By Peter Tremayne
Many of Cornwall’s taxi drivers are up in arms over a County Hall plan to scrap the limit on licences.
Tomorrow’s (Tuesday’s) full council meeting will be asked to vote on a recommendation intended to impose a degree of consistency across Cornwall and encourage greater competition in some areas. But the meeting will first have to hear 10 public questions about the plan, which existing taxi drivers fear could put them out of business.
Some taxi drivers fear the council's proposals will lead to a scramble for pick-up spaces.
Cornwall has different rules for taxis in different areas, stemming from the former district councils which were abolished in 2009. There are no limits on licences in the former North Cornwall, Caradon and Kerrier areas, but long-established taxi firms in Restormel, Carrick and Penwith have continued to enjoy a degree of council protection.
Cornwall’s policy towards taxi firms has for decades been likened to a “Wild West” with no particular logic, rhyme or reason as to why the number of licences should be limited in Newquay but not in Padstow. Last year the council conducted another of its “Let’s Talk” consultation exercises seeking the views of members of the public and taxi drivers.
In December Cornwall Council’s miscellaneous licencing committee met, in secret, to consider changes. Minutes of that meeting record the decision to scrap the limit on licences in Restormel, Carrick and Penwith. It is this proposal which comes before the full council tomorrow.
But among the public questions to be heard are:
“Are you aware that only 91 members of the public were involved in the public portion of the survey, which means that
