Who is having the laugh here?

Private hire taxis have rules and regulations just like hackney cabs.

I would like the opportunity to respond to your article as no one at the Bury Licensing Department wants to respond to hackney cab drivers.

I am still waiting for the chairperson of the licensing panel to respond to questions asked from June 6, and beyond. Fat chance.

Quote from your article: “Private hire drivers who are angry that they cannot pick up or drop off passengers at bus lanes.”

What is the problem? Bury Council let the private hire trade pick up and rank up anywhere they want in Bury. All you have to do is have a walk around Bury centre any Thursday Friday or Saturday night and see it.

So private hire CAN pick up (against their own private hire rules that is) anywhere in Bury borough and have done for a very long time with the consent of Bury Licensing Department.

Quote from your article: “Councils discriminate against our disabled and elderly customers in respect of private hire not being allowed to pick up or drop off in bus lanes.” Discriminate!! The only people that are discriminated against in the Bury taxi trade are the hackney cab drivers and the licensing department know this as well as the hackney drivers but no one has the bottle to say anything. Private hire has a free reign in Bury and use the rules of hackney cabs with no problems.

I am very concerned that private hire companies and hackney drivers are not showing strength together for MORE protection in the town instead of waffling on about setting new rules to make more money. What comes first, money or life?

When will the licensing department recognise hackney drivers and appreciate that there is nowhere for them to work in Bury as we have more than 132 hackney cabs and less than 30 hackney ranks in the town?

What service does licensing give to private and hackney drivers alike for the £234,000 from drivers every year that they receive?

If any driver, private or hackney has a problem with the licensing department in Bury, stop squabbling and get together and sort out a proper service for the public in Bury.

This nonsense has been going on now for far too long.

Victor Hagan Fare-Play-Taxis Kingfisher Drive Bury