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Too much too soon for private hire scheme?
MBTC-18-09-12- Balal Shah. Bedford. Taxi and private hire vehicle association representative. Mill St, Bedford.
Plans to introduce a star grading scheme for taxi drivers have been praised by industry chiefs, but they claim other issues need to be resolved first.
Bedford Borough Council’s licensing sub-committee will hold a meeting tonight to discuss plans to introduce a star grading scheme which would rate firms based on a number of key criteria.
But this week Balal Shah, a representative of the private hire trade in Bedford, claimed that although the scheme is welcome there are outstanding problems that the council must deal with first.
He said: “They should be focusing on the issues in hand. Yes, this is needed by all means and we don’t disagree with this. But the issues that we have previously raised do need to be addressed before something like this.”
He added: “I think they are going in the right direction but we do need to resolve the previous issues before going to this level.”
Taxi drivers in Bedford are currently in talks with the council over implementing a single badge scheme. This would mean that drivers would not have to pay for three separate CRB checks to drive their vehicle at a cost of £68 each.
There are also concerns among drivers about safety, and the industry is currently looking at ways to implement CCTV cameras in vehicles.
A spokesman for Bedford Borough Council, said: “In order to recognise and support good practice locally, we are consulting on the possibility of introducing an awards or accreditation scheme, as a way of building respect for good service and quality operations by a taxi firm. The scheme could further serve to celebrate the positive elements of the taxi business. People can express their views to the council by October 19 2012.”
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Friday 24 May 2013
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