REGARDING the article about CCTV cameras in taxis (Craven Herald, October 13 and online).

Craven District Council's Licensing Committee must think taxi drivers are made of money by making drivers pay for something they don't want and the general public don't want.

As a taxi driver myself, times have been very difficult over the past 18 months with very little or no money coming in to pay general household bills and keeping our legal.

We have had no help whatsoever from the council; whereas in other council districts, there has been free badges, free plates, hand sanitizer, the list goes on. The licensing department says that the footage on the cameras belongs to them if so then they should pay for the cameras. I don't think it's a lot to ask.

A camera costs approximately £500 - an amount that most of the drivers do not have as we are still trying to catch up on our bills like everybody else in the country.

As the the taxi fares have not increased in the last 10 years, and the cost of living has gone up largely, such as council tax, price of cars, the list goes on and on.

We drivers think it's about time that the licence committee got a grip and got into the real world instead of hiding away. Let them try to live and run a taxi on less than the minimum wage and have to work over 60hrs per week. I could go on for ever.

Peter Hubbuck

Skipton

 

In response, a spokesperson from Craven District Council said: “The council approved the CCTV in taxi scheme as it will provide a safer environment for the benefit of drivers and the public.

This was done after we consulted widely with the trade and the public over several years.

The primary responsibility of the Licensing Committee is to protect the public and that guides all our policies.

The cameras should be a deterrent to crime and recorded footage can also assist the Council and the police should an incident or complaint occur.

There have been several incidents in recent years in which CCTV would have aided our investigation into incidents involving taxis.

The proposal to bring in CCTV in licensed vehicles in Craven has been ongoing since 2017 when the first public consultation was held.

Drivers have been aware now for more than four years that this was going to be implemented.

The Council has delayed the scheme three times after listening to feedback and concerns from the trade and taking into account the financial impact of the coronavirus pandemic.

However when the scheme was recently brought back again before the licensing committee it was agreed all licensed vehicles should have CCTV by 1st January 2022.

However a Hardship Policy has also been agreed and all licence holders have now been written to advising them that they could apply to delay implementation if they could demonstrate extreme hardship.

The hardship scheme is not a funding scheme but does allow licence holders time to save up for the cost of installation."