THE increase in testing fees for taxis and private hire vehicles, which Bolton Council's Licensing Unit wants to introduce, is an increase which is necessary if it is to provide the service needed for the industry.
The increase equates to less than 10p a day, which is not much if you consider that this will mean that private hire vehicles will be able to be tested within 36 hours of booking in for a test.
At present, the waiting list can be well over three weeks. This is, in my opinion, and the opinion of a great deal of others within the industry, unacceptable.
Officers and councillors on the licensing sub-committee wanted to increase the fees so that it could open the second bay at the test centre on Wellington Street on a permanent basis. A move like this would have been welcomed by the majority of drivers of private hire and black cabs.
The increase wouldn't have cost any driver a penny because, as a self employed person, it is a tax deductible item. In addition to this, the council also scrapped the need for private hire and black cabs to be steam-cleaned 24 hours before the test which, in itself, saved them at least £15 per test, which, with my maths, equates to a reduction in costs, not an increase in costs.
I think it is about time that the whole industry was cleaned up. We have too many vehicles which are sub-standard. We need to do as some other authorities in Greater Manchester have done and introduce a ruling that, once a vehicle is five years old it will not be allowed to be licensed as a taxi or private hire vehicle. This will allow the council to get rid, once and for all, of vehicles which don't give passenger comfort, passenger safety, and look good on the road.
Some owners of taxis and private hire vehicles are giving our industry a bad name. The majority of drivers are in the business to make money and provide a good service for the people of Bolton.
I hope that the taxi and private hire drivers of this town realise that this council is trying to improve the service provided, not make it worse. They are accountable to the ratepayers of Bolton, and cannot make a loss.
I wouldn't expect this service to be subsidised by the rate payers of Bolton in any way.
Private hire and black cab drivers have a duty to the public they transport to provide a professional service. We should try to be the best in Greater Manchester.
Sean Hornby
Marsh Road
Bolton
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