Joy for cabbies who get their way on old cars
TAXI drivers in East Staffordshire fighting to stay in business during the coronavirus pandemic have been given a lifeline over how long they can keep older cars.
They have been granted a fourmonth extension to how long they can keep ageing vehicles before having to replace them as cabbies battle to stay afloat amid as tread has dipped massively the pandemic.
Burton cabbies had pleaded with East Staffordshire Borough Council to grant them the extension due to the major downturn in trade, which has left many forced to look for other work or having to work exceptionally long hours on very low income, they say.
The council’s licencing committee considered their concerns which were raised in a letter and signed by 19 taxi firms across East Staffordshire, now known as the Burton Taxi Trade after forming an alliance.
The committee decided to grant a four-month extension. This is on top of the previous four-month extension they were granted last year which has come to an end.
Previously private hire vehicles must be replaced when they reach seven years old and hackney carriage vehicles at 10 years old.
One taxi driver, Mohammed Tariq said: “We appreciate the four-month extension. It is better than nothing. We were hoping for longer but we will take what we can get at the moment.
“It is a good sign so let’s see what happens. Trade is really suffering at the minute due to the pandemic. We have been having help from the council so we are grateful.
“We just hope and pray things will get better.”
From December 2020 to December 2021, a total 90 private hire vehicles and 26 hackney carriage vehicles would have needed to be replaced under the old licence agreements issued by the borough council, but now these drivers have a reprieve with older cars.
But taxi drivers have told how many have seen their workload plummet to 10 per cent when compared to January last year, before the pandemic hit.
Staffordshire Live readers took to Facebook to give their opinions on the plea.
Steve Culpan said: “I don’t think that the request is unreasonable as long as the vehicle is in a suitable condition fit for the purpose of comfortably carrying passengers safely.
“However, it not an excuse to keep a wreck on the roads.”
However, Mark Redfern said: “Yes get the older nails off the road.”