THIS
IS A COPY OF THE EMAIL WE DID SEND TO WEST LOTHIAN COUNCIL
LICENCE COMMITTEE ASKING FOR ASNWERS AS SOON AS WE RECIVED IT WE WILL
PUBISH IT
DATE 10/01/2010
Dear Sir/Madam
this message from cab drivers association under west lothian cab
.co.uk asking for further information and answers to the following
concern
WHY DID WEST LOTHIAN ONLY CHOOSEN THESE KIND AND MODEL OF THE NEW
APPROVED TAXI
WHEN THERE IS FAR MUCH CHEAPER CARS WITH SAME HIGHT AND THE CO2 EMISSION LESS OR SIMILAR TO THE NEW APPROVED TAXIS.
QUSTION WEST LOTHIAN LICENCE COMMITTEE NEEDS TO ANSWERS
1-WHY ALL OF THE APPROVED CARS ARE NEW MODELS AND VERY EXPENSIVE
AND WHY THE COUNCIL GIVING 5 YEARS TO THE OLD TAXI TO BE CHANGED
TO THE NEW TAXI MODEL AND MAKES , IT IS TOTALLY UNFAIR TERM AND
GIVING A VERY CLEAR MESSAGE TO ALL TAXI DRIVER TO REMAIN RENTING THE
TAXI PLATS
2-IS REAR WHEELCHAIR ACCESS IS NOT MORE COMFORTABLE AND EASIER FOR
THE DISABLE PEOPLE THAN THE SIDE ACCESS AND ALSO AS SAFE AS SIDE
ACCESS
3-WHERE IS THE EXAMPTION POLICY FOR DRIVER WHO CAN'T CARRY
WHEELCHAIR
WHEN ALL THE NEW TAXIS WILL BE ONLY WHEELCHAIR ACCESSABLE
4-IF ALL THE NEW APPROVED TAXIS HAS A VERY HIGH STEP SO WHAT
ABOUT THE OLDERY PEOPLE WHO CAN'T CLAIM UP ,TOO MANY OLDERY PEOPLE
ASKING FOR SMALL SALON CARS AS THEY CAN'T GET IN ON SIMILAR NEW
APPROVED TAXIS
5-IN THE RECENT SURVEY BY WEST LOTHIAN COUNCIL POINT TO THE TAXI
DRIVERS WHO CAN'T SPEEK ENGILSH HSOULDN'T ENGLISH BE ONE OF THE MAIN
TERM OF NEW TAXI POLICY
Finally keeping the old taxi as it is without any change or
enforcement until 2015 it is totally unfair regardless about that
legal issue and the message is very clear about it ,in such a case I
am asking the licence committee if they insists to only approved the
new make and models for new taxis then it must be enforcement to
every one no whit or black all the same ,hope my message are clear
Kind Regards
cab drivers association
WE HAVE RECIVED A QUICK REPOSND BY
ON 12/01/2010 THANK YOU
To Cab Drivers Association
The answers to the questions raised in your recent e mail are as follows
-
1. Following extensive consultation the Council has recently reviewed
its policy on suitable vehicles for use as taxis. I enclose a copy of
the committee report where all the issues are covered. There is no
requirement for taxi vehicles to be a particular age however, the new
policy requires particular vehicles to be licensed which must be side
loading and to meet an accessibility standard.
2. Rear loading access - safety and accessibility issues were raised
about this at the Hire Car Consultative Group (HCCG). Please see the
report for the details.
3. Drivers can apply for an exemption on medical grounds from assisting
wheelchair passengers. These exemptions are statutory and therefore
apply to all drivers within Scotland and are not affected by Council
policy. If an exemption certificate is granted following a medical
examination that driver is exempt from having to assist wheelchair
passengers but this exemption does not apply to the vehicle.
4. In addition to all new taxi vehicles requiring to have retractable
steps they all must have grab handles to assist the ambulant disabled or
passengers with mobility problems. In making changes to the requirements
for hire cars the Council accepts that not all passengers will be able
to access the new taxi vehicles. A small number of passengers travelling
within wheelchairs may require to book a tail lift vehicle from within
the PHC fleet and a number of passengers may prefer to book a saloon PHC
rather than a taxi. It is hoped that taxi drivers will assist and
encourage passengers to use the new taxi vehicles where possible and
give elderly people in particular the confidence to use the steps and
grab rails safely. The Council is currently reviewing training
requirements for drivers and the HCCG will be looking at introducing
mandatory disability awareness training for all drivers.
5. The HCCG in reviewing training requirements will also be shortly
looking at introducing customer awareness training which will address
communication issues.
You will note from the enclosed committee report that the Council has
set up the HCCG to discuss hire car issues and report back to the
Council. There are representatives on that group from the 3 local hire
car trade associations. In order to be considered for inclusion in the
group as a hire car trade association your association must be a
properly constituted association with a constitution and elected office
bearers and represent a significant number of drivers or owners. If you
wish your association to be recognised by the Council please supply me
with a copy of your constitution, your membership list and minutes from
your last meeting in order that this ma
y be considered.
