Removal of the existing five hackney carriage zones – revised proposal

Earlier this year we encouraged members to take part in a Consultation from Shropshire Council regarding the five hackney carriage zones. Shropshire Disability Network Management Committee also responded to it. We are aware that members who need the use of a wheelchair have experienced issues when trying to get accessible transport. 

On 3rd October 2018, Shropshire Council Strategic Licensing Committee agreed an additional period on the proposed removal of the existing five hackney carriage zones, and the application of a single hackney carriage licensing regime throughout the administrative area of Shropshire Council to commence for a period of four weeks from 8 October 2018 to midnight on the 4 November 2018.

The initial proposal to remove the existing five zones was based on an implementation date of 1 April 2019, with a two year transition period which would allow all taxi proprietors to operate their vehicles across the whole administrative area of Shropshire Council, with the requirement that all taxis are wheelchair accessible by 31 March 2021 at the latest. 

Feedback from the consultation suggested that the proposed transitional arrangements would give the taxi proprietors in zones 1, 2, 3 and 5 (who don’t already have wheelchair accessible taxis) an unfair economic advantage over proprietors in zone 4 who currently do have wheelchair accessible taxis. 

Officers have considered the responses that were received and as a result now consider that the original transitional arrangements that were proposed have changed fundamentally.

Revised Proposals: It is now proposed that any decision to remove the existing zones should still be made in 2018/19, but with an effective implementation date delayed until 1 April 2021.

This means that the trade will still have a two year transition period. However, all proprietors will continue to operate in their current zones until 31 March 2021. All existing non-wheelchair accessible hackney carriage vehicle proprietors who hold a licence on 13 December 2018 (the date the final decision will be made by full council) in zones 1, 2, 3 and 5 must replace their vehicle with a wheelchair accessible vehicle by 31 March 2021.

A copy of the full report considered by the Strategic Licensing Committee can be found at Item 7 of the Strategic Licensing Committee agenda dated 3 October 2018.

For further information including how to get involved click this link:  https://shropshire.gov.uk/get-involved/removal-of-the-existing-five-hackney-carriage-zones-revised-proposal/

Email address to send comments: taxis@shropshire.gov.uk

If you know of people who have no IT access, please tell them about this Consultation. Comments can be sent to Shropshire Council, Shirehall, Abbey Foregate, Shrewsbury SY2 6ND