IT would appear that Mr Harrison (Citizen: Hire Stakes July 22) has no defence to my statements about the legal position re: private hire vehicles and instead resorts to the defence of the indefensible by trying to ridicule what he can't contradict and turn the argument into a personal attack on me.

I will refrain from doing likewise but will answer his points.

I have worked as both a taxi driver and private hire driver for 18 years and have a far greater understanding of the trade than he implies. The reason for the preponderance of private hire vehicles is because their numbers are unregulated, unlike taxis which are restricted to a sufficient number to meet local need.

The council was compelled to go to the trouble of surveying the demand for taxis in the area, when it could have been more usefully employed enforcing the by-laws.

My information about the charging from the private hire trade comes from customer complaints about named operators and the fact that prices for private hire journeys are unregulated.

The deregulation refers to the scrapping of the restriction on the number of licenses and this is for the public to decide via their councillors, but if it goes ahead all new taxis will have to be wheelchair accessible.

As to the advert offering 10 per cent discount, 10 per cent of what? The fare for private hire journeys is unregulated.

The contractual question is interesting because if Mr Harrison's cars do not operate on contract to supply goods or services, why is anyone bothering to pay for journeys?

The question of complaints about the conduct of some private hire operators can be confirmed by the council if they so choose.

The statement I should see my employer again shows ignorance of the trade as taxis and private hire drivers are generally self-employed and rent out vehicles under Inland Revenue regulations.

The hint that the trade wish to charge more at Christmas and New Year was not suggested by me, nor is it being contemplated at this time. The last rise in fares authorised by the council did not go ahead because of objections raised by some in the trade, who wish to provide a service as cheaply as possible.

Contrary to the point about taxis taking bookings, this is not illegal, but covered by paragraph 11 by the bye-laws made by the city council of Lancaster with respect to Hackney Carriages, 1986.

Finally I have received many requests for information on the prices to be charge for the millennium, as have most taxi drivers, and if Mr Harrison's fleet of 50 private hire cars have not received a single one then the public have already spoken about their faith in the private hire trade.

David Hodgson

Sefton Road

Morecambe

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