Trade representatives from the Southampton Hackney Association (SHA) have met with Southampton Bargate Councillors and also local business property owners to discuss how to improve the area from The Bargate to Lower Town regarding cleaning of seats and bins. This would create a much better impression to visitors to Southampton, especially cruise terminal tourists. We have already had a reply from the Parks & Street Cleansing department who will be looking into this concern.
In 2003, the Office of Fair Trading (OFT) made a legal ruling that an 'Unmet Demand Survey' be carried out by councils such as Southampton that have a fixed limit on the amount of Hackney taxis in their area. The survey determines whether there are enough taxis working the streets.
The survey takes place every three years, and has recently determined that there is no need for anymore Hackney Licenses to be made available. This is good news for the trade, as the 283 Hackney Carriages number will remain the same.
What is a concern however, is that from October 1st 2015, the Deregulation Bill becomes Law. Two of the changes directly affect licensing administration issues but the most contentious change is the sub-contracting of Private Hire bookings between Operators nationally, currently that can only occur between Operators in the same licensing district.
Southampton's Boat Show is on from 11th - 20th September 2015 and again is expected to draw huge crowds. This is the 47th year of the show in the city, where you can buy anything from a multi million pound yacht to a canoe! The Red Arrows will make an appearance on Saturday the 12th. Many people take a taxi to see the show as it is easier than driving and parking up yourself.
You can find the taxi rank outside the show in Herbert Walker Avenue - look out for the white taxi cabs!
If you would like to pre-book a taxi to or from the Southampton Boat Show click here.
Recently one of the SHA's trade representatives tried to obtain a medical certificate from a GP other than his own in order to save on the costs. However, when going through an alternative GP, there is probably not enough data available to enable accurate completion of the taxi medical for licensing purposes.
Other GP practices can access some of your personal data from other practice records via HHR or the National Summary Care Record, but it is limited in detail in both cases. In particular locally, it is limited by many practices who use the SystmOne clinical system which doesn't upload anything to HHR at the moment.
If a GP knew in advance they were completing a medical for a patient not registered with them, they could in theory request medical history directly from the patient's own GP practice. However, it has been pointed out that the administrative burden of obtaining these records would have to be borne by the applicant.
The advice to taxi drivers is therefore to obtain medical certificates from their own GP. In light of this Southampton City Council Licensing Office does not propose any change to the present policy, and are adamant that your own GP is the person to approach for a medical certificate.
There seems to be some confusion with the general public that the Southampton Hackney Association (SHA) owns all 283 white taxis in Southampton.
The Southampton Hackney Association own no taxi's at all. The Southampton Hackney Association (SHA) is a relatively small group of taxi drivers who support one another and liaise with the Southampton City Council.
All white taxi cabs in Southampton are driven either by journeymen who rent taxis from the owner for a weekly/monthly contribution or the taxi could be driven solely by the owner driver. The approximate figure of 400 licensed taxi drivers in the city are NOT all members of the Southampton Hackney Association, in fact we have only about 150 taxi driver members.
The SHA are against drivers that over-charge, are rude to customers and sometimes take the incorrect route. We do care enormously about the adverse comments that seem to be too often placed by the media and harm our reputation.
If you have a complaint about a driver, please note the identification number from the back of the taxi or from the inside of the front windscreen or better still take the drivers Hackney Badge Number and report to the Taxi Licensing Department at Southamption City Council via enquiries@southampton.gov.uk
At a recent Taxi Trade Consultation Meeting, representatives from the Southampton Hackney Association (SHA) informed the Licensing Department at Southampton City Council that the computer generated system of allowing prospective new taxi drivers to tick which box is the right or wrong route to take a customer, has not proved to be adequate.
The old system of a candidate describing to the Licensing Officer the name of roads in Southampton on a set route, how to get from A to B also naming street locations and places of interest was a far better system, and if possible should be put into operation immediately.
The SHA pointed out that too many customers are dissatified with needing to give a postcode to the taxi driver, so that he or she can enter it on a SAT NAV as soon as they get into a taxi; hence the need for the old ways to be re-introduced.
Ideas might include a trip to the Bovington Tank Museum in Dorset. The museum recently loaned an American Sherman Tank and German Tiger to the makers of Brad Pitt's movie Fury, which is about a five man tank crew in the Second World War.
Rather than a taxi company, the Southampton Hackney Association (SHA) is a group of taxi drivers who have got together to support one another and liaise with the licensing body at Southampton City Council.
We receive many emails and telephone calls from people who have left their property in taxis in Southampton. However, we at the SHA are unfortunately unable to help to track down lost property, as each taxi driver in the city works for himself - Remember, we are not a taxi company and sadly have no way of liaising with each and every taxi driver in the city (many of whom are not members of the SHA).
The surest way to protect your belongings when travelling in a taxi is to make sure you have everything with you as you leave the cab. For instance, check your pockets and bag for your phone, purse or wallet, to ensure they haven't fallen out during the journey. Check you have your cardigan, coat and umbrella, your laptop and bags.
Did you know that that SHA is a group set up to support and promote Southampton's Hackney Carriage Taxi Drivers? We have a Facebook page which you can 'like' and 'follow' here:
Southampton Hackney Taxi Association
Why not click to follow us today?
The Southampton Hackney Association of taxi drivers recommend Motorhouse Src Ltd in Shirley, Southampton for all your car repairs. You can find them at Unit B1 Liners Industrial Est.
Pitt Road, Shirley, Southampton, SO15 3FQ. Why not call Derek on (023) 8022 0237 today to book a service, MOT or for more serious repairs?
You can also drop him a line using his Facebook page here.
