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Widespread anger over Northampton council plan to axe roof lights from private hire vehicles
Northampton drivers are up in arms about council plans to remove roof lights from private hire vehicles.
The letter states: “The private hire trade representatives are completely dismayed with the proposals for signage, which would appear to be a requirement for NSL to install multiple signs on the interior and exterior of each private hire vehicle following the inspection.”
The LPHCA letter argues that adding more signage will be counter-productive. “It has long been an accepted view that adding signage to private hire vehicles will confuse the public, narrow the gap between Taxi and
Private Hire, and lead to illegal and dangerous activity by those seeking to exploit that confusion. It is clear there is a lot of anger being expressed that we feel will lead to issues for TfL TPH in the future.”
The letter concludes: “At this stage we feel urgent dialogue is needed, so we can calm the industry down and give you time for reflection on what we put forward in the consultation, which, with respect, seems to have been completely ignored.”
Martin Cox of Gerrards Chauffeurs said TfL was failing to recognise that chauffeur operators had different requirements to basic private hire vehicles: “We run vehicles now costing £120,000, and they will from next July look like regional taxis.”
Cox continued: “TfL is standardising Private Hire and we are being downgraded. We need a Chauffeur license in London. We need to create our own voice, or we just sit on our backsides and become tacky and full of nonsense signs.”
West Northants Council recently approved a policy that all licensed private hire vehicles must display door signs instead of roof signs from April 1. The change is likely to affect more than 800 drivers in West Northamptonshire.
A council spokeswoman said: “This will ensure that it is easier for people to differentiate between taxis and private hire vehicles, and ensure it is clear that vehicles are licensed by WNC.”
“There will be a transitional period to allow for this change for those that currently have roof signs. WNC will work with the trade and the local community to raise awareness of this change and what to look out for.”
But one private hire driver told a local newspaper that the new rules were “ludicrous”, claiming the roof lights were a help to public safety, and that magnetic signs on taxi doors could be stolen and attached to any car.
And he said the roof light made it easier to spot the car at night. “If I’m going to an airport or a concert, even if they say it’s illegal, I’ll put my ‘bubble’ back on my vehicle because I don’t want to be waiting hours for somebody to come out and not be able to find me,” the driver said.
The WNC move is in line with national licensing guidelines that suggest only street-hailable hackney licensed taxis should have roof lights, while PHVs should not.
The private hire driver said: “I just find it ludicrous that 850-odd cab people have got to get rid of the yellow bubble, which does the job perfectly fine, to put this flimsy magnetic strip on. It just doesn’t make sense. I just don’t know what to think in this industry at the moment.
“I don’t see why they couldn’t just buy 50 bubbles, which I think are £55 each, for the taxis without.
“Like most things with the council, they just do what they want. You’re dealing with people who know nothing about business. I doubt any councilors know anything about the private hire and taxi business.”
