Taxi Deregulation - Frequently Asked Questions

What is Taxi Deregulation?

The Council has restricted the number of taxis (Hackney Carriages) in the district since 1986 and this number was previously capped at 83.

The Department for Transport has said that this practice does not allow competition and should be discouraged unless it can be shown how it could benefit local residents.

Following extensive consultation the Council has made a decision to stop controlling the number of taxis from April 2008 and allow anyone who meets the new conditions to start a taxi business.

When will Taxi Deregulation happen?

The Council realises that the current arrangement of restricting numbers has been in place for many years and a sudden change may be disruptive to the taxi trade and local residents.

In order to avoid a ‘free for all’, the provisions will be phased in over the next 3 years with full deregulation taking place on 1st April 2008. New requirements identified within the plan will also be phased in for existing taxi drivers.

What is the difference between a Hackney Carriage and a Private Hire vehicle?

The main difference between a Private Hire vehicle and a Hackney Carriage (taxi) is that a Private Hire vehicle can only be used on set pre-booked journeys, arranged through a Private Hire Operator. This means that when it is working the driver cannot go to a Taxi Rank and cannot pick up a passenger off the street unless it is a pre-booked fare. Hackney Carriages can be hailed (‘flagged down’) directly from the street or hired from taxi ranks within the district.

All Hackney Carriages (taxis) are required to display an illuminated Taxi sign. On licensed cars the sign is fitted to the roof and the word ‘taxi’ is visible from the front. During hours of darkness all taxi signs are illuminated when the vehicles are available for hire.

Private Hire vehicles are not permitted to display any sign on the roof or have the word ‘taxi’ anywhere on the vehicle.

Will Taxi Deregulation mean a drop in standards?

No, as part of the Deregulation Plan new conditions have been introduced to cover such things as colour and type of vehicle, and training of drivers.

In future, all new taxis joining the fleet will have to be purpose built, or factory-converted in agreement with the Local Authority, and be accessible for wheelchair users.

They will also be silver in colour and clearly marked and the changes will improve the SAFETY, ACCESSIBILITY AND QUALITY of the fleet.

How will the changes affect me?

As a local resident, business owner or visitor to the district you will see improvements in the QUALITY, SAFETY AND ACCESSIBILITY of taxis and they will be more instantly recognisable and safer to ride in. Maximum fares will still be set by the Council but over time, increased competition may lead to a reduction in fares. Through the customer care policy driver training will improve, which will then lead to better service to users.

Will I still have a choice of vehicle?

Yes, the user will still have a choice of either a purpose-built Taxi (when the deregulation process is complete) or a saloon-type vehicle (Private Hire).

For more information on the changes please email our Customer Services Team or phone them 01562 732928