Petition calls on councillors to keep the black cab

Nearly 300 people have signed a petition in Peterborough to keep familiar “black” cabs as the main taxis on the city’s streets.

For the second time in less than a year, Peterborough City Council is debating relaxing strict rules on the type of vehicle that can be licensed as a Hackney carriage. Currently only London-style cabs meet the criteria, designed to ensure cabs are safe, fully accessible and of the highest standard.

But the move to lower the standard of taxi has provoked an outcry in some quarters and 275 people have signed a petition, organised by national taxi safety campaign Taxiwise, calling for the strict licensing regulations to be kept as they are.

Taxiwise believes that relaxing the rules will leave the door open for illegal and bogus drivers to operate in the area, putting passenger safety at risk.

“Because of the strong line Peterborough has taken up to now it is, very difficult for bogus cabbies to pretend to be legitimate Hackney carriage drivers and pick passengers up after being hailed in the street,” said a spokesperson for Taxiwise.

“People know that, currently, only London style cabs meet the strict licensing guidelines so instantly recognise them as legitimate cabs. Any relaxation of the rules will allow other vehicles to operate, blurring the view of what is a cab and what is not. This will make it easier for unscrupulous drivers to operate.

”Nationally, Taxiwise is pushing for a common standard that all vehicles licensed as Hackney carriages should meet. This means that, wherever someone is in the UK, they know which vehicles can be licensed as cabs and which are not. Peterborough going in the opposite direction for this is a backward step for the city and is potentially putting passengers at risk.”

Signatures for the petition were collected over two days in Peterborough city centre in August.

One person who supported the campaign was Sarah Smith. She said: “I don’t understand why we need to change what is already a perfectly good, safe system.

”At the moment, I know exactly what is a cab and what isn’t. I know if I get in a London taxi, it is safe and legal. If the rules change, I won’t know what is a cab and what isn’t.”

Councillors are due to decide on amending the licensing regulations at a meeting on September 11.