect the views of TooManyTaxis or the general U.K. Hackney Carriage Trade
btw Ian Shanks you still haven’t answered my question about Berwick meter rates, so I’ll ask it again.
As you are very keen to point out about “when Berwick becomes Northumberland” will you at that point allow your drivers who have a Berwick plate have the correct hack rates on their meters? because as it stands right now, you claim that hack drivers should be able to work anywhere as a private hire because they can still hack in their LA area, yet your lads clearly will not be if they dont have the correct rate on their meters! It also shows you done trust the Berwick lads not to flimp or rip off your customers if you insist they only have Blue Lines rate on their meters, yet let Newcaslte and North Tyneside hack have the correct tariffs and Blue lines on their meters
The views expressed in this site do not necessarily reflect the views of TooManyTaxis or the general U.K. Hackney Carriage Trade
Knobhead what is your point? you start off saying “What about an individual who buys a car they can afford which may be smaller than what you consider a decent size” then contradict yourself be saying “Rules and Regs are there for a reason, and that reason is for the benefit and safety of the public NOT solely for the benefit of the drivers”?
to answer your first question if you cant afford a car that is of a size that all passengers are comfortable in, then you should not by something smaller as the public deserve a standard of service.
The views expressed in this site do not necessarily reflect the views of TooManyTaxis or the general U.K. Hackney Carriage Trade
@John, My point is that I may well consider a 8 passenger seat vehicle to be of such a size as to properly deliver a service to the travelling public.
The fact is though that different areas and different companies have different requirements, my mate had identified that the majority of journey’s he undertook only had 2 people travelling and throughout the 2 years he ran the vehicle had absolutely NO complaints to him, his office or the council.
Dictating minimum dimentions is required, but we must then accept that where a vehicle meets those dimentions that it is suitable to use.
I’m not saying that your wrong buddy, I’m just saying that your opinions and values of working practices are yours and what must be accepted is that other peoples opinions are equally valid.
The views expressed in this site do not necessarily reflect the views of TooManyTaxis or the general U.K. Hackney Carriage Trade
Well i am not brainy by all means,but at the least we should all be allowed the same vehicles by the whole government of britain!
Ian Shanks has a point in when he says we should all be able to have similair cars etc!
SORRY FOR SHOUTING LADS ! BUT IF YOU LET THE COUNCIL WALK ALL OVER YOU,THEN WHAT CHANCE DO YOU HAVE!!!!!!!
The views expressed in this site do not necessarily reflect the views of TooManyTaxis or the general U.K. Hackney Carriage Trade
ian shanks why dont you take n.t.c to the high court if there are unreasonable!! and battle there with issues then. i have driven your sheds and some of them are a discrace and you did not lend me for free!! as some poor blokes insureance compamny paid 4 it through onhire i had to sign it and they charged his insurers £125 plus vat a day for a wreck that wernt safe to be on the road! as u dont know what is going on in yah own fleet of company cars i cant blame you personaly but the half yore company drivers dont give a toss!! it aint there car have you seen how there are driven!! you have not got a clue how they get ragged/thrashed to a inch of there lives all the time well some cases u do as they are written off when they crashed them or they come in more than often with brakes and tyres that needed to be replaced then u know who these drivers are coz they wont buy them.
p.s alan newton is a idiot we all know that and some issues can be resolved not all i rather deal with n.t.c than some tw@t in bewick or anywere else ian shanks u have the power with n.t.c with the drivers help but u pi55 us off so much we dont suport u as much as we wish because money talks we all have bills to pay time is short and i have a life like u ian i have kids and a wife to look after i do not want to spent more than 40 hours a week in my cab i think some of yore clientell needs to be looked at as in 45%anit worth pi55ing on if they were on fire the feeling is vice versa but i do the job to keep my family in bread and a roof over my head i am not looking to get rich i just dont want to worry about my bills .
The views expressed in this site do not necessarily reflect the views of TooManyTaxis or the general U.K. Hackney Carriage Trade
@mouse,
Do you kna wot it is eh????
We would like to see other Operators on here to discuss, challange or even abuse them!, but you cannot blame them when you BLT lot come on here slagging Mr shanks off, his business and his Cars!,
Why work there?
Why drive his Cars if they are so dangerous?
You know it’s no wonder Mr shanks nit picks his applicants, there is bloody good Lads & Lasses out there, that would maintain the image of his business better than you lot, but he is too scared to take them on, and I can see why!
Me & Central Parked get our opinion in now and then at home!, but we NEVER slag off Graeme day in and day out???
It would be grate to get a debate going with Mr Direct, Mr Eastcoast, Mr Battle Hill, Mr Lansdowne etc, because all these lot still want there Rent in this economic downturn and these ALL have Bandits working for them!!!!!!!!
Log on and go and work the Toon, their is a lot of NT coastal office Drivers that wish they could work the Toon all day!
YOU KNOW YOU LOT AND US CENTRAL LOT SHOULD STICK TOGETHER BECAUSE THE HACKS IN NC & NT WOULD’NT P155 ON US IF WE WERE ON FIRE!!
REGARDS
Stephen
The views expressed in this site do not necessarily reflect the views of TooManyTaxis or the general U.K. Hackney Carriage Trade
Mouse, I have disagree with you about the state of cars that Blue Line rent out. Last year I hit a young lad who ran out in front of me on the coast road, I happened to by a Blue Line loan car. As it was a bad accident (the lad wasn’t expected to live) the police seized the car to examine, the Police report came back stating “the car was maintained to the highest standard”. If you are in the position where a car Blue Line has supplied has an issue, you only have to take it to the garage to be put right. But as for drivers driving the nuts off them, its a sad fact of life that people tend not to look after stuff they dont own as well as they should
The views expressed in this site do not necessarily reflect the views of TooManyTaxis or the general U.K. Hackney Carriage Trade
try working in blyth valley the council havent got a clue
The views expressed in this site do not necessarily reflect the views of TooManyTaxis or the general U.K. Hackney Carriage Trade
@Captain Cab,
appeal is costly long winded and time consuming to a driver that needs to get back on the road and has to get the car as quick as possible !!
i have My reasons for using this route and have make that clear on my first article on this site which is now revisited
i can only tell you why others tell me why they have also taken this route but that was for them i certainly didn’t ask them to do it !
your correct if there was certain conditions in place as as did Eden Vally before we turned to Berwick as Eden Valley started to put some obstacle in place !! but they could have been over come, so it would not have ultimately halted this !!
The views expressed in this site do not necessarily reflect the views of TooManyTaxis or the general U.K. Hackney Carriage Trade
@ian shanks, is the phrase’get back on the road’ the correct one? because that implies the vehicle was on the road in the first place.
CC
The views expressed in this site do not necessarily reflect the views of TooManyTaxis or the general U.K. Hackney Carriage Trade
@Captain Cab,
sorry if i have to spell things out !
a driver needs to get another car for what ever reason as his earlier car is now wrote off, and the only one that attracts him is a titanium mondeo and its at the right price !
but the council will not licence it because it has smoked glass on the rear windows and it a top of the range model.
your saying he has the right for appeal !! he needs to get back on the road and has not got the time money or patience to fight a LA over a silly rule when it is the LA who is suggesting its us the driver who may put the public in danger
The views expressed in this site do not necessarily reflect the views of TooManyTaxis or the general U.K. Hackney Carriage Trade
@ian shanks, your dealing with the taxi trade, of course you have to spell things out!
I’m not disagreeing but pointing out the council policy may be challenged through the courts.
I would have thought a gentleman such as yourself with your undoubted knowledge of the system would pass on your beliefs to your local authority to iron out such issues before that need.
Your also suggesting in your post that a driver can afford a vehicle but not afford a trip to magistrates….£200? for magistrates and perhaps less if he’s a member of the NPHA and they think its a case worth pursuing?
Again, the point made is that some wish to circumvent the arguably more legal route on the back of an LA who has a guy running the licensing department who has a napoleon complex.
CC
The views expressed in this site do not necessarily reflect the views of TooManyTaxis or the general U.K. Hackney Carriage Trade