A Gwynedd taxi driver had his license suspended for a week after refusing to transport a visually impaired passenger who had a guide dog.

The suspension came to light at a meeting of the council's licensing committee amid confirmation that the authority is continuing to clamp down on taxi drivers who "cherry-pick" passengers to try to land bigger fares.

The "serious" incident, which was said to have taken place recently, saw an unidentified taxi driver refuse to transport the "vulnerable" member of the public as the intended journey was "too short".

Meeting in Caernarfon on Monday, the general licensing committee rubber-stamped a rise in the maximum Hackney taxi fare.

The move, which was initially discussed and recommended in July, will see the maximum cost of a two-mile journey increase from £5 to £6 following a request from taxi companies in the county.

The first such increase since 2011, the move follows a decision by the authority in June 2018 to hike the cost of licences for both drivers and operators in order to cover the council's own administrative overheads.

A Gwynedd taxi driver had his license suspended for a week after refusing to transport a visually impaired passenger who had a guide dog.

The suspension came to light at a meeting of the council's licensing committee amid confirmation that the authority is continuing to clamp down on taxi drivers who "cherry-pick" passengers to try to land bigger fares.

The "serious" incident, which was said to have taken place recently, saw an unidentified taxi driver refuse to transport the "vulnerable" member of the public as the intended journey was "too short".

Meeting in Caernarfon on Monday, the general licensing committee rubber-stamped a rise in the maximum Hackney taxi fare.

The move, which was initially discussed and recommended in July, will see the maximum cost of a two-mile journey increase from £5 to £6 following a request from taxi companies in the county.

The first such increase since 2011, the move follows a decision by the authority in June 2018 to hike the cost of licences for both drivers and operators in order to cover the council's own administrative overheads.

"In my view that's very serious anyway, but is made even worse by the fact they were a vulnerable individual.

"Evidence was presented and the taxi driver was contacted, following refusal to take the fare as it was a short one, and his licence was suspended for a week which of course hit him directly in the pocket.

"He could have appealed but chose not to, but this goes to show that we take complaints seriously and will take action where evidence is presented."

Cllr Eryl Jones-Wiliams, who originally raised the issue, had sought examples of action being taken after raising concerns of such complaints in his ward.

He added: "I have received complaints of drivers refusing to take short fares as they want longer, better paying journeys.

"Are we producing enough publicity so that the public know who they should complain to when this happens?"

Officers noted that most complaints involved taxi firms complaining about rival companies, but "very little" evidence was being presented.

Despite this, they were "convinced" that it was happening, hence the council crackdown on the "unfair" practice.

According to Gwynedd Council , "cherry picking" usually happens late at night and into the early morning, but is on the rise in the county.

Speaking in December, Cllr Dafydd Meurig said: "Taxi drivers who 'cherry-pick' passengers in an attempt to land bigger fares face having their licences revoked.

"That's the message we as a council are sending out, having received numerous complaints from members of the public who are being refused short journeys in some areas of the county.

"Only a minority of taxi drivers in Gwynedd 'cherry pick' customers, giving the taxi industry a bad name.

"This illegal practice not only endangers the safety of customers but also undermines the efforts of private hire and taxi drivers who work hard and operate within the law to deliver a high-quality service in Gwynedd."

Anyone refused a short journey is asked to take a photo of the registration plate or the licence plate, the location and time and send it to licensing@gwynedd.llyw.cymru or call 01766 771 000.

Source: https://www.dailypost.co.uk/news/north-wales-news/taxi-driver-suspended-over-treatment-16890833

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