I CAN understand the mixed views of taxi owners and the general public alike on the issue of the deregulation of taxis (Taxi rancour, The Press, July 11).

However, regulations which were introduced under the Hackney Carriage Act many years ago were there to protect the public and bona fide taxi services from cowboy operators.

Regulations meant that the taxi drivers, vehicles and companies were in uniformity, especially in large cities like London, and under this legislation they were subjected to inspections on an annual basis, for health and safety matters, for the competence of the driver and, even more importantly, that they were covered by comprehensive insurance.

The stringent tests that London cab drivers have to face are second to none, and only the genuine will be granted a licence to operate, with annual appraisals as to their suitability.

It would seem the increased modern demand for taxi services has highlighted a problem. Do we, as citizens, wish for a free-for-all, or a regulated organisation, to protect not only the passengers but the taxi firms and drivers themselves. Regulation or deregulation - the choice is yours.

Kenneth Bowker, Vesper Walk, Huntington, York.