Draft proposals on the future of taxi and private hire companies by Cumberland Council could ‘halve’ the number of taxis in the area according to a Maryport taxi owner.
Owner of Maryport Travel, Daniel Winthrop has said that the proposed changes could ‘put him out of business’ and leave drivers working for ‘less than the minimum wage’ in some circumstances.
The draft proposals state that cars older than 10 years old would no longer be allowed as taxis, a dress code would be brought in for all drivers, a penalty points system would be introduced for drivers and wheelchair users would be charged the same amount for a journey meaning that the time spent helping them into the vehicle would not be added to the fee.
Daniel said the proposed changes were ‘maddening’.
“These proposals have the potential to bankrupt me overnight,” said Daniel.
“The problem you've got in Cumberland is you've got folks like myself being Maryport based and there's 3,500 people in Maryport and not a lot of them use taxes so my income compared to say a Carlisle is a hell of a lot less.
“I've got a Ford focus as a taxi. It runs, it drives, it's never ever broke down and that'll be off the road next year if they pass the proposals even though the car is working perfectly fine.
“It's passed all its tests, which is three tests a year plus an MOT but then I have to take it off the road for no reason whatsoever.
I would then need to buy a new vehicle, so I'm going to need to go and spend another £15,000 on a new vehicle when I've got a perfectly working one then
“That means, in my eyes, basically what the council are doing is making me constantly in debt.”
Cumberland have said that the new policy would ensure that vehicles are ‘safe and accessible’ as well as ‘efficient and environmentally friendly’.
Daniel also said that dress code policy was ‘ludicrous’ and that if the proposals go through unchanged then up to half of taxis across the Cumberland Council area would leave the industry leaving a ‘massive shortage’ of drivers on the horizon.
Mr Winthrop also accused the council of attempting to put a ‘one size fits all’ policy across the region written by somebody ‘outside’ of the industry in Cumberland.
A spokesperson for Cumberland Council said: “The taxi and private hire policy consultation has been published in order to enable licence holders, a wide range of organisations and agencies, businesses and residents from across Cumberland to provide their feedback on a set of proposed principles.
“The proposed policy surrounding the age of vehicles across Cumberland’s taxi and private hire fleet is to ensure that all vehicles are safe and accessible for Cumberland residents. It is also to ensure that cars are as efficient and environmentally friendly as possible.
“The proposed taxi licensing policy aims to harmonise the three pre-existing policies from the former district councils.
“These policies vary in their approach to the age limit of vehicles. By harmonising the approach to the age limit on vehicles, the council aims to achieve consistency in vehicle standards across the whole of Cumberland.
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“The consultation aims to obtain the feedback of licence holders. Responses to the consultation will be reviewed at the Regulatory Committee and the new policy for Cumberland Council will be shaped based upon them.
“Those who respond to the consultation will have the opportunity to share their feedback on suggestions set out in the proposed policy such as dress codes.
“We encourage everyone to respond to the official consultation as only these responses will be considered by the Regulatory Committee.
“Any comments/suggestions submitted will be looked at and seriously considered.”
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