Views sought on taxi policy for area

Residents, businesses and visitors are being asked for their views on taxis which could see older and more polluting cars taken off the road.

Durham County Council is reviewing the policy relating to hackney carriages and private hire vehicles, drivers and operators.

Officials have launched a public consultation over proposed changes to the way vehicles, drivers and operators are licensed.

The council’s key aims in what it is proposing are to ensure the safety and welfare of the public and encourage environmental sustainability.

The authority is looking to revise its current Hackney Carriage and Private Hire Licensing Policy in line with the Department for Transport’s recently published ‘Statutory Taxi and Private Hire Vehicle Standards’.

Several possible changes to policy are being put forward for consideration.

The main changes that concern licensed vehicles, d r ive r s a n d o p e rato r s i ncluding a new policy on vehicle emissions and the age of licensed vehicles as well as any previous convictions and offences of drivers.

J o a n n e Wa l l e r , t h e c o u n c i l ’s h e a d o f c o m - munity protection, said: “The changes we are proposing are to make are designed to reflect the Department for Transport’s recommendations and as well as ensuring the safety and welfare of the public, we are also hoping that the revisions we have put forward will encourage environmental sustainability.”

The consultation runs until November 29.

For more visit www.durham.gov.uk/article/24130/ Review-of-our-HackneyCarriage-and-Private-HireLicensing-Policy