TRANSPORT - TAXIS

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Derby Hackney Union has called for a demonstration against Derby City Council's rules and is urging taxi drivers to leave the city at 11pm and not return until 2am. Drivers of private hire vehicles are also being encouraged to participate. One annoyance by drivers involves the council's random spot checks which generally take place on Fridays and if a taxi is deemed not roadworthy then it is out of action for the weekend, their busiest time. Members also want to see a three-year freeze on new taxi licences because, they claim, an increase in numbers has damaged business.

Drivers are also calling for more taxi ranks, a reduction in licence fees and an independent complaints body so drivers can express concerns. Council spokeswoman Theresa Knight said, "The safety of passengers and drivers is of paramount importance and that is why we regularly carry out spot checks and require medicals. We have regular discussions with the hackney carriage and private hire trade and have discussed all of these issues with them."

The council stopped 66 Hackney cabs between the start of January and end of March 2006, temporarily suspending the licences of 25 of them. Another 23 were handed notices telling them to have minor defects attended to. There were 23 instances of defective steering, 17 of poor brakes, and seven of either damaged or bald tyres. Some vehicles had multiple faults. Councillor Margaret Redfern, who is responsible for the licensing of taxis, revealed that 39% of taxis stopped during spot checks were found to have faults. Drivers claim this is proof the safety requirements are too stringent. Or maybe it proves too many cabs are unsafe! (Source: Derby Evening Telegraph, Jul/06)

The Derby Hackney Union claims an increase in the number of licensed hackney carriages in the city over the past few years has led to less business for drivers and want the number capped. A petition signed by 241 taxi drivers has been handed to the city council. The number of cabs in Derby is now 305 compared to 51 in 1986. The union's chairman, Mohammad Saffaf, said, "I'd say my profits have gone down by about 25 to 30% in that time. There are too many taxis and not enough work. It's about supply and demand but there's too much supply and not enough demand. There are no spaces in the ranks." There are plenty of spaces in the Victoria Street rank every evening, but cab drivers would rather block the bus stops. (Source: Derby Evening Telegraph, Feb/06)

I have used every taxi firm in Derby and, as far as I am concerned, there is only one I consider reliable. I use taxis quite often. I know what I need and where I am going, but I am now at the stage where in my heart I am so angry with taxi companies. One company once refused to even take a booking from me because I had exercised my right to complain to the council about a very bad service.

My philosophy with taxis is, if you pick me up inside 15 minutes you are worth using and I won't say a word. However, if I end up phoning the company back when they have failed to send me a cab then they lose the job as well. As I said, there is not a company I can regard as first class except for one firm.

In Derby we had a taxi company called Pride Taxis. I remember their article in the Evening Telegraph, they were formed because some drivers were dissatisfied with other companies. However, for some reason, Pride disappeared and reformed as 72 Taxis. I've got to say 72 Taxis are the best in the business - their drivers know Mr Steele. I say "Taxi for 23.15pm please" and the controller knows it's Mr Steele. I give 100% credit to the company, they hardly let you down and the drivers are friendly as well. Kenneth Steele

A group of MPs banded together to fight restrictions on the displaying of the England flag ahead of Euro 2004. The Cross of St George is flying throughout the country, but a number of local councils have banned taxis from mounting flags on their cars. Six MPs have signed a Commons motion which condemns councils who are adhering to licensing laws to prevent flags from being displayed.

They say the moves are "crazy" ahead of the football tournament. Nigel Evans, Tory MP for Ribble Valley, led the MPs in their protest. Their Early Day Motion "deplores any organisation or local authorities which try to prevent businesses, organisations or individuals in their area from giving full support to England in Euro 2004".

One of the many companies involved was Smiley Cars in Margate, Kent. Reports suggested that the company had been contacted by the local council and told to remove St George's Flags because they broke licensing laws. However, the firm is still flying the flags amid reports that they could be liable to a £1,000 fine.

But Thanet Council, which covers the Margate area, said that it had not received an application from any taxi firms to have licensing laws changed. "We are not a council who has stopped taxi cabs, this is a law that has been in place for 20 years," a spokeswoman said. "We didn't set the law, we're abiding by the law and the law can change if we are approached. The taxi drivers can make an application to have it changed."

She said that if the council was approached over altering the law then there could be a change, but stressed that there was no specific rule banning the displaying of St George's flags. The licensing laws in question are concerned with safety issues. There have been similar situations in other parts of the country such as Greater Manchester and the Midlands.

The situation is not consistent across the country, with cabbies in London being allowed to fly the flag, while an earlier ban in Lincoln was reversed. Meanwhile, pub chain Arena has withdrawn a ban it had placed on flags being displayed at its outlets.