Anger at 'Ryder Cup' taxi plans

By Joanne Manning
BBC News

The Celtic Manor will host many of the world's top golfers in 2010

Plans for age limits on Newport taxis are opposed by some cabbies, with some believing the idea is motivated by the city hosting the Ryder Cup next year.

The prestigious golf tournament will be played at the city's Celtic Manor resort in September 2010.

Newport council proposes that private hire vehicles should be no older than six years and hackney carriages no more than 10 years from 1 August 2010.

The council said a cabinet member would be making a decision on 18 March.

Taxi drivers are worried they could not afford to finance newer vehicles in the recession, although some cab firm owners have backed the plans.

Newly-licensed cars must be brand new if private hire or younger than three years if a hackney carriage from August 2009.

The plans were put out for consultation between October and December and a report on its findings is due out on Tuesday.

We believe the Ryder Cup is the only reason they are bringing the age limit in

Alan Meek, Newport taxi driver

Taxi drivers protested against the age limit plans outside the council's offices in October and handed in a 300-name petition to the council.

Alan Meek, a private hire driver for Dragon Taxis, said he believed putting an age limit on cabs would put a lot of drivers out of work.

"What they are asking with the recession the way it is at the moment is stupid," he said.

"My personal view is that the cars should be of a certain standard in terms of cleanliness and road worthiness and should not necessarily be assessed by age.

"We believe the Ryder Cup is the only reason they are bringing the age limit in."

The golf tournament is expected to bring in thousands of visitors from all over the world to the Newport area.

John Lavendar, a director at Dragon Taxis, said he believed improvements in the fleet were "definitely needed" and that the age limits being proposed are "reasonable".

"But I feel for taxi drivers because these are difficult times," he said. "We are 20% down on our work from two years ago and taxi drivers will find it more difficult to obtain credit to buy new vehicles."

In Newport council's monthly newspaper Newport Matters, the council said it was considering the age limits to improve the appearance and comfort of licensed vehicles in the city.

A council spokesman said: "A report on the proposed changes to the licensing conditions for Hackney carriage and private hire vehicles and for the licensing of drivers is going to the cabinet member for environment and community safety.

"He will make a decision on 18 March."