Issues relating to the licensing of taxis and private hire vehicles

Written evidence from Juan Sanzo (TPH 07)

As a taxi operator licenced with S Glos Council I think because of the way the taxi companies are organised more and more cross border hire is happening, ie V Cars, a very large operator answers all their calls in Swindon but operates the work in the areas of Bristol City Council, South Glos Council, Bath and North East Somerset Council and Wiltshire Council.

This cannot be in the public interests. If there is a job in which local knowledge is important, it is this one. We were actually taken to court about 20 years ago for exactly this offence. We were answering calls in Bristol but operating under the South Glos umbrella and Bristol objected.

I urge you not to allow this to continue. I await your comments

December 2010