The government white paper “A new Deal for Transport: Better for
Everyone” covers “Better Taxis” (outside London) in the following
way:
“Taxis are an important part of an integrated public transport
system and, together with private hire vehicles (PHVs), fill the
gap when most buses and trains have stopped for the night.
Local authorities will need to consider these vehicles in their
local transport plans including, for example, the priority they are
to be given when road space is reallocated and whether there are
sufficient taxi ranks in the right places, operating at the right
times of day.
It is important that local authorities use their taxi and
licensing powers to ensure that taxis and PHVs in their district
are safe, comfortable, properly insured and available where and
when required. Outside London, taxis and PHVs are regulated
by local authorities to check that vehicles are safe and that
drivers do not have relevant criminal convictions.”
The 2002 Annual Progress Report of the Local Transport Plan
recognises that a taxi strategy is required in order to develop the
integrated transport strategy for Bath and North East Somerset, and
makes a commitment to prepare one. This document presents the
results of the work that has been undertaken.
Taxis and private hire vehicles have a specific role to play in
an integrated transport system. They are able to provide
services in situations where public transport is either not
available (for example in rural areas, or outside “normal” hours of
operation such as in the evenings or on Sundays), or for those with
mobility difficulties. They can also be used to provide
innovative types of service such as taxi-buses. It is important,
however, that taxis and private hire vehicles are seen to
complement and reinforce public transport services rather than
compete with them. The Bath and North East Somerset Taxi
Strategy will ensure that the role of taxis is as part of an
integrated transport network.
In this way, it can be seen that taxis and private hire vehicles
can play an important role in fulfilling the Government’s five
criteria for assessing transport policies and schemes of:
- promoting accessibility to everyday facilities for all,
especially those without cars;
- improving safety for all travellers;
- contributing to an efficient economy and supporting sustainable
economic growth in appropriate locations; and
- promoting the integration of all forms of transport and
land-use planning, leading to a better, more efficient transport
system.
In addition, where taxis and private hire vehicles are able to
achieve higher occupancy rates than a private car, they also assist
in achieving the objective of environmental improvements.
The Government’s Social Exclusion Unit published a report in
February 2003 setting out the results of their work to explore and
make recommendations to overcome the problems experienced by people
facing social exclusion in accessing work and key services.
Taxis can be seen as an important part of the potential toolkit of
solutions. By working to improve the taxi system, Bath and
North East Somerset Council will be helping to address social
exclusion issues in the area.
By 2011 Bath and North East Somerset will strive to:
1. Ensure public safety through the continued review, updating
and adoption by Bath and North East Somerset Council of the byelaws
and local conditions applicable to vehicle and driver licences and
compliance with these by licensees.
2. Produce, distribute and monitor feedback of a taxi and
private hire vehicle information leaflet.
3. Seek to establish and maintain taxi and private hire operator
liaison groups with the Council to discuss licensing, training and
future measures, in Bath, Keynsham and Norton-Radstock.
4. Improve standards of driver training in particular in the
area of disability awareness.
5. Encourage an increase in the number of Hackney Carriages that
fully comply with the Disability Discrimination Act requirements,
and monitor progress.
6. Improve the provision of taxi ranks in Bath, Keynsham and
Midsomer Norton and monitor user satisfaction, to ensure they are
accessible, of sufficient capacity and safe for all users.
7. Make “cashing-in” of taxi tokens by licensees much easier,
and thus encourage all licensed vehicles to accept them.
8. Ensure that every major planning application takes account of
provision for licensed vehicles.
9. Investigate and promote ways to reduce exhaust emissions
together with the up-take of low polluting fuels, e.g. Liquid
Petroleum Gas (LPG), by vehicle proprietors.
10. Improve licensed vehicle safety.
11. Continue to investigate the potential use of innovative
transport schemes, and monitor the success of any
implementation.
12. Review Hackney Carriage fares annually to ensure a
competitive and attractive service.
13. To request a report which includes the legal position of
licensing, selling and trading plates.
Large print, tape and other formats of this report are available
from the address below.
Copies of the Bath and North East Somerset publications are
available for sale from the address below. They are also
available to read through the Bath and North East Somerset
libraries and on the Council’s website:
http://www.bathnes.gov.uk/BathNES/transportandroads/transportationstrategy/plansandstrategies/default.htm
We welcome your comments.
Please telephone
01225 477602
e-mail: David_Horne@bathnes.gov.uk
or write to:
Steve Howell
Head of
Transportation and Highways
Floor 2 South
Riverside
Temple Street
Kenysham
Bristol
BS31 1LA
