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Chaos as Leeds cabbies protest at meeting
ANGER over council plans to overhaul Leeds's taxi system reached boiling point as more than 500 drivers gathered to protest outside Pudsey Civic Hall.
There was chaos as hundreds of drivers tried to enter a meeting of Leeds City Council's Vehicle Licensing Committee on Monday.
Drivers were kept out of the meeting because they were told only 40 people were allowed in at one time. Anger boiled over and many drivers accused the council of ignoring national guidelines and making up its own rules.
The council wants to cut the age limit for private hire cars from eight years to six. But drivers say the move will put many out of business and they cannot afford new cars in the recession.
Many also object to a new compulsory college course for drivers which will test English and local knowledge regardless of experience.
Hackney Carriage drivers and private hire drivers have teamed up for the first time to object.
They demanded the resignation of taxi licensing section head Des Broster, who they claim is trying to push through the new rules and "ride roughshod over drivers' views."
Paul Landau, chairman of the Unite trade union in Leeds, said: "The Department of Transport wording is that cars must be in 'good condition' but they are setting the barrier much higher.
"The taxi trade has never had a voice that was allowed to be listened to and the council has ridden roughshod over us. But that won't happen any more."
Aurang Zeb Kabul, secretary of Leeds Private Hire Association, said: "Some of the buses in Leeds are over 25-years-old and they are carrying 52 people. There is a two-tier system."
Private hire driver Akhtar Hussain bought his taxi in 2005.
He said: "I can't afford a new car. I have four children to support, I will go out of business if I can't buy a new car."
However a spokesman for Leeds City Council stressed the proposals would NOT affect vehicles currently on the road and it it would ONLYapply to vehicles first licensed after July this year.
The spokesman added: "To improve safety for the public, the council is currently consulting with drivers and their trade unions on proposals to change the minimum age for private hire and hackney carriage vehicles.
"It would mean that once a new vehicle reaches six years of age it would be subject to an inspection to ensure it is safe and roadworthy.
"This has been sparked by the high number of licensed vehicles older than six years which have failed their inspections.
"No decision has yet been made, these meetings are part of our wide-ranging and exhaustive consultation with the very people who may be affected."
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Sunday 12 February 2012
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