Taxi drivers warning over accessible vehicle rules

Proposed changes to North Yorkshire's taxi licensing rules threaten to push drivers out of the industry, councillors have been warned.

North Yorkshire Council is revising its hackney carriage policies in a bid to increase the number of wheelchair accessible vehicles (WAV) and to meet equality legislation.

Under a draft plan, which is due to go out to consultation next year, the council is proposing to only allow new taxi registrations for WAV, electric or potentially hybrid vehicles.

However, one driver's representative warned councillors that limiting the type of vehicles they could purchase would reduce the number of WAVs in operation.

Ripon-based Richard Fieldman, who represents around 100 members of the North Yorkshire Taxi Drivers group, said: "Many drivers have already expressed that if this policy is adopted, they will simply leave the trade and seek employment elsewhere due to the constant restrictions you are putting in place."

According to the Local Democracy Reporting Service, Mr Fieldman said the policy would result in taxi drivers being replaced by drivers from firms such as Uber who are registered outside the county.

"We are already being swamped and overtaken by a massive influx of Uber cars in North Yorkshire," he said.

"They have a distinct advantage over us regarding licensing conditions and we must be able to have equal choice of vehicle over them."

Wheelchair user Ian Lawson, chair of the North Yorkshire Disability Forum's Accessible Transport Group, addressed the council's executive on Tuesday and urged the authority to do more to increase the number of WAVs on the county's roads.

He said previous efforts by North Yorkshire's local authorities over several decades had failed to address the problem.

"From personal experience and countless conversations with other wheelchair users, I know the devastating impact of this accessibility barrier," he said.

"Medical and dental appointments are missed, as are work commitments, and lives are stifled by social isolation, all because we cannot access a basic mode of transport."

Gareth Dadd, deputy leader of the authority, said he sympathised with both the taxi drivers and those who wanted to see more WAV taxis in operation.

"It's a really hard circle to square and I don't think there is a single solution to it.

"I'm keen for this to be a very genuine, open consultation where all options are on the table to be considered."

A 12-week consultation on the plan is due to launch in January.

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