Taxi drivers in Lincoln fear they will be thousands of pounds out of pocket after being told they need to take a college course or risk losing their licence.
The City of Lincoln Council wants drivers to take a BTEC qualification covering customer care, public protection, health and safety and routes and fares.
But some drivers say they will lose money because they will have to take a week off work to complete the course.
Taxi driver Helen Glover told the Echo: “My partner and I who are both taxi drivers in Lincoln have just been informed that the council are making us do a BTEC course that will cost £240 each.
“This is for all taxi drivers. Also it is a total of 35 hours so that will be a week off work to do this course - that’s in excess of £400 each.
“My partner has been doing this job for nearly 40 years and I can safely say he knows the job and don’t think he needs a bit of paper to say he can.
“I have worked with the public for 30 years and been driving a private hire vehicle for over eight.
“We already have a CRB check and driving licences checked and cars mot’ed twice a year.
“Insurance is expensive and now if we don’t do this course we won’t be able to renew our badges.
“If this course was done online or free it would still rile us bit if you worked in a supermarket and they wanted you to do extra training they would pay for it so why not the council?”
Another taxi driver said that he did an NVQ a few years ago which has made absolutely no difference to how he drives or deals with the public.
Councillor Ric Metcalfe, leader of the City of Lincoln Council, said: “I fully understand the reaction of experienced taxi drivers.
“The council has an important role in public protection. Everybody who gets in a taxi needs to know they’re getting a good and consistent service.
“This is really about training arising from new risks that councils across the country are being more aware of.
“One of the modules is about safeguarding children. Taxi drivers have a year in which to complete the course, and it should be possible to complete it without loss of earnings.”
From March 7, it will become council policy that all drivers must have the BTEC Introduction to the Role of the Taxi and Private Hire Driver.
Kevin Barron, licensing manager, said: “The City of Lincoln Council is committed to ensuring the city’s residents and visitors are able to use a service that conforms to a high standard of service, safety and comfort.
“The new policy takes into account the licensing requirements and experiences of other councils, and introduces extra measures required in terms of training and the qualifications required for drivers.
“The requirement for training will enhance the service provided to the travelling public and also the professional status of drivers.
“The BTEC certificate is nationally recognised, used by many other authorities and is locally available.
“We invited more than 500 interested parties including drivers and operators to give their views on the draft policy but just over four per cent chose to respond.
“These views were taken into account when a decision on the policy was made.”
source: http://www.lincolnshireecho.co.uk/
