Teignbridge Council dilemma over Romanian taxi drivers
By Western Morning News | Wednesday, January 30, 2013, 07:00
A Devon council is planning to change its policy on criminal record and health checks for taxi drivers after a local firm said it wants to employ Romanian workers.
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Teignbridge District Council HQ
Teignbridge District Council has received driver applications from Romanian nationals who have been brought over to work in the district by a local company.
Councillors on the authority's regulatory and appeals committee have been told that as a result of the applications, in October last year, it now needs to amend its policy to deal with criminal records and medical examinations for foreign nationals.
UK citizens who want to become a taxi driver must be checked through the Criminal Records Bureau and also have their health and fitness confirmed with a medical certificate from a doctor who has full access to the applicant's medical records.
Councillors are being advised that similar systems may not exist in other countries and the council has spent some time in contact with the Romanian Embassy to clarify matters and taken advice from the Home Office and Department for Transport.
Council officers have made recommendations to change the licensing system for taxi drivers so that checks on the background and health of applicants from other countries can be made.
Councillor Alan Connett, chairman of Teignbridge council's scrutiny committee, said he was surprised to learn a local taxi firm needed to bring in drivers from abroad.
"In the current climate, many people might be surprised, he added.
"You would have thought this is the type of work that could be recruited to locally, especially as knowledge of the area can be important and valued by customers."
The regulatory and appeals committee meets on Thursday to consider the proposals.
Comments
It's disappointing to see the actions of this one particular taxi firm and their attempts to justify themselves, however New ton Abbot has many good taxi firms that employ drivers with excellent local knowledge of the area and who have had all the necessary and important background checks. Please research the internet to find one of these reliable and friendly firms and start using them as your taxi provider instead. It will only take a few minutes but will give you peace of mind that should be part of the course and it also means you will be supporting drivers, who have been serving the Teignbridge area for a considerable time.
By Station Taxis Newton Abbot at 15:56 on 07/02/13
ReportWhy I use taxis as little as possible:
1 - Pre -ordered taxi to go from Ogwell to Newton Abbot station. The time requested fro the taxi to arrive in Ogwell was 1 hour before the train was due. Taxi didn't arrive at requested time. Phoned taxi company - it will be with you within 10 minutes - no it didn't - called again - it's on it's way...... this went on until finally a taxi arrived 7 minutes before the train was due to depart and, yes , I caught the train as they were shutting the doors.
2 - Got a taxi from the taxi rank in Newton Abbot town centre to Ogwell. When I arrived at Ogwell I asked the driver to wait one minute (literally) as I just had to pick up a key and then wanted to go back to the taxi rank in Newton Abbot town centre Charge was £18.00 and that was in 2005.
3 - Unrelated to the above - A taxi driver stole my scooter key because he didn't like me parking my scooter next to the taxi rank.
I have never been in a taxi since.
By AlexTLF at 17:27 on 01/02/13
ReportI don't mind what the Romanians do with their money. If they have worked to earn it then it is theirs to do what they want with. And in these days of sat-navs knowing the area is not so important. You regularily get into a taxi in Torquay and give the taxi driver your address only to be asked in a scouse accent if that is Torquay, Paignton or Brixham.
By SidneyNuff at 22:19 on 30/01/13
ReportSilvermoth does not suggest anything.....Silvermoth tells only facts!!! As for you Sid you really should get your facts straight before you spout off about Romanians being better educated and more polite, half of them cant even speak very much English let alone be polite!!! None of them know the area or where they are going!!! Its wrong that local taxi guys should be pushed out of their jobs so that the bosses can make a fast buck!!! I cannot believe that people think there were no local drivers for these jobs when at least 5 people have been pushed out the door by the Romanians and as i said earlier they wont be the only ones to go i'm sure. i'm sure that people, including you Sid, would not be pleased to learn that all of the Romanians wages are sent right on back to their families, the money doesn't even stay in this country....and we wonder why this country is in such a bad way!!!!!!
By silvermoth at 21:17 on 30/01/13
ReportYou will probably find Romanians are more educated, more polite and more willing to work than the available British benefits junkie.
By SidneyNuff at 18:00 on 30/01/13
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