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Taxi Licensing in Wychavon

Applying for a Licence

Wychavon District Council licences both Hackney Carriages and Private Hire vehicles.

You can now download the forms you will need to apply for Driver, Operator and Vehicle licences by visiting our forms and fact sheets page.

Please note:  you will still need to telephone us on 01386 565016 to get a CRB Disclosure application form to make a complete application for a Private Hire/Hackney Carriage Driver Licence.

Taxi Newsletter

Up to date news and information for Taxi Drivers is available in our latest June 2008 Taxi Newsletter.  (46.29 KB)

Archive

• December 2007 Newsletter  (15.13 KB)
• September 2006 Taxi Newsletter  (177.07 KB)
• December 2006 Taxi Newsletter  (36.95 KB)

New Amendments Announced

Three amendments affecting taxi licensing have been announced:

Last year, parliament passed the Road Safety Act 2006 which contained two provisions affecting hackney carriage and private hire vehicle licensing:

• a power to suspend or revoke drivers' licences with immediate effect
• the repeal of an exemption for vehicles providing services under contract for more than 7 days

The amendments have arisen because of three significant safety risks which needed to be addressed.

Suspending drivers' licences

The Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1976 gives licensing authorities outside of London the power to suspend, revoke or refuse to renew hackney carriage and private hire vehicle drivers' licence for a number of reasons, including convictions for certain offences or for any other reasonable cause.

A decision to suspend or revoke a licence is however held in abeyance for a period of 21 days in which the driver may appeal to a magistrates' court, and subsequently until any such appeal is disposed of.

Section 52 of the Road Safety Act will give licensing authorities a power to immediately suspend or revoke a licence where they are of the opinon - which must be recorded - that the interests of public safety require such a course of action.

Repeal of the contract exemption

From January 2008, the historical exemption from licensing for drivers - and vehicles - hired under contract for not less than seven days is removed.  A large number of vehicles and drivers from this previously unregulated sector will have to be licensed for the first time.

Wychavon Considering Request For New Taxi Ranks

In March 2007, our Licensing Committee authorised a public consultation exercise about intended changes to our hackney carriage stands –responses were considered in June 2007 and it was agreed that changes were appropriate.  The changes will be made once our partners at the County Council Highways department are able to make their necessary legal changes.

As district council we license two types of passenger carrying transport: hackney carriages and private hire vehicles. Hackney carriages (taxis) can be hailed in the street, and may also be hired from a hackney carriage stand (rank). Private hire vehicles must be pre-booked by telephone or in person through a private hire vehicle operator.

Taxis have played an important role in our society since 1847. In our town centres today, hackney carriage continue to provide a service:

·During the day – for shoppers, visitors to our towns, delivery of young people to and from school, transport for those without or not wishing to use cars and so on.  

·During the evening: There are a number of late night entertainment venues and restaurants in Evesham and Pershore. Government views the night time economy” as being essential in maintaining vibrant town centres - ensuring that people can get in and out of the town quickly and safely is vital to this aim. Effective transport can quickly remove people from the area, avoiding potential conflict and reducing the possibility of noise or disorder.

Drivers rely on Taxi ranks to help provide an income. Since 1847 Taxi ranks have been a known place to go to hire a safe vehicle - with a fit and proper driver. Provision of ranks also reduces the congestion and pollution arising from taxis touring” areas waiting to be hailed, or waiting in inappropriate places.

Ranks have to be sited where they are convenient for use, easily seen and reached by people carrying shopping/ with children/ the elderly or infirm (otherwise they are a waste of time and effort).

The Licensing Act has come into force in recent years. One of the functions of the licensing Act was to expand the lifestyle culture of promoting more leisure time and creating the opportunity to increase opening hours of pubs and clubs.

Buses are not always available, or convenient. Taxis are an essential to the local transport plan: they are direct, and can reduce crime and disorder by removing members of the public in a quick and orderly fashion (rather than the potential for conflict that arises in groups of people late at night in the street, at bus stops etc).

We have been specifically requested by the local taxi trade to provide rank spaces in Pershore town, and at Pershore British Rail station (as well as other locations in Evesham and Droitwich Spa).

We are aware of possible highway layout changes in all three towns, and have involved ourselves with the discussions. We have proposed a number of alternative locations for stands, which will accord with the various highway layout proposals.

A new location has been suggested by the Highways Department, agreed with by the Police and welcomed by the Taxi Trade, to be placed in Waterside. This rank is only for two spaces and would replace the rank previously located at Merstow Green. This rank would be in an area alongside restaurants and takeaways. Further late night refreshment houses are located just across the river, a stones throw. It makes sense to have a rank in Waterside.

Members of the public leaving these premises would be able to get a cab and go straight home - rather than meandering through the Town late at night, possibly causing nuisance to residents as they make their way to the other rank in the High Street.

Day or night, a rank in this location would also be beneficial to the public as they would pay less for their journey, if they lived on this side of the river

The rank in Merstow Green was removed by the Highways Authority in order to provide a roundabout as a matter of urgency to protect the Abbey Road bridge. Unfortunately the process for removal of an authorised rank is the same as that for adoption – involving full public and statutory consultation and advertisement.

The changes proposed in Droitwich Spa are as a result of changes in the environment of the existing ranks, making them unviable. We will have to provide alternatives. Sue Gunnell will be able to provide specific details on request, on 01386 565016.

Disability Discrimination Act 2005 - Update

Since December 2006, people providing transport using taxis and private hire vehicles (transport providers”) have had to actively avoid discrimination against disabled persons and must make reasonable adjustments to services that they offer. These services include timetables, booking facilities, tariffs, waiting rooms etc. at taxi offices, airports, ferry terminals, and bus, coach and rail stations.

The Government has not YET required accessible vehicles (as at December 2007) but we would recommend careful thought be given when considering buying a new vehicle for private or public hire use. Our Disability Discrimination factsheet  (25.87 KB) gives more information.

Disability Discrimination Act 1995 - Taxi Accessibility Regulations - What's new?

Government is implementing the taxi provision of the Disability Discrimination Act 1995. There will be a rolling program from 2010-2020, setting standards for wheelchair access and a range of other features to help disabled people to use taxis.

Taxis in Wychavon will not be required to comply in the first phase - but guidance will be issued. Formal regulation may be introduced if the guidance is ignored.

We can provide customers with contact details for currently licensed wheelchair accessible taxis, on request.

Watch Out For Rogue Taxis

There are few complaints about licensed (or unlicensed) private hire or taxi” vehicles in Wychavon.  But new, clearer and larger badges are being introduced in response to comments that the badges previously issued by us are too hard to read.  We hope that the new plates and driver badges will make it easier for the public to identify properly licensed vehicles. The new vehicle plates have a clear licence number, registration number and an expiry date.  Drivers will be wearing a card with a clear driver number and photo.

The Licensing Team makes sure that all taxis, private hire vehicles, and their drivers are suitable, and are properly insured, before licences are issued.  Under no circumstances should people be accepting lifts from strangers in unlicensed vehicles. This change will hopefully make it easier for the public to make simple checks before getting into a vehicle to ensure they are properly licensed.

Private Hire Vehicles are different to Taxis. Taxis (hackney carriages) can be hailed on the street, or hired from a rank; they have light blue licence plates.  Private hire vehicles have to be pre-booked, they cannot be hired or hailed – they have yellow licence plates.

Passengers are entitled to see the driver’s details (photo, badge and number) and should make a note of them, in case they lose property in the vehicle or have cause for complaint following a journey.

Any queries please contact the Licensing Team on 01386 565016.

Further Information

For more information or advice on all these matters contact:

Licensing Unit,
Environmental Services,
Wychavon District Council,
Civic Centre,
Queen Elizabeth Drive,
Pershore,
Worcs, WR10 1PT.

Phone us on 01386 565016 between 9am-5pm, Monday-Friday
Email: licensing@wychavon.gov.uk