Taxi Today

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ISSUE 83 JANUARY 2012

ISSN 2044-9674

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JANUARY 2012

GRIMSBY THUG HANDED A FIVE YEAR ASBO

a THuG who attacked a taxi driver has been given a five-year asbo to stop his bad behaviour. Leroy Fowler, 25, of Gilbey road, Grimsby, has an “appalling” criminal record of 109 offences,

Grimsby Crown Court was told – having served 11 years in total in detention centres and prisons for previous crimes. Now he has been jailed for 19 months for assaulting taxi driver Brian Denford in Pasture street, Grimsby, on may 7. He also admitted possessing a knife and a similar offence of possessing a lock knife in a street in Hull in October. Fowler was also in breach of a conditional discharge for an offence of theft.

Councillors Shrug Off Petition TaxImeTers will be installed in Fenland’s hackney carriages after councillors shrugged off a 500signature petition. Councillors were presented with the petition, which objected to the fitting of taximeters, at a meeting of Fenland District Council. Lisa Corbett, speaking on behalf of Bev’s Taxis in Wisbech, said that, in a survey they had conducted, 500 people voted against meters with only five in favour. she said: “We are in a very deep recession and I will quote council

leader alan melton himself who said that times are tough and money is tight. “Do you honestly believe the public want to pay extra for taxis? I am calling on you to defer this decision and give this petition the weight it deserves.” But a recommendation to adopt the new Hackney Carriage and Private Hire Policy was approved, with only Independents mark archer and Virginia and michael Bucknor voting against the plans.

Swinton Mystery Tipper

Gateshead cabbie enjoys a £1,000 Christmas tip from The Mystery Tipper Braving the blustery ice-cold winds, I marched through the suburb of Low Fell. The brutal weather was relentless in its attack, but that wasn’t going to stop me giving a grand to one fortunate cabbie.

I

t was here where I saw an angel. standing 20 metres over me, arms wide as it looked over the a1.I remember thinking, if I could find an angel in Gateshead then finding a cabbie with my sticker should be a cinch! But there wasn’t a cabbie in sight, so I moved on. Perhaps I’d have more luck following the river Tyne… The river led me to a strange but beautiful curved glass building. This incredible work of art was the sage

Gateshead and I was compelled to see more! But time was running out, I needed to find my cabbie fast. my thoughts turned to the Gateshead stadium, maybe I would have more luck looking round there. I ran to Neilson road. It was relatively quiet, with only a few cars driving by. But then, in the corner of my eye – I saw it. Blue trench coat, that unmistakable orange trilby… it was my sticker! The cabbie was dropping somebody off, I had a

feeling he’d be happy to see who his next customer was going to be! The driver was Carl Laws, who was thrilled with his £1,000 tip. so there it is, my final tip of 2011. Next year it might be your turn to land a grand from yours truly. To get your sticker call swinton Taxi Division today for a quote on 0800 024 1013* or email mysterytipper@swinton.co.uk. Terms and conditions do apply – go online for details. * Calls may be recorded.

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JANUARY 2012

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Private Hire Company and Middlesbrough Council reach agreement BORO Cars and Middlesbrough Council have struck a deal to bring their legal battle to an end. THe aGreemeNT came just before an appeal over a council decision to impose restrictions on private hire drivers in Wilson street was due to be heard at Teesside Crown Court. The council and Boro Cars had been at loggerheads over issues involving taxis in Wilson street. and the new deal between the two parties will mean: Private hire vehicles can drop off and pick up passengers at Linthorpe mews, Dundas mews and Dundas street; Boro Cars’ private hire vehicles will only collect or drop off customers from the area on Wilson street to the west of Linthorpe mews or to the east of albert road;

Boro Cars will direct its private hire vehicle drivers to not in any way impede or interfere with the operation of the designated Hackney carriage ranks in Wilson street. The firm will also observe all Hackney carriage ranks and other parking restrictions in Wilson street and ensure that when a private hire vehicle is not travelling to, engaged in or returning from a pre-booked journey it is kept at the operating base or other lawful location. There is also a commitment by both sides to engage in further talks about the use of Wilson street by Hackney carriages and private hire vehicles.

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OVERLOADED PRIVATEHIRE DRIVER ‘UNAWARE’ ALL HIS CHILDREN WERE IN CAR a PrIVaTe-HIre driver caught on his mobile phone and carrying too many passengers in his vehicle has admitted it was a mistake. Balal shah, 36, of Old Ford end road, Bedford was driving his private hire vehicle along Cauldwell street at 2pm when police spotted he was holding a mobile phone to his ear. They found shah was carrying five passengers in a vehicle only licensed to carry four. On Tuesday, shah, representing himself, told Bedford magistrates’ Court that he was carrying his wife and four children, not a fare, that

Taxi driver shocked by car park fine

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afternoon. He claimed he was not aware that all his children were in the car. He said, â€?I have only recently set up my private hire business. It was a one off incident where I had left my Bluetooth headset at the office and they were calling to let me know. “I am very embarrassed for my behaviour.â€? shah pleaded guilty to using a handheld mobile phone while driving, carrying too many passengers and to obstructing a constable in execution of duty on september 25. He was fined ÂŁ295 and given three points on his licence.

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Taxi driver has described his “shockâ€? after being fined ÂŁ90 for leaving his car too long in a car park it wasn’t even in. Baffled stephen edwards, from Hamden Way, Papworth everard, received the fine through the post which said he had exceeded the one and a half hour free parking time limit in Lidl’s st Neots car park, in Cambridge street. But he had, in fact, paid to park in the adjoining Huntingdonshire District Council car park – which shares the same entrance with Lidl for three hours and left within that period. However, the camera system used by Lidl to ensure customers do not overstay in their car park by registering when number plates on vehicles enter

and leave also picked up mr edwards’ Papworth Carriage Company and found him at fault on December 3. The 63-year-old former policeman said: “It was a big shock when I got the letter through and I just find the whole thing ridiculous. It makes you wonder how many people have been fined and haven’t realised when they haven’t done anything wrong. “I have never had a problem with a car park like this before, and won’t be using it again.� a spokeswoman for Huntingdonshire District Council confirmed that they were aware of the issue. she said: “Our officers have been down to the Lidl store and we have been told it is a problem with the software they are using in the car park. she added her apologies to mr edwards and said his fine would be cancelled.

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JANUARY 2012 TAXI-TODAY.COM

Stockton cabbies lose bus lane battle Stockton cabbies have lost their battle to be allowed to use bus lanes on the town’s high street and across the borough.

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he stockton Hackney Carriage Driver association (sHCDa) argued their taxis provide public transport and were being disadvantaged in not being allowed to use bus lanes. The cabbies said in some cases they had to make longer journeys because they cannot use bus lanes and this could lead to issues with passengers. The sHCDa also pointed to the fact a number of

other local authorities allow taxis in bus lanes, as well as arguing they need to drop off disabled passengers in the central part of stockton high street. Javid Khazir, secretary of the sHCDa, told a meeting of stockton Council’s cabinet: “We have been asking for the use of bus lanes since 2004. We can only provide a better service if we are allowed to use bus lanes. The fact is we just wouldn’t create a problem.” But a report to cabinet raised a number of concerns from the council’s officers if cabs were given bus lane access. The report, by mike Chicken, built and natural environment manager, said there were concerns over road safety, “particularly in contra-flow bus lanes where manoeuvres and turning would be in conflict with the main flow of traffic”. The move could also “impact on journey times for bus services”, the report went on, as well as it being difficult to enforce.

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CARDIFF TAXI STRIKE CANCELLED maTHaB KHaN, chairman of Cardiff Hackney Carriage association, said his members could of walked out if the police and council did not promise cabbies greater protection from drunk revellers. mr Khan said he was satisfied with assurances he had received from the local authority and force that they would look into incidents seriously. “It appears to me that the police are aware of the problems that we are having and last Friday night I saw that the police were responding very, very promptly,” he said. The back-down followed talks with the council and came after the city’s other taxi trade body, the union of Taxi Drivers, said its members would only strike as a “last resort”.

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BEDFORD TAXI STRIKE CANCELLED PrIVaTe HIre and taxi drivers cancelled a planned Christmas week strike following talks with council chiefs. The drivers, supported by operators held talks with Bedford Borough Council’s head of transport Chris Pettiffer last month. after the meeting a decision was made to hold off on strike action to have more dialogue with the council.

During the meeting the drivers laid out their proposals, and a decision was made to differ plans to introduce a single badge scheme which would require drivers to resit key test at a cost of over £200 per car. Balal shah, spokesman for the drivers, said: “We don’t want to go down that road, at this time of year without having proper dialogue with the council.”

Rank bad planning in Dunfermline The removal of Dunfermline’s biggest taxi rank left revellers trying to flag down taxis on one of the city’s main roads after a night out. WOrK ON the Pilmuir street car park has meant that a temporary taxi rank has been set up next to the former Bruce street car park. But with few or no signs flagging up the new rank, people leaving the city centre at night have been creating a free-for-all on the roads in order to get picked up. many taxi drivers have also resorted to parking illegally and picking up outside Carnegie Drive and are refusing to drive into the rank, causing further concern with an increasing number of residents out celebrating. Chairman of the West Fife Taxi Owners association and owner of a1Tch Taxis, John aitchison, said, “For me it’s more an issue for members of the public, although the drivers are having issues with people coming in with their shoes covered in mud. It is in a building site after all. We have been doing the best we can, with the way things are in the town, but unfortunately we are always the last to be thought of.

“We want to be part of an integrated transport society and it is us that provide a vital service when public transport isn’t there, especially at this time of the year.” “We want to be part of an integrated transport society and it is us that provide a vital service when public transport isn’t there, especially at this time of the year.” It is understood that the temporary rank will be in place for the next six months, despite suggestions from drivers to bring in a temporary rank closer into the city centre.

Rogue taxi drivers targeted in council blitz Balding tyres, broken brakes and dodgy mechanics, these are the cowboy cabbies putting lives at risk.

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ow Tyneside council officers have targeted rogue taxi drivers who flout the law during a

roadside blitz. a two-day operation saw licensing chiefs scour the city for death-trap motors. and after inspecting nearly 150 vehicles, they found defects in around one in every 10 vehicles. Now dodgy drivers who failed the checks have had their licences suspended. Newcastle City Council’s licensing team manager, Jonathan Bryce, said: “It is vitally important that the public have total confidence when they get into a licensed taxi or private hire vehicle. a joint crackdown on rogue drivers was launched by the British Transport Police, Northumbria Police’s traffic unit and Newcastle City Council. In total they pulled over 146 vehicles to carry out inspections. Of those, 14 had major faults, such as defective tyres, door fittings, headlamps and other serious mechanical faults. In all, 24 cabbies were issued with notices demanding that minor defects to be fixed within five days. an increasing stream of taxi drivers licensed by other authorities is pouring into the city centre targeting late night boozers. Tyneside licensing chiefs are powerless to carry out spot checks on those from outside Newcastle –

leaving passengers vulnerable. During the council’s latest blitz, 10 drivers received fixed penalty notices from the police for various traffic breaches. among those were four licensed in Newcastle, two private hire from Northumberland and three private hire from North Tyneside. all were immediately suspended for major vehicle defects. mr Bryce added: “although the city council has the power to inspect vehicles that are licensed by Newcastle, officers are not authorised to inspect taxis or private hire vehicles that are licensed outside of the city and come into work as part of Christmas trade. We are reliant upon the co-operation of the police to stop and examine such vehicles.” around 10 operations have taken place this year council licensing officers take to the streets every weekend to carry out checks. PC Paul Gills, of Northumbria Police’s road safety unit, said: “although the vast majority of drivers are law-abiding, these results show there are unfortunately still drivers who are not taking enough care to make sure their vehicles are up to standard. In some cases it could be putting people in danger.” Coun Henri murison, Cabinet member for Quality of Life, said: “The safety of the public is of paramount importance. These joint operations with the police and the subsequent suspensions should leave the small minority of irresponsible taxi drivers in no doubt that we will not tolerate defective cabs on the streets of Newcastle.

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JANUARY 2012

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NORMANTON TAXI DRIVERS BATTLE TO CLEAR NAME A taxi driver turned detective to clear his name after a mum accused him of assaulting her two-year-old son. aamer sHaHzaD, 31, feared he could be sent to prison and lose his licence after being quizzed by police over the allegations that he slapped the youngster for jumping on his car seats. The case against him was eventually dropped thanks to CCTV footage he obtained after contacting a shop owner in Normanton, near Wakefield.

The pictures revealed the toddler’s mother smacking her son across his legs shortly after mr shahzad had dropped them off. The woman, in her 20s, later admitting making up the story against mr shahzad after panicking when she realised she had left red marks on his legs and feared she would get into

trouble. The mum, who cannot be named for legal reasons, admitted assault and perverting justice on July 25. she was given a nine-month prison sentence, suspended for 18 months, and made the subject of a supervision order for two years. Passing sentence at Leeds Crown Court, recorder simon Jackson said:

“You set out over two pages the details of your allegation against this taxi driver. “That was an outrageous allegation to make against an identified individual which led to serious consequences.” He added: “One has only to consider or speculate as to what might have been the consequences for this unfortunate taxi driver mr shahzad if he had not got the good sense and determination to pursue an inquiry at the local supermarket and obtain evidence which may never have been available but for his diligence, which revealed the assailant in this case was the defendant and not mr shahzad.

The new Volkswagen Transporter Shuttle Taxibus More comfortable and refined than ever before the new VW Transporter Shuttle offers the perfect way to transport passengers from A to B. “There are two models available. The S offering an impressive level of standard specification and the SE providing an extra degree of comfort and functionality.”

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utside the restyled exterior gives the new VW Taxibus a timeless appeal and inside the newly designed three-spoke steering wheel, reworked dash and instrument cluster and a CD player make driving a much more pleasurable experience. The vehicles are enhanced by stylish, contemporary

upholstery and the driver’s seat has height and lumbar adjustments. The 2 white taxibuses where ordered from The Taxi Centre by adrian White of aCe Taxis in Worthing and delivered by transporter in time for the busy Christmas and New Years period. With their fresh and distinctive style, safety features, tough dependability and powerful engines, the vehicles will

create a first-rate impression on clients both young and old. There are two models available. The s offering an impressive level of standard specification and the se providing an extra degree of comfort and functionality: both feature removable seats for wheelchair accessibility or extra luggage space. The comprehensive range of standard safety features includes aBs, esP with hill hold assist, driver and passenger airbags and hazard light activation during emergency braking, providing optimum protection for passengers, while the optional ‘lane change assist’ warns of any vehicles in your blind spot, ensuring even higher levels of safety.

New TDI common rail diesel engines offer significantly improved fuel economy and have greatly reduced CO2 emissions. There is also the option of a 7 speed DsG Direct shift gearbox, enabling the driver to change gears much more quickly than a standard automatic and making the driving so much easier. The new VW Transporter shuttle Taxibus can carry up to 8 passengers plus the driver and is spacious, flexible and highly efficient and many taxi drivers and companies prefer this outstanding new VW taxibus. For more information please contact Allan McGinness of The Taxi Centre, 0141 847 6999.

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JANUARY 2012

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ONE PERSON PRIVATE HIRE VEHICLES GET GO-AHEAD AFTER AIRPORT TRIP STUDY Plans to allow the two-seater Smart Car to be used as a private hire vehicle have been approved by councillors, the first move of its kind in Scotland.

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he tiny 0.8-litre engine vehicles will cater for just one passenger, who will squeeze in next to the driver with limited

luggage only. edinburgh City Private Hire put forward the application after a study found its drivers made 55 per cent of journeys from the airport to the city centre with a single passenger onboard.

Both the firm and councillors pointed to the vehicle’s low emission status as a key attraction, and that its size would help to aid congestion. Private hire firms in Oxford and Nottingham already operate the smart Car marque. However, the edinburgh City Private Hire fleet will be the first in scotland to introduce them. Director Kevin Woodburn said: “We’d like to thank the city council for being the first local authority in scotland to have the foresight to license the smart Car as a private hire car for single passenger transport. This is an innovative approach to cutting emissions and congestion and it’s a significant step forward for our industry.

“The tiny 0.8-litre engine vehicles will cater for just one passenger, who will squeeze in next to the driver with limited luggage only.” “The eco-friendly credentials of the smart Car are really what this is about, the fact that it attracts no road tax, and the fact that due to the size of these vehicles they will help to stop congestion on the roads.” Despite having the smallest engine on the road, the vehicle has the same powerto-weight ratio as a Hackney cab, and emits less than 90 grammes of C02 per kilometre.

In contrast, a two-litre skoda supurb emits around 145g/km and a renault espace would be more than 250g/km. at around £10,000-£11,000 they are also considerably cheaper than the saloons often used in the private hire trade. While approving the bid, council officials did make one recommendation – to let passengers know of the size of the vehicle in advance.

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Too many taxis in Derby’, claims drivers association The Derby Area Taxi Drivers Association said its members had to work longer hours because there were too many taxis for a city of Derby’s size. IT esTImaTeD there were 400 hackney carriage-style taxis and more than 1,000 private hire cars. Derby City Council said limiting the number of licences could lead to horse-trading between drivers. Javed Khan, chairman of the association, said the large numbers of taxis in the city meant drivers were having to stay out longer to earn a living wage. He said: “The council’s policy is quantity over quality. We’re not a city like London where people

walk around hailing taxis. “Our working hours are a lot longer now because we’re not taking as much money as we used to. Derby City Council’s Chris Poulter said: “It’s supply and demand. If there aren’t enough customers then the number of taxi drivers will moderate itself.” mr Poulter said the recent introduction of taxi marshals to organise queues of people into taxis around the city had been a great success.

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LEEDS PRIVATE HIRE DRIVER TELLS OF BOTTLE ATTACK A private-hire driver has spoken of his terror after being hit in the face with a glass bottle during his shift.

H

e was attacked while driving his vehicle in Leeds and police are looking for information about

the assault. rizwan Khan told the Yorkshire evening Post he is now scared to return to work following the attack which happened at around midnight on saturday night. The dad of three suffered a broken bone in his face and a black eye when he was struck. The incident took place outside the Wykebeck arms pub on selby road in Halton. mr Khan, 30, has worked for taxi firm Wheels for the past three years

and had stepped out of the car to pick up a customer. He said: “someone shouted at me and a bottle came flying straight at me and it smashed in my face. “I was in shock. I could have been killed. “I have a wife and kids to look after and now I am scared to go back to work in case it happens again but it is my livelihood. “It was unexpected because I pick up customers regularly and I have never had any trouble like this. “a 17-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of being drunk and disorderly and has been bailed pending further inquiries.”

Rochdale Cowboy an uninsured taxi driver from Norden has been fined £400, given six points on his driving licence and ordered to pay £500 costs. Parvez akhtar, aged 44, of shelfield Lane, Norden, rochdale, was found guilty of illegally plying for hire and having no insurance. He was prosecuted by manchester City Council earlier this month. City Council officers became suspicious after noticing akhtar’s private hire car did not have the proper markings, designed to allow members of the public to recognise it as a licensed vehicle, during an operation in march. The officers stopped the car and noticed there were passengers in the back, but although akhtar told the officers they had pre-booked, the passengers themselves said this was

not true. The officers investigated and found no evidence that a journey had been pre-booked, but although akhtar claimed this was because the taxi company he worked for had made a mistake; representatives of this company appeared in court and disproved this claim. “I’d also like to warn any irresponsible drivers who operate without any concern for the safety of their passengers that both our officers and the police will be out and about looking for them.”

Got any news? Call Tony on:

01133 20 27 27 tony@taxi-today.com

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WINTER SALE: GET UP TO £2,750 OFF YOUR NEXT LONDON TAXI! If you’re looking for a great deal on a used London Taxi, then look no further! The London Taxi Company has teamed up with Black Horse Taxi Finance to offer finance deposits of up to a fantastic £2,750 off selected used vehicles, all available to view on www.london-taxis.co.uk

T

here are a variety of vehicles selected as part of the Winter sale event, offering business users the chance to snap up a great deal with finance at 3.99% and a finance deposit of up to £2,750. rob Laidler, sales Director, said: “There are a range of vehicles in the sale from TxII to Tx4, with a mix of mileages and ages. We’re clearing the

decks ready for the New Year, so some of our customers are going to snap up London Taxis at a low rate of 3.99% fixed for five years through Black Horse Taxi Finance. “If a customer sees a vehicle they want to buy, no matter where in the country it is, we’ll bring it to their nearest dealership for them, free of charge.” There are more than 50 vehicles included in the Winter sale,

““If a customer sees a vehicle they want to buy, no matter where in the country it is, we’ll bring it to their nearest dealership for them, free of charge.””

with finance deposits of between £750 and £2,750 available. To view the entire Winter sale stock selection, visit www.london-taxis.co.uk

or alternatively, visit any of The London Taxi Company’s dealerships in London, Coventry, manchester, edinburgh or Glasgow to find out more.

He was in it and he won £1,000! BOurNemOuTH taxi driver Ian Whant has scooped the latest London Taxi Company “In It To Win It” £1,000 prize! The lucky driver visited the factory to collect his winnings along with fellow taxi driver and daughter, anita. Ian, who owns a mixed fleet of vehicles, said: “It’s great news, I’m really pleased and it’s a lovely end of a tough year. I’m already a very lucky man – I have a fantastic wife and five fabulous children, all of whom I am massively proud of. This Christmas, as always, there’ll be 26 of us around the table, including my eight grandchildren, so I’m sure the £1,000 will come in handy!”

The London Taxi Company runs the “In It To Win It” free prize draw once every three months. Winners are selected randomly from the manufacturer’s database, with one lucky winner selected to receive £1,000. This quarter’s winner Ian visited Coventry to collect his cheque and was also given a factory tour so he could see firsthand the Tx4 production line. Ian has been in the taxi industry for more than 30 years and is now ‘part-time’, driving his London Taxi for around 50 hours a week; he is, however, a fully trained chef by trade. “my wife and I moved from London to Bournemouth, so that

we could afford to buy a house for our young family. so, although I was a trained chef, and even ran a restaurant for a few years, I found the hours and money that I could earn being my own boss and driving a taxi suited me and my family better.” Do you fancy winning a £1,000 to see in the New Year with? The next draw takes place in December, so someone will be getting an extra special present! To enter the “In It To Win It” free prize draw, visit www.londontaxis.co.uk and apply online via the Contact us page or simply visit your nearest London Taxi Company dealership.

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The Centre of

Britain

A view from a tax i dealer

A SONG FOR EUROPE

LET’S HAVE A PROPER DEBATE

For great deals visit www.cheapertaxisales.co.uk

“Money, Money, Money” by that Swedish band, Ikea, would be my choice. Or “Greece Is The Word”?

a

historic day, Thursday December 8th 2011. On this day, europe was officially handed over to Germany and Britain was officially handed over to the banks. I say officially because this has been the situation planned for many years and a reality for at least 10 years. Prime minister Cameron was able to appear as a hero, defending the interests of his country against overwhelming odds, while at the same time defending the interests of his real bosses, the bankers. While British industry and job creation has been decimated over the years by european red tape, we never heard a word of protest from our leaders. maybe, to give them credit, they were moaning to each other in private at their school reunions? I mean, it`s not as if Blair, Cameron, mili-major or mili-minor went to the local comp, is it? The european project suited the milibands even better than Cameron and co, given their family marxist upbringing. However, at the first sniff of a financial transaction tax on the banks, Cameron is up in arms fighting for “our” interests. He would have been better negotiating in some red-taperelief for our industry in return for taxing his pals down the road. Only manufacturing and export will bring a truly strong economy. ask Germany! If you don`t believe this, ask yourself from which source Blair, Brown etc all rake in the millions now

that they have retired or been booted out? You got it. Banking. Over the water in europe, the manipulation of democracy is unbelievable. In Italy and Greece, elected leaders have been replaced forcibly with unelected bankers. Will they deviate from the line imposed from Germany? No chance. The true force of the protests, particularly in Greece, has not been shown on the BBC or other mainstream media. You have to go to russia Today or Press TV to see the real news. The French, themselves in dire financial straits, are merely being used as puppets, so much so that their President resembles one. They are the screen of respectability used so that Germany does not appear to be having things all it`s own way. Yet even in Germany, the bulk of the population are against financial integration. Let`s face it, they are paying for it all! It is obvious that leaving the euro and reverting to their own currency is the only way for Greece, spain, Italy, Portugal and Ireland. Yet merkel and zarkozy, the Dr evil and mini-me of politics, without an economics degree between them, insist that the opposite is true. We never hear a word of this in the mainstream media from their “experts”, yet a search of true experts reveals massive support for disbanding the euro currency club. Here, Labour and Libdumb politicians are wandering around TV studios, their natural habitat, wailing about ruin if we take a back seat in europe, like that old woman from up

Pompei (one for the teenagers there). I`ve got news for them. We have been in the back seat for 10 years, since the introduction of the euro. Our position today is no different than it was 6 months ago in that regard. europhile Politicians are trying madly to infer that we will lose out massively on trade with europe. Hardly likely. • We have a massive trading deficit with europe. • Nobody is suggesting that we leave the eu trading group, which is the only link to europe we ever had the chance to vote for or against, back in the 70s. • It costs us billions each year to be a member of this club. • Would we miss this huge trading deficit? Not really. • Less BmW and auDI drivers, up your backside flashing their lights at you, can only be a good thing. We had, and still have, fantastic trading links with the us and Commonwealth countries around the world. Our politicians should be spending their efforts in renewing and strengthening ties with these countries, plus russia, China, Brazil etc, rather than wasting time romancing people who plainly don`t like us (I mean the leaders, not the people of Germany and France). The populations of europe will eventually see through the lies, get sick of paying and kick out these chancers and idiots.

If you are registered disabled, then there is full rebate on an accessible vehicle for you. Or indeed anything else you might buy to help with your mobility and daily living. Quite rightly so. In the 1990s, legislation began to appear, gradually spreading through the almost 400 local authorities in the uK, requiring taxis to be wheelchair accessible. Naturally, the bus and rail companies, with their expensive lobbyists, managed to delay this requirement applying to them. so it came to pass that, a taxi driver in search of a new vehicle, had his freedom of choice removed, in order to create a nationwide fleet of wheelchair accessible, demand driven public transport vehicles. The uK now has the World`s most wheelchair accessible taxi fleet. a proud yet expensive achievement. Yet, astonishingly, unlike the bus and rail companies, accessible taxis receive absolutely no subsidy or tax relief in CONTINUED ON P.26

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CONTINUED FROM P.22

return for fulfilling this vital need. When choice in a business decision is removed in the national interest, as in this case, then Government have a duty to ease the burden wherever and however possible. In this case, VaT exemption for vehicle purchase is the obvious and easily implemented route to support. reduced road tax is equally easy to implement. VaT, now anywhere between £4000 and £6500 (gasp) in the purchase of a wheelchair accessible taxi, should be zero rated immediately in this sector, as it is for privately purchased accessible vehicles. remember that the purchasers have been forced to buy as a result of legislation so should be compensated. Please email your local mP and ask him or her to raise this matter. Tell them that in real terms there will be no cost to the exchequer. Lower prices will lead to more purchases, less unemployment among the builders and converters, less unemployment benefits, more income tax, more fuel revenues, more insurance tax. Lower VaT will lead to greater multiseater availability, reducing Council expenditure on school and social transport. Better still, encourage a British manufacturer to come up with a platform vehicle for conversion, rather than import them all from France!!

USED TAXI MARKET another little follow-up from last month. Like sKY and BBC, we can`t really be bothered to do anything over the holiday period so just rehash some of the best moans of the past year. I have to repeat though that brand new sales are still incredibly quiet while decent quality used cabs are gone practically before the valeter is finished with them. Clearly, people are not comfortable investing £25k or so in a brand new cab in the current financial climate. either that or so many people are reading Taxi-Today these days and seeing the ad!!

Oh, and Happy New Year!!

HAVE YOU EVER WONDERED WHO YOUR ANCESTORS WERE? Perhaps you’d love to know what kind of lives they led, what jobs they carried out and where they lived.

a

s michael J. rochford of Heir Line Ltd explains, with his help you can find out the answers to these questions. You could discover not just what your ancestors’ names were, but all sorts of interesting facts about them that would otherwise be lost to your family forever. Take the charming story of Victorian Cab Driver, edward Ormond, for example.

“Discover not just what your ancestors’ names were, but all sorts of interesting facts about them” Providence street, where now stands the Wakefield city Post Office in West Yorkshire, was once home to the Ormond family. edward Ormond, the head of the family, was a native of this thriving northern town. He was born in 1844 and baptised at Wakefield Parish Church, which is now the proud Wakefield Cathedral, with its spire standing at 247 feet high, the tallest in Yorkshire and fourth on the list of england’s loftiest spires. edward had a love of all things equine and became a groom. He left his hometown as a young man and moved to Halifax, West Yorkshire, to take up his profession. It was in Halifax where he met and married sarah ann Tomlinson when he was 21 and she was 24. sarah was originally from sandbach in Cheshire and had come to Yorkshire to work ‘below stairs’ as a domestic servant. Having brought four children into the world, it was time for edward to move back to Wakefield, taking his family with him. settling on the busy Providence street, edward put his skill with horses to good use and became a cab driver. One can imagine him taking the great and the good of Wakefield across town, with his horse drawn

cab transporting his passengers up and down the town’s ancient streets, past the church in which he was baptised to the many shops and boutiques this bustling town possessed. Perhaps edward’s passengers were heading for G & J Hall’s photography studio to pose for a family portrait or maybe they just wanted to take in a spot of sightseeing that may have included a trip to see the ruins of the historic sandal Castle, a popular spot for Victorian picnickers. edward and sarah remained in Wakefield, and lived on Providence street until edward’s death in 1904 at the age of 60. To discover who your ancestors were, email michael at mike@heir-line.co.uk or visit his website www.heirline.co.uk

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JANUARY 2012

Glasgow Cops crack down on city’s taxi pirates POLICe LauNCH first ever stop and search on private hire cars registered outside Glasgow Pirate taxis were targeted in Glasgow as part of a pre-Christmas crackdown. Police and council officials revealed they have launched their first ever stop and searches on private hire cars registered outside the city. The move comes after an investigation revealed drivers, most from out of town, were illegally picking up fares from unofficial ranks in the city centre, often

charging passengers double the normal fares. until now Glasgow City Council’s taxi enforcement team has been unable to search taxis or private hire cabs registered outside the city – but can do so with the help of the police. The team has doubled patrols this month, inspecting 129 cars last week alone as they aim to drive the pirates off city streets. On just one patrol they checked 30 cars, issuing 18 of them with immediate suspension notices.

DURHAM TAXI DRIVERS’ FURY OVER OUTSIDERS TRADING IN CITY IN auGusT County Durham taxi drivers protested against a plan to allow in cabbies from outside the city Taxi drivers say civic bosses have created “a monster� by allowing outside cabbies in to ply for trade. Durham County Council deregulated the taxi trade, allowing unlimited numbers of vehicles to operate in the city centre from september 1 – despite cabbies’ leaders warning chaos would ensue. residents of Claypath, in Durham, say their lives are being ruined by taxis queuing until the early hours. Taxi drivers in the city warned of a “free-for-all� when cabbies from

outlying areas were given the go-ahead to ply their trade alongside them after deregulation. adrian Fets, chairman of Durham Independent Taxi Drivers’ association, said: “We said that allowing a free-forall into the city centre would be a disaster and we have been proved right. There are far too many taxis coming into Durham City from outlying areas which are causing gridlock. The county council has created a monster and it will of got worse over the Christmas period. We get taxis into Durham from places like Peterlee, easington, stanley and Bishop auckland.

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TAXIS IN UTTLESFORD ARE THE FIRST IN COUNTY TO GET CCTV TaxIs IN uttlesford will be the first in essex to be fitted with CCTV, ensuring greater safety for passengers and drivers alike. The scheme, initially in 15 taxis and private hire vehicles from eight fleets operating in the district, sees video and audio equipment installed which monitors both the front and rear of the vehicle.

It is a joint venture between uttlesford District Council, essex Police, essex Fire and rescue and the uttlesford Licensed Operators and Drivers association, which work together as the Quality Taxi Partnership. Funding for the scheme, totalling £10,000, was provided by essex County Council.

Terrified taxi driver speaks out a TaxI DrIVer has spoken of the terrifying moment a violent group of youths set upon his cab as he went to pick up a fare. Kibria shah, 44, said he thought the mob would kill him after they swarmed around his cab on a Cardiff street trying to get into the car, kicking and punching to smash the windscreen. Cardiff Hackney Carriage

association warned that similar reported incidents are making Tremorfa a “no-go” area for cabbies and has already issued advice to its drivers to be vigilant in the area. mr shah, 44, a taxi driver for eight years in Cardiff, said he was now nervous about leaving the house and his family had begged him not to work at night.

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TAXI DRIVER RUNS FOUL OF THE LAW AS HE IMPRISONS PASSENGERS OVER FARE DISPUTE NEW COURT CASE SHOULD ACT AS A WARNING Taxi law experts Howards Solicitors are warning taxi drivers not to take the law into their own hands, even if they believe they are being provoked, after a new landmark ruling.

T

he case of eve Lamb v equity red star has set a new precedent for the duty of care demanded of taxi drivers towards their passengers and other road users. The taxi driver who was insured equity red star had been found liable of false imprisonment after he refused to let his passengers leave his vehicle over a fare dispute. In the ensuing confrontation between the driver and ms Lamb’s partner, she suffered a broken hip requiring 6 weeks in hospital after the driver lost control of his vehicle. The taxi driver had decided to take the couple to a police station despite repeated requests to be allowed to exit –

an action that was deemed false imprisonment by the Court. This has led to a key ruling that the driver had a strict liability, which makes him legally responsible for the damage and loss caused by his acts regardless of fault – ms Lamb was awarded £13,250 in damages. Deputy District Judge Jones also commented in his judgement that the driver had the option to stop his vehicle but continued and so posed a significant danger to other road users as well as his passengers. Howards solicitors, which works closely with the taxi trade, represented ms Lamb, believes that taxi drivers must take away key lessons away from this case. Gavyn atkinson, head of personal

injury and civil litigation, who worked on the case at Howards solicitors, advises: “If you are a taxi driver that believes that they have been wronged do not take the law into your own hands, pursue other options. If you find yourself in a difficult position call the Police if possible, drop off passengers outside their homes or places of work and note the address, install cameras in your cab.” atkinson continues: “Only in cases of self-defence where you honestly believe that there is a threat to your physical well-being would we acknowledge that there might not be any reasonable alternative. However, cases that go to Court are often not clear cut in regards to self-defence.”

Oliver Gardner managing partner of Howards solicitors, which specialises in criminal and motoring law comments: “The law is still far from satisfactory for taxi drivers. There are few, if any, cases that give much needed guidance to taxi drivers in this area. moreover, Gavyn’s research showed that no approved guidelines are in place, from councils or colleges offering NVQs for taxi drivers. It is a situation that needs to be resolved quickly to protect taxi drivers and their passengers.”

Got any news? Call Tony on:

01133 20 27 27 tony@taxi-today.com

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