Taxi driver: 'The goalposts have been moved' (From Watford Observer)

Taxi driver: 'The goalposts have been moved'

5:07pm Wednesday 29th April 2009 in

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Private hire taxi drivers being forced to switch their licences to Watford from neighbouring authorities claim the “goalposts have been moved” as they “struggle” to make a living.

Drivers operating in the town have until Saturday, May 16, to transfer their licences to Watford Borough Council, or face strict enforcement action.

But they have questioned why the council wants to change the “status quo”, when there have been drivers registered with neighbouring authorities for a number of years.

Watford Borough Council, however, said this scheme was to create a “level playing field” among all drivers operating in the town.

Drivers who have only started working since February 16 are also aggrieved that this “fast-track” transfer scheme is not open to them, forcing them to apply from scratch. This means they will have to take the Watford "knowledge" test immediately, whereas long-standing drivers have one year in which to pass it.

They said many drivers are now considering moving to companies in the boroughs they are licensed with, or quitting the trade altogether.

Garry Clark, 50, who is currently licensed with Three Rivers District Council, said: “Watford Council have told us nothing. It seems to me that after eight or nine years, they're saying now we have to go to Watford. The operators are in an untenable situation. They don't know how many drivers they're going to lose.”

One driver claimed the cost of car insurance in Watford was £200 more expensive than in Three Rivers.

Another driver, Mick, said: “All we want to do is earn a living.”

Private hire drivers have also shown their support for Hackney Carriage drivers, as they both face dwindling trade in the current economic climate.

The delimitation of Hackney Carriage licences has seen a rise in the number of cabs at ranks across Watford, while the number of private hire drivers has fallen.

But those private hire drivers said they were not out to pick up fares on the streets, which would put their own licences at risk.

Mick said: “We're all feeling the pinch at the moment. All our work has gone down by half from what it was.”

Jeffrey Lieb, licensing manager at Watford Borough Council, said: “It means we have power in terms of enforcement. If someone gets a bad service from them, we know from May 16 drivers are only licensed by Watford Borough Council.

“It's for drivers working before February 16 because some drivers have been told to go to Three Rivers, get a licence and come to us and get a licence.

“We have got high standards for reasons of public safety and to ensure drivers operating in Watford know the local area.”

• A taxi driver, who has held Three Rivers licence plates for the past 16 years, has been told he cannot transfer to Watford because he is too old.

  Raymond Jukes, from Westlea Avenue, said his application was rejected because there is an upper age limit of 70. He is 70.

  He said: “Watford have an age limit but Three Rivers don't. I'm a fit man and I want to work. I'm just going by the rules of the country that you should have a right to work and nobody should say you cannot work.”

  Jeffrey Lieb, licensing manager, said: “It's been council policy for a number of years that that is the maximum age. There's no wish to change it at present but any change would be made by the licensing committee because it is a policy decision.”