Petitions – in the House of Commons at 10:12 pm on 13 July 2009.
If you are able to come to Wellingborough again, Mr. Speaker, and you arrive at Wellingborough station, you will undoubtedly get in an excellent taxi that is well driven and great value for money, but there is a problem at present as there are too many hackney carriage plates in Wellingborough. I have a petition that is signed by only 56 people, but they are 56 of the 61 hackney carriage plate owners in Wellingborough.
The petition states:
The Humble Petition of hackney carriage drivers and associates of Wellingborough, Northamptonshire and surrounding areas,
Sheweth that too many hackney carriage licence plates are being issued in the borough of Wellingborough and that this is causing there to be a surplus of taxis which is stopping drivers making a livelihood and threatening the level of service provided to the public.
Wherefore your Petitioners pray that your Honourable House urges the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government to direct the borough council of Wellingborough to suspend temporarily the issue of any more hackney carriage licence plates until it has carried out a demand survey; and that the suspension be kept until a clear public demand for more taxis has been established.
And your Petitioners, as in duty bound, will ever pray, &c.
[P000391]