Prior to 1994, many companies in Fareham were concerned that Radio Taxis were going to acquire the franchise for Fareham Railway Station. An organisation called the Fareham Taxi Co-operative was formed where all taxi owners operating within the Borough, with the exception of Radio Taxis, where invited to join. The Fareham Taxi Co-operative (FTC) was then able to challenge Radio Taxis if the franchise was ever made available.
By 2001, both Radio Taxis and the FTC had formed the Fareham Hackney Carriage Association (FHCA) which was able to represent the trade, and which was officially recognised by Fareham Borough Council (FBC). From that time, once a year, if the Trade wanted a Tariff increase we just applied.
Before the formation of the FHCA, any Tariff increase was organised by Richard Semmens who had to personally go round all taxi owners from all taxi companies and persuade a large percentage of them to sign a proposal. By the time he had completed this massive task, everyone wanted an even larger increase!
Since 2001, the FHCA has held many meetings not only to discuss Tariff negotiations, but also numerous other salient matters both at local level - Licence Fees, Licence & Badge requirements, Rank issues, Stopping and Parking issues,etc. and at national level - legal issues, use of bus lanes, taxi regulation, etc. The resolve of these meetings was frequently put forward to FBC in many face-to-face meetings between the committees of the FBC Regulatory and FHCA, and in correspondence.
Despite membership of the FHCA and attendance at FHCA meetings having always been open to all 'badged' Fareham Taxi Drivers, without charge or obligation, progressively fewer chose to attend meetings. In consequence late last year, 2009, Mandy Hovey decided (with justification) that the FHCA Committee did not genuinely represent the Trade and confirmed that the Council would not continue the regular quarterly meetings.
It was at this point that we resolved to re-generate interest and participation in the FHCA by creating this website. This gave us the scope to achieve two targets. Firstly, open for all to see, we were able to start imparting general information about the Association, plus headline News. Secondly (but of far more importance), With the full support and co-operation Of the Council and Hampshire Police we were able to include the all-important E-rank - a secure area within the site where FHCA members (only) could freely exchange news and views.
From "opening" in early 2010, the website has steadily developed with news, views, and information being constantly introduced by a growing and paticipating E-rank membership.
| Chairman:, |
| ______ Tony Bullimore |
| Vice-chairman & website control: |
| ______ Dave Sainsbury |
| Secretary: |
| ______ Paul Rogerson (acting) |
| Treasurer: |
| ______ Paul Rogerson |