11:30am Friday 14th March 2008
By Lucy Richardson
A FRUSTRATED taxi driver is demanding to know why cabs licensed in Berwick are still able to touting for trade in Darlington.
George Jenkinson said business for the town's cabbies was suffering from the influx of private hire taxis with plates from Berwick, where licence fees cost half as much.
He said: "There is a loophole in the law. There are about five new cars appearing with a Berwick-upon-Tweed licence each week and the problem has been going on for a year."
The cost to test and license a private-hire taxi and driver in Darlington for a 12-month period cost £529 last year, but only £258 in Berwick.
But the law states that as long as the taxi remains for private hire use only the licence is transferable anywhere in the country.
He said: "We have been told that there is a loophole in the law as drivers can get a much cheaper licence in Berwick.
"These cars are not DSA (Driving Standards Agency) tested and cars are not up to scratch.
What is taking Darlington Borough Council so long to act on this, our livings are at stake. They have taken away lots of our business."
Mr Jenkinson added: "We are not the only ones angry about this, it is effecting taxi drivers in Derwentside and Newcastle too.
"The issue is being sent to the High Court but it has been adjourned and adjourned."
A Darlington Borough Council spokesman said licensed Hackney carriages could collect private hire bookings anywhere in the country.
He added: "We have no authority over vehicles licensed by other councils but, if they do something illegal in Darlington, such as picking up unbooked fares, we can prosecute the driver.
"Newcastle City Council has been granted permission to judicially review Berwick Council for granting licenses to vehicles that are only being used outside of the Berwick district and we have written a letter of support for this action. We await the hearing."
In August last year Ace Cars, a local taxi firm, had its licence revoked by Darlington councillors who ruled that the firm was jeopardising public safety by licensing some of its taxis with Berwick-upon-Tweed Borough Council.
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