AN 11th hour U-turn by licencing bosses means the new age limit on Leeds taxis will drop to seven years rather than the expected six.
Hundreds of drivers packed into Leeds City Council’s main chamber yesterday to hear the controversial proposals debated.
After two hours of heated discussions, the panel voted by a majority to change the limit to seven from eight years.
Controversy has raged over the proposals which would have meant rigorous additional tests for cars over the new limit.
Many drivers said the policy would lead to additional costs, and said too many of the test criteria were unnecessary.
They also said Birmingham and Liverpool have higher age limits, and Kirklees and Calderdale have 10-year limits.
The tightening of the rules came after tests of hundreds of Leeds taxis found only 27 out of 115 Hackney carriages were fit for service and just 138 of 740 private hire cars passed a council MoT test.
The new seven-year rule was tentatively welcomed by some drivers but many insisted the new policy was unnecessary.
Bill Chard, from the GMB Leeds Private Hire Association, said: “People are not over the moon but it’s a compromise and it’s welcome. They listened to people’s voice and that voice has been channelled.”
Paul Landau, who chairs the Unite Leeds Hackney Badge Holders Association, said the council should return to doing its own annual MOT-style tests at its own vehicle licencing section.
During the meeting, Mr Chard told the licencing panel they were at risk of using “extreme measures…to combat minor faults”.
“It’s classic overregulation, like using a sledgehammer to crack a nut,” he said.
However, Des Broster, head of the council’s Taxi and Private Hire Licencing section, said the policy was about “sensible risk management” and “ensuring both the public and drivers are protected”.
Khaliq Ahmed, who represents the City Cabs Association and the Joint Taxi Council, said they still rejected the policy.
“There is no compelling evidence in this report that the safety of the public is at risk.”
After the meeting, drivers said it had been a “small victory” for the trade and “lessons should be learned” for the future.
Source: Yorkshire Evening Post
{ 1 comment… read it below or add one }
I’d wish to contact Mr Khaliq Ahmed regarding a matter
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