Manx Taxi Federation

Yesterday (21st May 2008) Tynwald voted overwhelmingly to postpone the removal of Schedule 2 of the Transport Act 2001 until December.
They did so because, as we have constantly said, the proper consultation process has not been addressed.
So a big thank you is due to the members of Tynwald who managed to present a well-argued case in a reasonable, balanced, common sense way.
This is, however, only a temporary respite and it is now time for the real work to begin. Negotiations and consultations have to be initiated as soon as possible and we have to be clear about what we would hope to get from them.
Everyone is aware, no doubt, that the ‘unmet demand’ criteria is not simply – as some of our detractors claim – a way of restricting trade; it is, in fact, the only way of preserving and improving the quality of the service and the standards of those who work in the trade.
Ideally, we would like ‘unmet demand’ to be permanently enshrined in legislation
As this organisation has always said, we will accept the findings of any professional, independent survey (such as the one produced by TPi in 2006) regardless of whether or not it favours our point of view. If there is any proof of unmet demand that requires the issuing of more licence plates, then so be it.
As to the question of an all-island service – that is really a matter for the minister to decide about. We would only hope that he has the good sense to have proper consultations with the local authorities.
As for the rest of it we are – as we have always been – ready and willing to consult and negotiate with the minister in whatever capacity, and on whatever terms, that our members and the trade in general require of us.
Finally, a really big than you to those who packed the Tynwald gallery for the debate and to those who lobbied so politely and so effectively outside the building.

In case anyone isn't sure why the taxi trade doesn't need the dramatic - and draconian - changes proposed by the DoT, they can soon find the answer by checking out the completely independent report that was completed in December 2006.
(Actually, it's the one that the government paid a lot of money for and then, because it didn't give the answers they wanted to hear, tried to bury deep on the DoT's website!)

You can find it at http://www.gov.im/lib/docs/highways//finalreport.pdf

It's actually more than 100 pages long but (without wishing to spoil the ending) it reaches the conclusion that there isn't any need for more taxis!
Actually, 223 taxis, 58 private hire executive cars and minibuses, and 31 limousines seems a little excessive for a population of 80,000, wouldn't you say?

The protest against the attempt to delimit the Manx taxi Trade began this morning when taxis at the airport stopped working, leaving arriving passengers to wait for the bus to take them on to their destinations.
Although it was only a brief gesture, it was more than sufficient to make the point
Leaflets, complete with apologies for the inconvenience, were handed out to the travelling public as the action by the Southern and Malew drivers showed conclusively that no one - other than a tiny disaffected minority - are in favour of the changes that the government are trying to force on our trade.
Later tonight, the Eastern district drivers will also stage a protest.

Welcome to the website of the Manx Taxi Federation.