From John O’Neill.
I WRITE in response to Roger Bale’s letter (JEP, 11 December) regarding the regulatory framework of taxis in Jersey.

While reading the article I initially thought: haven’t we all been here, with this same story, so many times before now, and at each revisiting the outcome is always the same. The taxi system, while it may not be perfect, is a relatively satisfactory system for all stakeholders.

Dereck Carter, in 1996, various Public Services committees over the years and more recently Deputy Guy de Faye (who until recently was the Transport Minister) have all scrutinised the function of taxis in Jersey and after due consideration of the facts have never felt that change would necessarily result in improvement (many argue Carter’s proposals should have been implemented).

Mr Bale’s main complaint appears to concern the number of taxi plates currently on issue. He concluded, after observing a large queue at a taxi rank, that ‘we don’t have enough taxis’, then suggested that we should not limit the number of taxis in Jersey, while simultaneously referring to the fact that we don’t limit the number of hairdressers or lorry drivers. Perhaps, to be fair to him, one should assume that he had just not thought about what he was writing, before doing so. One also has to assume that he did not read the numerous letters about taxis over the past 15 years.

Mr Bale stated that the supply of taxis should be increased in line with demand and that market forces should determine this level. He went on to imply that deregulation of the taxi industry would facilitate and make this possible, since an unlimited amount of plates could and should be made available. These conclusions were based on the findings of a recent investigation of taxis in Ireland.

Jersey has held investigations (although these have not always been free of political influence), proposals have been made, proposals have been rejected and in most cases the status quo has been maintained. With this in mind Mr Bale may wish to reconsider his view that the taxpayer should be asked to spend again, on opinions that are unlikely to really tell us anything we don’t know, and that we are unlikely to implement.

I am of the opinion that regulation improves the service provided by taxis. This is evidenced by the fact that many English councils have tested deregulation strategies, but these have proved to yield far from satisfactory results. This is particularly true for rural areas.

I estimate that the number of taxis has increased by around 50% over the past ten or so years, which is more than the population increase.
38 Les Mielles Close,
Le Squez,
St Clement.