New taxi limit fixed due to dip in demand

THE number of hackney carriages in North East Lincolnshire is to be capped at 220.

The council imposed a limit of 235 back in 2009, but has now decided to reduce that figure after a survey showed demand for the service had decreased by 27 per cent.

The North East Lincolnshire Hackney Carriage Association had asked for the limit to be set at 210 – the number of vehicles currently licensed in the borough.

However, the licensing and community protection committee voted to impose a cap of 220, with the condition that any new licences will only be issued for wheelchair-accessible vehicles.

The change will take effect from November 25.

That move was proposed in response to a drop in the number of wheelchair-accessible vehicles since an exemption was introduced in March this year for drivers with a medical condition.

According to a council report, 13 drivers have been given permission to change their vehicle for a saloon and others are in the process of applying. A survey carried out on behalf of the council by consultancy firm Halcrow found no evidence of significant unmet demand for hackney carriages in North East Lincolnshire.

Halcrow’s Liz Richardson told the committee that the number of weekly passenger departures had decreased from 11,000 in 2009 to just over 8,000.

She suggested three options for the council in the light of the findings:

Retain the current limit at 235.

Reduce the limit to 210.

Revert to the previous policy and remove the cap.

Dave Atkin, chairman of the North East Lincolnshire Hackney Carriage Association, told the committee that reducing the limit to 210 would be the most appropriate decision.

He said there had been a significant drop-off in passengers despite just one fare increase since 2008.

Councillor Terry Thurogood (Lab, Croft Baker), who proposed the 220 limit, said: “The number of wheelchair-accessible vehicles in the borough is declining and that is a concern.”

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