The limit on the number of taxi plates
permitted across Richmondshire is to be removed by the District
Council.
It will allow individuals and businesses to
have the number of plates they require without restriction. And it
is expected that the availability of taxis will be improved – with
the areas where they ply for hire vastly extended.
Members of Richmondshire District Council’s
Licensing Committee have approved the deregulation of taxi plates
from April 2012. Currently the number of plates is
restricted to just 65 – with only 61 of those in use.
Taxis do not ply for hire far beyond the areas
of Richmond and Catterick Garrison, leaving those in the remainder
of the district without a taxi service.
“Government best practice for some time has
been to deregulate the issue of taxi plates and the Committee has
now agreed to step in line with this advice,” said Councillor Jill
McMullon, Chairman of the Licensing Committee,
“The limit has created an artificial capital
market with plates privately changing hands for several thousand
pounds, at the expense of enhancing the service provided to
residents and visitors in the district. The annual fee
charged by the District Council for a taxi plate is £275.
“Deregulation will allow opportunities for
small businesses to be created at this difficult time for
employment, as well as improving taxi services for travelling
members of the public.”
Councillor John Blackie, Leader of
Richmondshire District Council, and Member for Hawes and High
Abbotside has welcomed the decision.
“It will result in taxis being available in
the more rural areas of Richmondshire for the first time ever, to
the distinct benefit of enterprising local individuals keen to
start a service, and their local communities and economies,” he
said.
“I expect that new taxi services will appear
in at least Leyburn, Middleham and Hawes, and the District Council
will respond positively to providing ranks if they
do.”
It will allow individuals and businesses to
have the number of plates they require without restriction. And it
is expected that the availability of taxis will be improved – with
the areas where they ply for hire vastly extended.
Members of Richmondshire District Council’s
Licensing Committee have approved the deregulation of taxi plates
from April 2012. Currently the number of plates is
restricted to just 65 – with only 61 of those in use.
Taxis do not ply for hire far beyond the areas
of Richmond and Catterick Garrison, leaving those in the remainder
of the district without a taxi service.
“Government best practice for some time has
been to deregulate the issue of taxi plates and the Committee has
now agreed to step in line with this advice,” said Councillor Jill
McMullon, Chairman of the Licensing Committee,
“The limit has created an artificial capital
market with plates privately changing hands for several thousand
pounds, at the expense of enhancing the service provided to
residents and visitors in the district. The annual fee
charged by the District Council for a taxi plate is £275.
“Deregulation will allow opportunities for
small businesses to be created at this difficult time for
employment, as well as improving taxi services for travelling
members of the public.”
Councillor John Blackie, Leader of
Richmondshire District Council, and Member for Hawes and High
Abbotside has welcomed the decision.
“It will result in taxis being available in
the more rural areas of Richmondshire for the first time ever, to
the distinct benefit of enterprising local individuals keen to
start a service, and their local communities and economies,” he
said.
“I expect that new taxi services will appear
in at least Leyburn, Middleham and Hawes, and the District Council
will respond positively to providing ranks if they
do.”
October 3, 2011