Source: Hartlepool Mail
TAXI drivers may be forced to pay more to stay on the roads if councils merge their hackney carriage licences.
Cabbies in Hartlepool currently pay more than £200 just to get on the road, but have been warned that their costs could rise steeply.
Councils across the Tees Valley are to discuss standardising their hackney carriages and private hire licenses.
Other authorities in the region already require expensive certificates such as disabled awareness training and NVQs in taxi driving that are not compulsory in Hartlepool.
Hartlepool Borough Council bosses say any changes could see more costs imposed on town drivers and fares, which are the second lowest in the country, rise.
Ian Harrison, principal trading standards and licensing officer, said: “This is a very important issue.
“If all the Tees Valley authorities commit to going down this line, what the result would be is a policy to create the same standards for vehicles across the area.
“But if we do agree to this proposal, we could end up increasing costs on the taxi trade.”
Mr Harrison, who was speaking at a licensing committee meeting, said the 600 taxi drivers in town currently pay £67 for their driver’s badge, £36 for a CRB check and around £100 for a medical certificate.
But he said any other qualifications could see them needing to fork out hundreds of pounds.
Councillor Ged Hall, who represents the Burn Valley area of town, said: “You hear from taxi drivers that they already struggle with the burden of legislation they have upon themselves.
“In principle it’s great to say that if we have a taxi coming from Darlington we should know what to expect, but there are so many issues that need to be considered.”
