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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Drivers win taxi age court fight | Drivers win taxi age court fight |
| (about 4 hours later) | |
| A judge has ruled in the favour of taxi drivers in Newport, who challenged a council decision to impose age limits on vehicles. | A judge has ruled in the favour of taxi drivers in Newport, who challenged a council decision to impose age limits on vehicles. |
| A new rule had said Hackney cabs must be less than 12 years old, and private hire cars less than eight from 2010. | A new rule had said Hackney cabs must be less than 12 years old, and private hire cars less than eight from 2010. |
| The judge said Newport Council failed to consult properly, a ruling which drivers said would save jobs. | |
| The authority said it was "obviously disappointed" and would reconsider the issue "as quickly as possible". | |
| In a statement, the council said it would "amend our proposals taking into consideration the comments of the judge". | |
| "Our priority has always been the safety of people using taxis in the city and we will continue to tackle this matter," the statement added. | |
| The taxi drivers held protests about the planned age limit | |
| Newport hosts golf's Ryder Cup next year and the council was worried about safety, emissions and appearance. The authority said similar age limits are already in place in other UK cities, including Swansea and Cardiff. | |
| But Newport Hackney Drivers Association had said the move would have put many of its members out of business. | But Newport Hackney Drivers Association had said the move would have put many of its members out of business. |
| The association claimed 59 of the current 135 Hackney drivers in the city would be put out of business by the rule change. | The association claimed 59 of the current 135 Hackney drivers in the city would be put out of business by the rule change. |
| Back in March a demonstration was staged in the city centre over the planned changes. | Back in March a demonstration was staged in the city centre over the planned changes. |
| Before the hearing, association chairman Lionel Morris said they had to fight the decision. | Before the hearing, association chairman Lionel Morris said they had to fight the decision. |
| I can understand why the council is trying to give the city a good image Lionel Morris, Newport Hackney Drivers Association | |
| He said it costs about £20,000 to buy a three-year-old cab and, with the recession, many members could not afford that. | He said it costs about £20,000 to buy a three-year-old cab and, with the recession, many members could not afford that. |
| Mr Morris said he could not afford to buy a new cab himself. | Mr Morris said he could not afford to buy a new cab himself. |
| "But to be honest with you, you don't put image first in front of 230 hackney drivers' livelihood. | "But to be honest with you, you don't put image first in front of 230 hackney drivers' livelihood. |
| "If at least 60% of our drivers are going to lose their jobs because of this imposing of age limit, purely because of the Ryder Cup, then that's not a sensible thing for the council to do." | "If at least 60% of our drivers are going to lose their jobs because of this imposing of age limit, purely because of the Ryder Cup, then that's not a sensible thing for the council to do." |
| The city's taxis are already subject to a strict regime of testing every six months and can face random inspections as well. | The city's taxis are already subject to a strict regime of testing every six months and can face random inspections as well. |
| Ageing fleet | Ageing fleet |
| The judicial review was heard at the High Court in Cardiff last Friday. | The judicial review was heard at the High Court in Cardiff last Friday. |
| Ruth Stockley for Newport council told the previous hearing that safety was a priority, and it is a reasonable assumption that as a vehicle gets older it will need more maintenance to keep it in a safe condition. | Ruth Stockley for Newport council told the previous hearing that safety was a priority, and it is a reasonable assumption that as a vehicle gets older it will need more maintenance to keep it in a safe condition. |
| The council is also concerned that its fleet of taxis is ageing and that this could pose problems. | The council is also concerned that its fleet of taxis is ageing and that this could pose problems. |
| The judge Mr Justice Beatson had decided to reserve his judgement for a week. | The judge Mr Justice Beatson had decided to reserve his judgement for a week. |
| The drivers' association said they were relieved and were happy to talk to the council, but would fight any attempt to introduce the ban. | The drivers' association said they were relieved and were happy to talk to the council, but would fight any attempt to introduce the ban. |