Despite a protest, Newcastle hackney taxi drivers have lost their battle against the council to keep the current taxi age requirements.
The Change
Until recently, standard car hackneys in Newcastle could remain licensed, as long as they passed a yearly MOT, regardless of the age of the vehicle.
Newcastle Borough Council had proposed to bring the restrictions of the hackney trade into line with those of the private hire trade, which currently sees cars retire once they reach eight years old.
Disgruntled members of the Newcastle and Kidsgrove Taxi Association then staged a protest prior to the committee meeting at the Civic Offices, on Merrial Street, but their concerns were overruled by the full committee as the councillors voted to update the policy.
Cabbies Won’t Give Up
Chairman of the Newcastle and Kidsgrove Taxi Association, and cabbie of eight years, Tariq Mohammed, has lashed back at the Council’s decision, saying it’s not the end of their fight.
He said: “We’re angry about the decision and we don’t accept that this is the right thing to do.
“It’s stupid that in our neighbouring city, Stoke-on-Trent, the policy is completely different in that hackney carriage vehicles don’t have to retire at a certain age as long as they pass an MOT and a suitability test.”
Job Losses
The drivers say the decision has been made far too lightly and the move will result in a lot of them losing their jobs.
Newcastle Borough Council said that the decision was made based on their duty to public safety but the drivers in the area don’t agree.
Taxi driver, Abdul Halim, said: “We simply can’t afford to replace a car just because it’s eight years old. A car of that age is not an old car and there is no reason why it isn’t safe.
“Times are already hard for taxi drivers. In this economic climate, people are taking fewer taxis and the council isn’t helping matters.
“I don’t understand why Newcastle Borough Council has decided to do this.”