Taxi Advertising
Should Private Hire Operators be prevented from using the term
'Taxi' to advertise their services?
Following a request from the local Hackney Carriage Association,
the Council is currently consulting as to whether Private Hire
Operators should be prevented from using the term 'Taxi' to
advertise their services.
In law, a Hackney Carriage (Taxi) may pick up passengers
from the street or at a taxi rank as well as taking pre-booked
passengers. Private Hire Vehicles on the other hand can only
carry passengers who have made a booking in advance.
Private Hire Vehicles are prevented from displaying signs which
say "Taxi", "Cab", "Taxi Cab" or "For Hire" and Private Hire
Operators may not use these words in their business name.
Private Hire Operators advertise their services at their
office. They may also advertise in newspapers and
on the internet etc. Here are some examples where they use
the term 'Taxi' to advertise their services currently:
Newspaper 1
Newspaper 2
Internet
1
Internet 2
If the Council prevents Private Hire Operators from using the
term Taxi to advertise their services the above adverts would not
be permitted.
Some Private Hire Operators also licence Hackney Carriages or
have Hackney Carriages associated with their business.
Bedford Borough Council currently licences 70 Hackney Carriages
and 730 Private Hire Vehicles. The number of Hackney Carriage
licences is limited by a decision of the Council and could be
reviewed and could effectively remove the distinction between the
two types of vehicle as all or most Private Hire Vehicles would be
re-licensed as Taxis.
The timetable for the consultation is as follows:
|
2 April 2012
|
Consultees provided with details of proposal and
requested to provide comments
|
|
25 June 2012
|
Deadline for responses from consultees
|
|
27 June 2012
|
Circulation to Borough Councillors of comments received
|
|
05 July 2012
|
General Licensing Committee considers proposals and determines
the matter
|
fiona.mccabe@bedford.gov.uk
Licensing
Registration & Records
Unit
3rd Floor Borough Hall
Cauldwell Street
Bedford
MK42 9AP
01234 276983