All change in the taxi ranks (From Swindon Advertiser)

All change in the taxi ranks

12:50pm Wednesday 22nd February 2012 in News

TAXI drivers in Swindon will be able to use more vehicle models from April if proposals are approved by Swindon Council.

Since 1989, the council has used the London-standard vehicle specifications, from the Public Carriage Office, for the granting of taxi licences.The only two vehicles which meet these criteria are the London-style cabs and a converted Mercedes Vito van.

But today, the private hire and hackney carriage licensing sub-committee will be asked to relax the condition.

They will also be asked to impose a condition that all vehicles must be wheelchair assessable and be side-loading.

This would effectively exclude the use of most standard vehicles, but some people carriers and vehicles such as the Peugeot E7 would become eligible.

Tony White, the chairman of Swindon Taxi Association, said the association opposes the planned changes, although some people would like to see the Peugeot E7 on the roads.

Mr White, who intends to stick with his London-style cab, said: “I don’t think there will be a huge influx initially, but there will obviously be drivers who have been lobbying for the E7 and there are drivers who would like to get one of these vehicles.

“So it’s going to be an interesting few months to see what develops from the specification changes, if anything.”

The proposed changes, and the existing vehicle specifications, do not apply to saloon car taxis, which make up about 30 per cent of Swindon’s fleet.

Drivers started using saloon cars before the changes in 1989 and have been allowed to keep their old rights, even when they have changed vehicles.

Swindon Council will decide at a later date whether to ban the saloons or allow their drivers to continue using them until retirement.

Mr White said he would like the saloon cars to stay because some disabled passengers find it easier to use them.

Cabbie Max Walker, 64, said he can only drive his Vauxhall Zafira saloon due to a spine condition and wants Swindon’s saloon drivers to be able to continue using their vehicles until retirement.

Max, who has been a taxi driver in Swindon for about 30 years, said: “What I would like is to see the saloon cars remain for my benefit because I cannot actually drive a wheelchair accessible vehicle.

“Because of my condition, I need to drive a vehicle of my own choice and if they do decide to phase them out, obviously I will be unemployed.”