Posted on the 25th May 2022 in PHTM News
COUNCIL BLUNDER CORRECTED SO PLYMOUTH PH DRIVERS AGAIN HAVE TO DO KNOWLEDGE TEST
A Plymouth City Council blunder which meant private hire drivers didn’t have to take the famous “knowledge” test has been corrected.
PlymouthLive reports that back in March, councillors voted to accept a controversial new taxi licensing policy but a misprint that wasn’t noticed meant they approved the test for new hackney drivers only.
That error meant for a three-week period, anyone applying for a private hire licence wouldn’t have had to take the test.
However, following a full council meeting on Friday 20 May, the mistake has been rectified.
Plymouth City Council said that made it clear to new applicants that the policy was likely to be returned to Full Council and therefore maybe subject to change at any time.
They have apologised for any confusion and will offer a full refund to anyone who know wishes to withdraw from the application process.
Following the decision, it means that anyone who fancies becoming a private hire driver will once again have to spend days scrutinising the map of Plymouth, learning its geography and the best routes to get a passenger from A to B.
A Plymouth City Council spokesperson said: “There was an error in the original Taxi Licensing Policy published in March, which advised that you only needed to complete the Knowledge Test (KOP) if you wanted to become a hackney carriage driver.
"We have always made it clear to new applicants that the policy was likely to be returned to Full Council and therefore maybe subject to change at any time.
“The corrected policy, which requires all new applicants (private hire and hackney carriage) to complete the KOP test was approved by Elected Members at Full Council on Friday, May 20. This means that all new applications or those still in progress can only be approved once all of the pre-requisites, including the KOP test, have been completed.
“We are sorry for any confusion caused. If anyone wishes to withdraw from the application process they will be offered a full refund.”
The amended wording to the policy now means that once again, before an application for a drivers licence can be approved, the individual must have passed a medical, submit an Enhanced DBS and Certificate of Good Conduct, Driving Standard’s Test, Safeguarding training, Plymouth Ambassador training and the Topographical Knowledge of Plymouth (KOP) test.
Source: https://www.plymouthherald.co.uk/news/plymouth-news/council-taxi-blunder-corrected-plymouth-7119759
Read another story
- PROPOSAL TO INCREASE TAXI FARES APPROVED IN CEREDIGION
Taxi fares are set to increase in Ceredigion as drivers battle against rising fuel costs.
- MUM AND CHILD MOWN DOWN BY CAB AS THEY WALKED ALONG PAVEMENT IN BATLEY WEST YORKS
A mother and her four-year-old child were left for dead after being mown down by a "taxi" in Batley, West Yorkshire.
- CABBIES IN WEST BERKSHIRE HAVE BEEN GIVEN AN INCENTIVE TO GO GREEN
They could be offered subsidies to buy electric vehicle cabs by next year.
- SOME BATH TAXI FARES COULD INCREASE TO HELP DRIVERS COPE WITH RISING FUEL COSTS
Some taxi fares in Bath and North East Somerset could increase to help drivers cover fuel costs, the council has said.
- CALL FOR RANK OUTSIDE NEW NOTTINGHAM BUS STATION OVER FEARS PASSENGERS ARE LEFT STRANDED
Taxi drivers are calling for a rank to be built outside the new Broad Marsh bus station over fears people are being left stranded when they arrive in the city by coach.
- BOSTON TAXI FARES TO RISE WITH FURTHER EXTRA CHARGES AS COST OF DIESEL GOES UP
Members of Boston Borough Council's ruling cabinet are set to agree new tariffs for hackney carriages.
- LEEDS FARES HIKED AS DRIVERS EARNING LESS THAN LIVING WAGE STRUGGLE WITH COSTS
A two-mile journey has gone up from £6.40 to £6.90.
- EXPENSIVE TAXI FARE AS INVERNESS WOMAN SPENDS MONTH ON REMAND AFTER DODGING BILL
A woman has spent more than a month in jail after failing to pay her taxi driver.
- MANDATORY TAXI CCTV PROPOSAL SCRAPPED IN CHESTERFIELD AS DRIVERS FEAR COST IMPLICATIONS
The council has scrapped a proposal to make taxi drivers install CCTV in their vehicles at their own expense after an outpouring of concern over the costs involved.
- CABBIES' DAILY BATTLE RUNNING THE GAUNTLET IN CHAOS HIT MANCHESTER AIRPORT
Issues at the airport mean cabbies can sometimes be left waiting for hours before picking up clients - something that has serious implications for their business.
