Write a commentA large number of taxi operators from the Newry, Mourne and Down area have expressed concern at the lack of information being provided to the public about major changes to taxi regulations that have come into force in recent months.
Taxi companies in the area are calling for the creation of a local association of taxi operators who can lobby much more effectively with the DFI to improve the implementation of the new rules and ensure that the aim of them is achieved – the removal of illegal taxis from the roads to allow the public to feel safe and secure knowing their taxi if fully compliant with all regulations.
Despite the Taxis Act (Northern Ireland) dating from 2008, the raft of new rules have only been introduced since 31st May 2016 and have left many in the industry confused, let alone customers according to the operators in the Newry area.
“The Department For Infrastructure, DFI, is a newly formed department at Stormont and has had to pick up and run with the legislation that was created by the now-defunct Department of the Environment, DoE. They are only getting to grips with it themselves and it is understandable that they have not been as proactive with promoting the new rules to the public as we would have liked to have seen.” Said a representative, who added:
‘The problem for the taxi industry is that we want to provide the best service we can to meet the demand, but we want the public to know that the changes are coming about because the government has laid out new requirements in a number of areas. Most importantly there are different requirements in relation to using taxi meters and the fares being charged. The cost to meet the new regulations have to be passed on to the customers and whilst we will do all that we can to keep fares competitive it will not be possible to keep fares the same.’
The spokesman also pointed to new rules in relation to applying for a taxi driving licence as further increasing pressure on a industry which is struggling through ‘red-tape’ to meet the needs of customers.
‘When you have a situation where demand is greater than supply, especially at peak times such as rush-hour and pub-closings, the customers are rightly frustrated at how long it can take to get a car to them. We want to have more drivers and vehicles on the road serving the needs of the public which is especially important in the rural communities in the Newry, Mourne and Down Council area. However, rules that push up running costs and make it harder to recruit and keep drivers will only make the situation worse rather than better.’
