No battle of the bus stops for us (From Bournemouth Echo)

No battle of the bus stops for us

9:00am Saturday 20th March 2010 in

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Speaking as one of the two trade representatives involved in negotiations concerning the use of bus stops by Hackney carriage and private hire vehicles, I missed “the battle” (Daily Echo, March 17). This is because there was no battle.

With the introduction of video evidence many parking tickets were issued to a number of taxis recorded parked on bus stops.

In many instances the vehicles were legitimately picking up or dropping off customers – usually elderly, disabled or with luggage.

Almost simultaneously the licensing department and the trade, researched legislation, and discovered The Traffic Signs Regulations & General Directives Act 2002, which contains an exemption for taxis to use bus stops under certain conditions.

The trade and council officials consulted on the wording and agreed a code of practice to solve the problems.

As a result of that meeting we have jointly overviewed the problems of wheelchair users across the town and moved towards some sound practical solutions to these questions.

Your article fires up a situation that never existed and therefore misrepresents the council and the trade. I imagine it would be too much to expect the misrepresent-ation to be corrected in print, but I do live in hope.

John Tye, trade representative, Livingstone Road Southbourne