New taxi rules will be enforced

Taxi drivers brought traffic to a standstill in protest over the plans

New rules aimed at taxis in a south Wales city have been pushed through, despite protests.

Hundreds of taxi drivers staged a demonstration in Newport on Saturday, bringing traffic to a standstill.

The drivers oppose regulations insisting that private hire vehicles are no older than eight years. Hackney cabs must be under 10-years-old.

The council says it is a safety issue, but some cabbies say it is prompted by next year's Ryder Cup golf tournament.

The city is hosting the event, and it is widely seen as a way of putting Newport and Wales on the international map.

The council said taxi drivers had been consulted extensively on the plans and it was an issue of public safety.

Speaking after the demonstration on Saturday, Lionel Morris, chairman of Newport Hackney Drivers Association, said: "We're not against the age proposition but we're saying it's the wrong time to put such an expense on us during the recession.

This is an issue of public safety... this is not a risk that I am willing take Coun David Fouweather

"People are not catching a cab as much as they used to because of the economic situation.

"The prime reason for having this now is because of the golf tournament."

But Councillor David Fouweather, who has now authorised the new measures, insisted that widespread consultation on the proposals had taken place.

He said: "This is an issue of public safety. These vehicles are subjected to extremely high-usage and mileage in a city environment.

Inspections

"In addition to their heavy use, the vehicles stop and start at regular intervals, so their ability to remain consistently mechanically sound, safe and of an acceptable standard of appearance and comfort can be in doubt.

"This is not a risk that I am willing take."

The council said vehicle inspections by its licensing officers also vindicated the move.

"In the last 12 months, our licensing officers have inspected 174 vehicles and found 80 of them - almost 50% - to be unsafe," added Mr Fouweather.

"Such contempt for the rules of the road beggars belief."

In addition to age restrictions on taxis, all private hire vehicles must have approved stickers permanently attached to the cars.

The council said this will make properly licensed vehicles easier to indentify, and support its 'Safer Cab' scheme for lone women passengers.

The Celtic Manor in the city will host many of the world's top golfers in 2010

But some cabbies say the cost will force them off the road.

Mushtaq Ahmed, joint secretary of Newport Hackney Drivers Association, said he had spent £12,000 on a hackney cab a year and a half ago.

"In another three years, because of the age limit, this vehicle will be off the road.

"I will still be paying for it when this comes in but I won't be able to use it."

However, the council has insisted that the new regulations are in line with other authorities in Wales, some who impose even tougher age limits on vehicles, such as Cardiff and Swansea which take private cabs off the road when they are six-years-old.