Concerns over taxi availability after to drop in public transport use due to Covid pandemic

Concerns have been raised about access to transport after city bosses delayed a review of services.

Officials had been due to carry out a regular survey of the number of taxis serving Wearside this year, but were forced to postpone it due to the coronavirus outbreak.

But the decision has led to questions over whether it could further squeeze capacity at a time when bus and Metro passenger numbers have been slashed to comply with social distancing requirements.

“Why can’t we continue to survey this year, can we not do it remotely?,” said city councillor Stephen O’Brien.

“If the numbers are not correct, due to increased use of taxis due to coronavirus, as people may be using them more regularly than using public transport, could it not have an adverse effect on whether people can use taxis?”

Coun O’Brien was speaking at a meeting of Sunderland City Council’s Licensing and Regulatory Committee on Monday, September 28, which was held by videolink and broadcast via YouTube.

Follow’s it’s most recent survey, carried out in 2017, Sunderland has limited itself to 349 Hackney Carriages – taxis which can be hailed on the street or from taxi ranks, without having to be pre-booked.

Of these, 284 can operate in the city’s ‘Sunderland Zone’, with the remaining 65 allocated to the ‘Hetton, Houghton and Washington Zone’.

According to city bosses, the last review showed ‘no significant unmet demand for Hackney Carriage service’ in Wearside.

But they also conceded the decision to delay until next year (2021) did have the potential to present some legal challenges.

Senior licensing officer Steve Wearing said: “Due to the pandemic and restrictions it’s considered a survey would not present an accurate picture of present demand for HC services.

“I’m pretty certain other councils are in the same position as us with conducting surveys and it’s something we could justifiably delay until next year.

“Potentially there is a degree of risk, but I think given the present circumstances I’m pretty sure other councils are in the same position with conducting surveys.

“I think it’s something we could justifiably delay until next year.”

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