HATTON - TAXI Newspaper

Transcription

P3: Minicab Regs
Results Dissected
TAXI
The official publication of the Licensed Taxi Drivers’ Association | www.ltda.co.uk |
@TheLTDA
No.360 | 26 JANUARY 2016
SEE PAGE 5
HATTON
HEIST
TAXI DRIVER
ACQUITTED
More readers than the rest put together. Ask any driver!
LTDA
2 TAXI| 26 JANUARY 2016
www.ltda.co.uk |
@TheLTDA
NEWS
Pedicab driver jailed
Briedis ignored a court ban
Court
A pedicab rider is behind bars after
being found guilty of breaching a
ban he had been given just three days
earlier.
Juris Briedis, 21, of Edgware Road,
had just been handed a Criminal
Behaviour Order (CBO) prohibiting
him from plying his trade in Central
London. But his lack of respect for
the law saw him back on the streets
ripping off unsuspecting tourists only
days later.
Unfortunately for him, sharp-eyed
Westminster bobbies were on patrol
on Sunday, January 10 and spotted
Briedis on a pedicab in Bird Street,
which was included in the ban.
He attempted to flee, but he was
caught and arrested.
A judge sentenced him to 24
weeks imprisonment at Westminster
Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday,
January 12.
Inspector Guy Ellwood, of the Met’s
Oxford Street, Regent Street and Bond
Street team, said: “This should send
the message that riders who persistently
engage in disruptive, criminal and
anti-social activity will face significant
consequences.”
The initial five year CBO had
banned Briedis from riding a pedicab
in the W1, SW1, W2 and WC2 areas.
It was given to him after he failed to
comply with a Community Protection
Notice (CPN), which was issued when
he rode his pedicab in an anti-social
manner. At his latest appearance,
Briedis was joined by four others,
who are also subject to a CBO with
the same conditions for five years.
Pervert Uber driver jailed
Court
A “dangerous and predatory” Uber
driver has been jailed for 18
months after sexually assaulting a
passenger.
Aliriza Kurt leaned across to a
24-year-old woman who got in his
car and groped her after picking
her up in Brixton late at night in
May.
The 42-year-old, of Blackstock
Road, north London, asked the
woman: “Are you comfortable with
this?”
The victim managed to escape
before calling the police who
arrested him a few hours later.
Siwan Hayward, TfL’s deputy
director of enforcement and
on-street operations, praised the
victim for coming forward to
report her attacker.
She said: “This victim’s bravery
in reporting this offence to the police
has helped put this sex offender behind
They are:
n Kristaps Lapins, 21, of Wells House bars, preventing him from preying on
any other vulnerable women.”
Road, NW10
Kurt was made the subject of a
n Elvis Bergins, 21, of Edgware Road
sexual harm prevention order for
n Elviss Krauklis, 23, of Edgware an indefinite period under which
Road
he cannot have any women other
n Ivo Laskovs, 25, of Clarendon than family members in a car
Court.
driven by him, and cannot apply
to become or work as a private hire
driver in England and Wales.
He was ordered to sign the sex
offender register for 10 years.
Inspector Tracy Allison, from the
Met’s cab enforcement unit, said:
“This was an excellent result, which has
seen a dangerous predator receive a jail
sentence.”
Locked up: Kurt
More readers than the rest put together!
26 JANUARY 2016 | TAXI
3
Top Trade Story
PH REGULATIONS
REVIEW - THE TRUTH
STEVE MCNAMARA LTDA General Secretary
The PH regs review has many positive points but TfL has ducked some big issues
A
fter four months and over
16,000 responses, TfL rather
surprisingly announced
the result of the Private Hire
Regulations Review consultation
within three weeks of it closing.
Whether staff actually digested all
16,000 responses or somehow fast
tracked or speed read them was
not made clear.
The actual announcement
could be sorted very quickly into
the “good news” and “bad news.”
The best of the bunch is that TfL
intends to remove the Congestion
Charge fee exemption for
minicabs. This will add another
£11.50 per day to their meagre
running costs. This was pretty
much a no brainer: the increasing
number of empty minicabs is
causing the congestion so they
should pay the cost of reducing it.
The scrapping of minicab satellite
offices was something else that
was long overdue; they were a
licence to tout from day one and
their demise has been welcomed
by many councils and the police.
Passenger safety
Other good sensible measures to
be adopted include, a requirement
for all minicab operators to offer
the facility for a customer to be able
to talk by telephone with someone
at all times. The argument put
forward by a certain app company
that this would involve extra cost
burdens in employing call centre
staff were rightly dismissed on the
grounds of passenger safety. The
same app company is also unhappy
with the new requirement to provide
a fixed fare at the time of booking,
possibly because it will lead to
greater transparency of its surge
pricing scheme. Passengers will
see the intended fare immediately,
rather than in the current system,
which simply advises it will be X%
higher without specifying what
X is. Likewise, its objections to
having record the destination on all
bookings, as unnecessary red tape,
were rightly dismissed
Like many Londoners, we are
puzzled why so many in the
minicab industry are unhappy
about the new requirement
for minicab drivers to supply
a National Insurance number,
undergo a mandatory English
language test and for criminal
record checks to be compulsory for
all minicab control room staff?
Legal case
The elephant in the room with these
proposals is TfL’s refusal to tackle
the major problem with London’s
minicabs - the fact that so many of
them are uninsured. The mayor and
other senior staff at TfL are very
aware of the scale of the problem.
They have prosecuted Uber for
insurance failures before, and have
repeatedly discovered fake or
forged insurance policies during
compliance visits. Even a cursory
glance on the internet will reveal
journalists and others uploading
fake certificates to Uber. In one
instance, a Chinese take away menu
was uploaded, and the applicant
was still activated to work the app.
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The refusal to tackle the insurance issue is a scandal
TfL has rather surprisingly rejected
the only guaranteed method of
ensuring every minicab in London
is adequately insured, operator
insurance, which involves the
company providing the insurance
for every car it supplies. This
would have resulted in cheaper
insurance for their industry
through bulk buying and would
have put an end to the current
minicab lottery, where the car that
is despatched may or may not be
insured!
TfL have also again refused to
accept the obvious; that any app
that shows an empty minicab to
a potential passenger is allowing
that vehicle to ply for hire.
Someone once said “there is none
so blind as those who will not see,” or
more appropriately in this instance,
“those who are instructed not to see.”
The truth is that the mayor and
many at TfL have been subjected to
an unparalleled level of lobbying
and influence from Uber’s friends
in Whitehall and beyond, and the
refusal to tackle the insurance and
plying for hire issues are nothing
short of a scandal.
The LTDA is currently involved
in a legal case to urgently address
the plying for hire issue and will be
launching further legal challenges
in the near future to oppose other
aspects of continued illegality
ignored by this review. n
4 TAXI|26 JANUARY 2016
www.ltda.co.uk |
@TheLTDA
MEMBERSHIP
Latest LTDA membership offers from LTDA Plus
Membership
Did you know, that as a member of
LTDA, you have access to LTDA Plus,
an exclusive portfolio containing
money-saving discounts, designed
to support LTDA members both
personally and professionally. There
is no sign up process, nor any extra
charge to access these benefits - you
are automatically eligible to access
these benefits by virtue of your
membership. This month’s highlights
include:
Discounts on Airport
Parking, Hotels & Lounges
Holiday Extras, the UK market leader
for holiday add-ons, are offering
LTDA members an exclusive discount!
With savings of up to 10% on Airport
Parking, 10% off Airport Hotels, and
8% off UK Airport Lounges, Holiday
Extras are dedicated to providing
you with a hassle-free start to your
holiday!*
Save 10% with SuperBreak
Mini-Holidays - Short
break specialists for over
30 years
LTDA members have access to a 10%
Save an Additional 5% on Package Holidays
discount on hotel accommodation
with optional rail travel including
Eurostar, flights, concert & events,
theatre & dining, group bookings and
much more!*
Save an Additional 5% on
Package Holidays
Book your holidays with Your
Travel Rewards and you will enjoy a
guaranteed additional 5% saving from
major travel companies - including
Thomas Cook, Thomson, First Choice,
Cosmos, Airtours, Crystal, Neilson
and Kuoni*.
To view all of the benefits available
through LTDA Plus, log-on via www.
ltda.co.uk/member-discounts/ltdaplus
*Terms and conditions apply to all
benefits. See website for details. Offers
subject to change without notice. Holiday
Extras - Some parking products may attract
a lower level of discount. Some parking
products will attract a lower level of
discount. In the last 12 months, over 30% of
airport parking bookings were for an ‘offsite’ or non-airport owned meet and greet
product which have a 10% discount loaded.
Discounts are not obtainable on APH special
offer products and airport owned products
at Aberdeen, Birmingham, Exeter, Glasgow,
Gatwick, Heathrow, London City, Luton and
Southampton. Discounts are not applicable
for International lounge bookings. Your
Travel Rewards - Crystal, Virgin Holidays
and Kuoni are only available to book by
telephone. LTDA Plus is managed on behalf
of LTDA by Parliament Hill Ltd.
THE LTDA IS SPENDING
,
,
£1
000
000
FIGHTING TO SAVE YOUR JOB
We must convince the courts that U*** is breaking
all the rules, and its drivers are illegally plying for hire.
E
GIV
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WE UP T
13630-LTDA_Uber_Ad_HalfPage.indd 1
020 7286 1046 WWW.LTDA.CO.UK
08/06/2015 10:19
5
FEATURE
LTDA WINS HATTON HEIST VICTORY
A Stunned LTDA member was wrongly charged with involvement in the UK’s biggest ever
burglary and faced a long time behind bars until our legal eagles stepped in to save the day
L
TDA member Jon Harbinson
was making his way to the
gym for his regular work out
but as he approached the Waterside
Leisure Centre on Canvey Island,
he was suddenly confronted by
five officers of the Met’s elite
Flying Squad. The detectives then
informed the shocked cabbie
that he was being arrested for
conspiracy to burgle the Hatton
Garden Safety Deposit premises,
during the preceding Easter
weekend. Jon was handcuffed
and taken to Wandsworth
police station on May 21.
Tooley Street ticket
Jon had joined the LTDA in
November 2009 and his only
previous contact with the
association’s legal team had
been just a few days prior to his
arrest; when he had received
advice in respect of a yellow line
infringement in Tooley Street, SE1.
Unfortunately, his appeal against
the parking offence failed, but the
outcome of the high profile robbery
charge ultimately proved to be a
very different matter!
Crucial evidence
uncovered
Jon was refused bail and held in
custody at Belmarsh Prison for
eight months. During that time
the LTDA’s legal team, led by
in-house lawyer John Luckhurst,
went to great lengths to examine
and unravel every detail of the
prosecution’s evidence. The team
eventually succeeded in uncovering
crucial information that the police
had chosen to ignore.
The trial of Jon and his codefendants opened in November
last year at Southwark Crown
Court, amidst a tidal wave of
media attention. The LTDA
appointed an eminent barrister
to defend Jon and, in addition,
an LTDA staff member gave
detailed evidence to refute the
Crown’s submission that Jon had
also used his Vito cab to “case”
Jon’s taxi in CCTV footage used by the police
burglary. Sentencing is scheduled
for March, when it is expected that
lengthy terms of imprisonment
will be imposed.
This high profile case has yet
again proved the value of cabbies
joining the trade’s largest and most
able trade association.
the Hatton Garden premises. The
jury retired on Tuesday, January 12,
and returned after one and a half
days to pronounce Jon innocent of
all charges. All of the other codefendants were convicted of their
involvement in what the police
consider to be the UK’s biggest ever
Diamond Wheezers Convicted
Terry Perkins, John Collins, Daniel Jones and Brian Reader (left to right)
The hole drilled to access the vault
Court
The Hatton Garden raid has been
touted as one of the most daring in
history and the last hurrah for a gang
of ageing crooks.
At least £14million of gems, bullion
and precious stones were robbed
from safes after the men drilled into
the vault of Hatton Garden Safety
Deposits Ltd in April last year.
Seven men with an average age
of 63 have been convicted of their
involvement in the raid. One man
evaded capture and remains at large.
Ringleaders Brian Reader, 76,
Terry Perkins, 67, Daniel Jones, 58
and Kenny Collins, 75, admitted
conspiring to commit burglary from
the start.
Carl Wood, 58, and William
Lincoln, 60, were found guilty of the
same charge by a jury following
a trial.
Hugh Doyle, 48, was found guilty
of conspiracy to conceal, convert or
transfer criminal property.
The crooks worked with a 77-pound,
£3,500 Hilti DD350 drill to cut
through two metres of concrete.
It took them two and a half days
to break into the vault and rifle 72
safety deposit boxes, many of them
filled with unregistered, uninsured
jewellery from the local diamond
trade, making accurate estimates
of the value almost impossible. It is
likely to be the biggest robbery in
UK history.
The raid took place over Easter
weekend, a four-day holiday when
no business is conducted, and took
three years to plan.
The robbers were nicknamed
Mr Ginger, Mr Strong, Mr Montana,
the Gent, the Tall Man, Moped Man
and the Old Man by The Mirror.
They reportedly even drove away
and came back the next day to
finish the job.
www.ltda.co.uk |
@TheLTDA
NEWS
“Star Wars Cab” Kills Copyright Claim
The future is stong in this one
Court
The London Taxi Company’s
claim that futuristic new Metrocab
breached its trade mark has been
dismissed.
LTC took Frazer-Nash Research
Ltd and Ecotive Ltd to the High
Court over the taxi, which was
described by a witness as like
something from Star Wars and is
the first to meet Boris Johnson’s
zero emissions requirements.
Lawyers for the company claimed
the Metrocab was attempting to
pass itself off as one of its patented
designs and would confuse
customers.
However, in a mammoth
judgment in which he delved
back to the 1600s and the reign of
Charles 1 to outline the history of
London cabs through the centuries,
one of the country’s top judges, Mr
Justice Arnold, threw out LTC’s
claim.
The judge was shown the two
vehicles at the centre of the battle
standing side by side during the
case. He said in his judgment,
which ran to more than 33,000
words, that LTC owned trade mark
registrations for the shapes of the
Fairway and TX1/TXII taxis.
But, he said: “It alleges that the
defendants threaten to infringe the
trademarks and to commit passing off
by marketing a new model of London
taxi referred to as the new Metrocab
which is currently being trialled.”
He added that strictly speaking it
was Ecotive who would have been
responsible, if the case was proven,
because the role of Frazer Nash was
to supply parts for the new cab.
LTC claimed the shape of the
Metrocab was substantially copied
from the shape of the TX4.
It said the defendants intended
“to deceive the public as to the
origin of the new Metrocab by
LTDA Policy Statement
adopting a shape which closely
resembled LTC models.”
That was, said the judge, “an
allegation of fraud.”
However, he continued:
“The defendants deny trade mark
infringement and passing off.
Furthermore, they contend that the
trademarks are invalidly registered
because they lack distinctive character
and add substantial value to the
goods.”
In dismissing the allegations
by LTC he said he considered the
trade marks at the centre of the
argument were “devoid of inherent
distinctive character” and should be
declared invalid.
“The claim for passing off fails,”
he said. “In my judgment there is
no evidence that the shape of the new
Metrocab is likely to lead consumers
of taxi services to believe that it comes
from the same source as LTC’s taxis,
as opposed to being a licensed London
taxi.”
Kamal Siddiqi, Chairman of
Ecotive and Frazer-Nash, said:
“We are delighted with the court’s
decision. We are now looking forward
to finishing the production version of
the new Metrocab and putting them
on the road later this year.”
NEWS IN BRIEF
Pedicabs blight London
says Goldsmith
Tourists are being ripped
off and placed in danger by
rickshaw riders according to
the Conservative candidate for
mayor.
Zac Goldsmith has urged the
Government to hand Transport
for London the power to licence
rickshaws, which he says were
involved in more than 600
incidents last year.
Mr Goldsmith wrote to
Transport Secretary Patrick
McLoughlin, saying, “rickshaws
clog up the roads, ride on the
pavements and are not subject to the
same rules as cabs, which are there
to protect passengers. By licensing
them we can make them safer for
passengers, pedestrians and cyclists.”
Boris Johnson called for
pedicabs to be banned outright, a
move which would be welcomed
by the LTDA and many others.
The Mayor later called for
powers to regulate them, when
footage emerged of tourists being
charged £206 for a ride of less
than a mile from Oxford Circus
to Marble Arch.
LTC applies to register “Black Cab”
It is more essential than ever for drivers to be fully appraised of
the various trade organisations’ policies. In order to clarify the
LTDA’s position on the important issues facing the industry, the
Association reaffirms:
1.
Its determination (despite opposition from certain trade organisations) to exclude
taxi drivers from any form of restriction on working hours or the compulsory fitting
of tachographs in cabs.
2.
Its total opposition to the proposed computerised Knowledge testing system
(Quickie Knowledge), which is intended to speed up and churn out new licences.
3.
Its support for a regular review of taxi usage in London in order to provide
effective management of the cab fleet which will prevent the streets of London
being flooded with empty cabs.
4.
Its support for the introduction of ‘rest ranks’ to enable drivers to legally leave
their cabs unattended whilst visiting adjacent toilet facilities.
5.
Its support for a complete ban on pedicabs.
6.
Its insistence on meaningful consultation with Transport for London.
7.
Its support for an effective minicab enforcement team, trained
to eradicate illegal touting by minicab drivers.
8.
Its campaign for taxi access to all bus lanes.
9.
Its insistence that taxis continue to be exempt from
congestion charges.
10. Its policy to recruit, support and represent licensed
taxi drivers only.
If you require clarification on these or
other important issues, please:
Call the LTDA on 020 7286 1046
POLICY
Trade
“Black Cab” combs, sponges and
beauty products could be part of a
massive range of items in shops in
the future.
LTC has applied to officially
register the name as a trade mark
which could potentially be used for
hundreds of items and services.
Figurines and works of art, fire
extinguishers, cuff links, key fobs,
papier mache statuettes, DVDs,
kitchen utensils, combs, walking
sticks, umbrellas and Christmas
tree decorations could all soon be
licensed by the taxi manufacturer.
More predictably the long list of
items also includes taxis, fittings
for taxis, taxi services, transport
reservation services, vehicle leasing,
rental and hire services for vehicles
and services for transportation and
delivery of goods.
The application to register the
name and logo is in the latest list of
applications filed at the Intellectual
Property Office.
Companies, organisations and
individuals apply to register names
and logos as trademarks in order to
identify the commercial source or
origin of goods and services, and set
their business and its products or
services apart from those of others.
Trademark owners can enforce
their trademarks as a means of
preventing others from using
identical, or even, in some cases,
similar, names and logos.
7
NEWS
Top Knowledge School Saved
students back to Knowledge Point at its
new home.”
London’s longest-running taxi driver
LTC has said it is keen to support
training school has been saved from
good quality job creation in
the scrap heap after signing a new
London and will be promoting new
deal with the London Taxi Company.
initiatives to help attract and train
Knowledge Point has trained
the London cabbies of the future in
London taxi drivers for more than
conjunction with Knowledge Point
30 years but founder Malcolm
Peter Johansen, Chief Executive
Linskey announced plans to close its
of the LTC, and architect of the
Islington based office late
agreement with Knowledge Point,
last year.
said: “We are extremely pleased to be
He said the decision
able to help keep Knowledge
was made because of
Point open. The
dwindling numbers
Knowledge is a proud
of students and
tradition among
spiralling rent in
London black cab
London.
drivers, and still as
The iconic taxi
relevant today as
firm, which itself
ever before.”
was rescued
Knowledge
from oblivion
Point, which
by Chinese
opened in 1983,
carmaker Geely,
has seen 9,000
has confirmed that
black cab drivers
Knowledge Point
graduate to London’s
SAVE THE DAY
is once again open
roads. To celebrate the
for business, but is
opening of Knowledge
now based at the firm’s
Point’s new premises,
Brewery Road dealership, yards
the London Taxi Company is
from its original location.
offering Knowledge graduates
Malcolm Linskey said: “We’re very
£1,000 towards the cost of a brand
grateful to the London Taxi Company
new TX4*. For more information
for stepping in to rescue the centre
please call 0207 700 0888, email
following some uncertainty at the end of
[email protected]
last year. We’re now we’re seeing some
or drop into the London dealership
confidence return and so we’re looking
to discuss the offer with the
forward to welcoming new and existing
customer relationship team.
Trade
ra
e
m
a
Lost C
l
a
e
p
p
A
Rent with
Sherbet London
From £220 per week
Call 020 7254 3849
Share your
story
If you have a funny, sad
or strange story from your
time on the job, then a theatre
company wants to hear it. The
A woman who left her camera
in the back of a taxi she took
from the Sky Garden in
Fenchurch Street to the Dark
Sugars chocolate coffee shop
in Brick Lane is
appealing for its return.
Victoria Foden, her husband
and two children made the
journey on January 5 at around
2pm and the Olympus
SP-820UZ was in a red bag
on the seat.
Contact Victoria Foden on
07917 704538 or email
Victoria.foden@ ntlworld.com
group is working on a performance
which is inspired by testimonies
from taxi drivers and wants to get
a different view of the city
E: [email protected]
/sherbetlondon
www.sherbetlondon.com
Email ramon_ayres@
hotmail.com with your
story or any questions...
www.ltda.co.uk |
@TheLTDA
NEWS
The Cab You Drive Martin Kingsley
Trade
The end of 2015 wasn’t the busiest
Christmas period the trade has
known but it wasn’t as bad as many
of the doom and gloom merchants
predicted. This was reflected in the
number of new cabs sold - 59 new
sherbets joined the ranks.
The total number of new cabs
sold last year was 1,308, down from
2014’s high of 1,485. Taking into
account Mercedes departure from
the taxi market in September,
pending the arrival of their Euro
VI cab, the sales figures are about
right. The new Euro VI TX4
continues to get good reviews
from the fleets and drivers.
Owners appear to be particularly
pleased with how quiet and
smooth the new bigger engine is.
RIP 1922-2016
Newly Licensed Taxis - November 2014 to November 2015
300
250
200
150
100
50
Dec
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Now
Dec
LTI
106
54
71
152
55
41
76
102
66
179
130
70
59
Merc Vito
3
0
10
28
12
12
29
62
98
0
0
0
0
Metro
3
0
0
1
0
0
0
0
0
0
1
0
0
Total
110
54
81
181
67
53
105
164
164
179
131
70
59
KEY:
LTI
VITO
METRO
TOTAL
Friends and family have paid
their respects to a much-loved
Knowledge School boss and “perfect
gentleman” who died in January.
Taxi stalwart and longstanding LTDA member, Martin
Kingsley, founded the Greyhound
Knowledge School in Harrow Road
more than 20 years ago.
He helped thousands of drivers
start their careers as “Knights of the
Road,” and many of them attended
his funeral in Bushy Cemetery
on Monday, January 4, to say an
emotional farewell.
Martin’s wife of 65 years, Rita,
said: “Martin was asked if he would
start a Knowledge school and he was
delighted to do so.
“Not long after the doorbell would
ring and six trainers would appear for
a cup of tea.
“He loved the job and he will
be well remembered. We miss him
terribly.”
Retired Knowledge examiner
John Ormes said: “My first contact
with Martin was when I was in
the PCO from 1988 when I was a
Knowledge of London Examiner.
From there after we met at various
social functions, and exchanged the
odd phone call. He was one of the ‘old
school;’ a great teacher, a good cab
driver and a perfect gentleman who
was very much respected.”
9
www.ltda.co.uk |
@TheLTDA
Mayoral Elections
PETER WHITTLE UKIP London mayoral candidate
I Will Fight
Your Corner
The current situation can’t go on – there must be a minicab licence cap and tougher rules
I
use black cabs in London every
week. It wouldn’t occur to me to use
anything else.
Black cabs are as intrinsic a part of
the capital’s transport system as the
Tube and the buses which I use to get
to work every day. The orange light
shining in the dark on an approaching
cab must be one of the most reassuring
sites of urban life.
It is not enough to say that London
would be a poorer place without them;
it would simply no longer be London
at all.
But that is the stark scenario facing
us if we fail to support the cabbies in
their fight for simple fairness and a
level playing field during a period of
unprecedented growth in the number
of private hire vehicles (PHV).
It’s estimated that now, one in 10
cars in the capital’s streets is a PHV,
up from one in 100 only a few years
ago. Nobody - least of all the black cab
drivers I talk to on my regular trips
- is against competition. In fact, I’ve
been struck by how reasonable and
accommodating their attitude is. But
frankly the situation now is spiralling
out of control.
I don’t need to reiterate the facts
that, as cab drivers, you all know, but
the public perhaps needs to be made
more aware of what it could lose
unless it supports you.
The public needs to know that you
are the most regulated taxi service
in the world and understand what it
takes for you to get your badge, and
that these are the reasons why you are
unquestionably the best in the world.
I have yet to use Uber. I have
nothing against it in principle, but,
from a grossly unfair position, it is
being allowed to undermine one of
the most professional, reliable and safe
services on offer in modern London.
Licences are being handed out at
the rate of nearly 700 a week, often
to drivers who have little grasp of
English, less knowledge of London
and who are slaves to their satnavs.
But it goes further than this: time
and again cabbies have pointed out
to me how driving in the capital has
been transformed.
PHV drivers simply don’t know or don’t care - about the rules. Just
last week, my cabbie pointed out to
me a PHV in front of us who drifted
from lane to lane, then straddled both
and finally ended up in a bicycle box.
Others drive the wrong way along
one-way streets. I have been told of
how doormen are bribed for jobs
while our professional, regulated
black cabs sit diligently on the rank.
Importantly, there are very serious
questions about passenger safety and
yet there is no attempt to bring them
into line.
As the UKIP mayoral candidate,
my support for black cab drivers is
unequivocal. The present situation
cannot be allowed to continue, so I
would push for a freeze on any further
licences being issued by City Hall.
This would give us a breathing
space in which to put in more vigorous
and fairer qualifications with regard
to PHV drivers. Not just a greater
understanding of English, but proper
health checks and where possible,
criminal record checks.
We would protect the integrity of
the Knowledge against attempts to
dilute and dismantle it. And we would
push for a ban on the exploitative and
unsafe rickshaw business.
UKIP is now the third party in
London, and this means that we could
have up to three members on the GLA
after May’s election. You should rest
assured that unlike your fair weather
Tory and Labour friends, we will not
stint in fighting your corner. n
11
www.ltda.co.uk |
@TheLTDA
NEWS
Uber airport menace angers neighbours
Road
Residents living near airports are
growing increasingly furious at
the large number of Uber drivers
clogging their streets and using them
as a toilet.
Villagers close to Stanstead and
Heathrow say the chaos created by
surly minicab drivers waiting for jobs
is making their lives unbearable.
Long queues of drivers block
Stanwell in Surrey, near Heathrow,
and one resident fears the problem
could cause a “riot.”
Neighbours claim that at least 50 of
the app’s drivers regularly park in the
road, blasting loud music out of their
car windows, “urinating in the bushes”
and throwing rubbish on the floor.
Samantha Wormald said tempers
flare when residents ask the Uber
drivers to leave.
She said: “Some have lived here for
nearly 30 years and there is now nowhere
to park. Quite a lot of OAPs live down
here and it must be quite intimidating
for them.
“The drivers sit
in the back of the
car and all you see
is the glare of their
mobile phone sitting
outside your house for 24 hours a day.”
Residents in Takeley, near Stansted,
are also regularly confronted with
lines of Uber drivers sitting in their
streets for hours.
Paige-Elizabeth Reed, whose
mother lives in the village, said:
“The parking is getting so bad, with
Uber drivers sitting outside the
residents’ houses for hours.” But North
Essex Parking Partnership (NEPP),
which has responsibility for parking
in the Uttlesford District, says it is on
the case.
A spokesperson said: “The problem
extends to the clearway on Parsonage
Road and Stansted Courtyard.
Restrictions limiting parking to a specific
one hour period are usually put in place
to prevent commuters from all-day
parking.
“Residents concerned about these
licensed minicabs parking in the area
should report their concerns to their
local authority, in this case Uttlesford
District Council, which is the licensing
authority.”
But the council said that the
minicabs are licensed by TfL and
that the drivers do have the right to
park where there are no restrictions
in place.
Parish clerk Jane Heskey said:
“There is an average of 40 to 50 minicab
cars waiting around the village.
“There is a real problem with litter and
there are no toilet facilities in their cars so
there is also the obvious issue with bottles
of urine and plastic bags full of human
feces being discarded.”
An airport spokesman said:
“Heathrow is working with neighbouring
local authorities, residents, regulators and
the private hire industry to address the
impact minicab activity is having on local
communities.”
An Uber spokesman said:
“We take any reports of antisocial
behaviour very seriously, and what
has been alleged is clearly unacceptable.
“Whilst this issue is not confined to
Uber, we would urge residents to report
such behaviour so we can take the
appropriate action. We
are working closely
with Heathrow
and hope to have a
robust solution in
place soon.”
NEWS IN BRIEF
London journey times
increase
Soaring minicab numbers in
London have made journeys an
average of 10% longer over the past
12 months, according to research
by Addison Lee.
There are nearly 90,000 licensed
private hire drivers in London - a
figure which is expected to rise to
128,000 in the next two years.
Addison Lee says much of the
delays are caused by Uber which is
believed to have grown to around
20,000 drivers in just three years.
Bow Flyover to be
Bulldozed
The Bow flyover could be torn
down under plans to make one
of London’s most notorious
blackspots safer.TfL unveiled the
proposal which could happen
by 2025 and would have a huge
impact on traffic around the
Blackwall tunnel.
The first changes to the
roundabout will include
pedestrian crossings linking Bow
Road and Stratford High Street
and a “public space” under the
east-west flyover.
13
VERIFONE VICTORY
www.ltda.co.uk |
@TheLTDA
HANDHELD CARD PAYMENT SOLUTION
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SELECT OPTION 2. This is a LOCAL RATE number.
Charges are the same as for a landline number. If your mobile tariff
offers inclusive calls to landlines, calls to this number are free.
verifonetaxi.co.uk
15
GET SPOTTED
Jubilant January for Mark and Kevin Murray
W
ith a cold snap finally
on the way after a mild
winter, it’s time to think
about wrapping up warm and
what better way than with some
new togs courtesy of the LTDA.
Our diary spotters armed
themselves with £300 worth
vouchers, and headed out amongst the
ranks looking for someone to hand their
goodies to.
It wasn’t long before they stumbled
across Mark Salmon who was pleased
as punch to be handed £150 worth of
vouchers for having his LTDA diary in
the windscreen. Mark said: “Fantastic.
DIARY
Thanks very much – I can’t wait to get
stuck into those.” A short while later
one of our spotters caught up with
Kevin Murray who was surprised and
delighted when our man surprised
him and handed over £150 for having
his new diary in the windscreen.
Kevin Murray said: “Great stuff.
WATC
H
£150
M&S V
OUCH
ERS
Kevin Murray “Great stuff”
Mark: “Fantastic”
I will have some fun spending those.”
Each year we give away almost
£8,000 worth of vouchers, so the
odds of coming up trumps are
pretty good. Just make sure you
have your LTDA membership
diary ona display and let us do
the rest.
AppForm_updated 347_LHP_Layout 1 09/07/2015 08:56 Page 1
www.ltda.co.uk |
@TheLTDA
#
[FIRST TWO MONTHS FREE FOR NEW MEMBERS]
APPLICATION FORM
CALLING ALL CABBIES
JOIN FOR £16.80 PER MONTH WITH
£12.80 ALLOWABLE AGAINST TAX!
Name
Address
Postcode
Tel
Mobile
Email
Date of Birth
Badge No.
Green (G) or Yellow (Y)
When obtained - Month
Have you been a member of the LTDA before? (Please tick) YES
NO
Year
Please tick if you DO NOT wish to receive information from the LTDA and other related organisations
in the future
I understand that my application for membership of the Association must be approved by the Council of
Management and that a Share Certificate will be issued to me if my application is confirmed.
Signed
Date
Please complete parts 1 to 5 below to instruct your branch to make direct payments from your account.
Then return the form to the LTDA, FREEPOST, (PAM 2005), London W9 2BR
For Office use only
LTDA Basic Direct
Debit Instructions
Originator’s Identification No.
9 1 4 4 2 8
INSTRUCTIONS TO YOUR BANK/BUILDING
SOCIETY TO PAY DIRECT DEBITS:
To the manager of
Address
1. Please write the name and full postal address of your
branch in the spaces above.
2. Name of account holder
Originator’s Reference
5. Your instructions to the Bank/ Building
Society, and signature:
• I instruct you to pay direct debits from my account
at the request of the LTDA LTD.
• The amounts are variable and may be debited
on various dates.
• I understand that the LTDA LTD may change
amounts and dates only after giving me prior notice.
• I understand that if any Direct Debit is paid which
breaks the terms of this instruction, the Bank/
Building Society will make a refund.
3. Account number
Signature(s)
4. Bank sort code
Date
Bank/Building Societies may not accept instructions to pay Direct Debit from some types of account
Phone 0207 286 1046 now!
[
LT DA
]
CAN YOU AFFORD NOT TO JOIN?
17
LETTERS
STAR LETTER
Salt of the Earth
A Word to the Wise
I
had an incident with a cyclist in Gloucester Road on
November 17, 2015, at 7pm, which
left me sleepless and in fear of
losing my badge.
The cyclist crashed into my
taxi as I was turning right into
Gloucester Road from Queens Gate
Terrace. I am a cyclist
myself and
I’m sure
he deliberately ran into me in
order to claim compensation.
When I pointed this out to him
he called the police which I was
happy with, as I was certain they
would be able to see who was to
blame. The police arrived and
spoke to both of us. After a short
while, an officer informed me that
the man alleged I had assaulted
him. I never touched him. I was
then arrested and spent the next
seven hours in a police cell where
DNA samples, fingerprints and
photos were taken. I was bailed
until January 14. It was two long,
tortuous months before, much
to my relief, I was eventually
informed that there was no case
to answer.
The reason for this letter is, that
had there been a trial I would have
had no legal advice from anyone as
I no longer belonged to the LTDA,
or any other association, and I
cursed myself for leaving.
As soon as the police informed
me of their decision not to proceed
I rejoined the LTDA immediately. I
am 73 years of age and my advice
to all cabbies is - have the backup
of LTDA, just in case. Don’t think
it can’t happen to you, as I did,
because it can and did.
Colin Sims
Brian Milsom
East Finchley
We must demonstrate!
I
“Save Our Black Cabs”
As professional drivers, I can
already hear the collective
groan from your readers at
my stupidity, but my story
starts with breaking down five
minutes from work. I ran out
of petrol.
I’ve never done this before,
nor shall I again, but I’m a
trainee teacher and I was
having the most stressful
week. I was only just about
functioning as a human and
I just forgot about petrol!
Thankfully, I broke down
next to the kindest cabbie in
London.
Adam rescued me. He drove
me to the petrol station and
helped me fill up a petrol can.
He drove me back, sorted out
the car, flagged me into the
traffic in front of him and I
even got to school in time. He
didn’t charge me a penny.
I’ve had lots of encounters with
kind black cab drivers – usually
when I am racing to catch trains/
flights or other random acts of
stupidity – but Adam’s kindness
goes beyond generous. He saw
what a state I was in and just took
pity on a stranger. I doubt he will
ever know how grateful I was
that morning but I will never
forget it.
I doubt you’ll get that from an
Uber driver – Save our black cabs!
Lydia
Victory for Me, and
Taxis
A
big thank you to the taxi
driver who drove me from
Victory Services Club to King’s
Cross on in December, he
returned my wallet which I left
on the rear seat of the cab. Thank
you again.
David Greer
Nottingham
I have been a cabbie for 42 years and
I have known about George Vyse
for many of them. A few weeks ago
I decided to sell my cab to him at an
agreed price.
Unfortunately for George I let him
down badly and cancelled the deal.
He was very disappointed (quite
rightly). I didn’t handle it very well
either and it was unfair of me.
However, after his initial upset
he was absolutely fantastic with
me when he had every right to be
angry. He refused the compensation
I offered – he must have lost money.
George you are a terrific, honourable
man, and a credit to the trade.
So, fellow cabbies, if ever you
need to buy or sell a cab, you won’t
find a better person than “Gorgeous
George.”
have served London for over
45 years, so I’m sure you will
agree that I have the experience to
comment on the taxi industry.
I have never experienced a
period like the one just before
Christmas: the street work was
non-existent and we have ranks
of cabs queuing at all the main
terminals in London, even overranking, while private hire takes
our work.
We wait in vain for the licensing
authority to enforce the law for
which we pay them for, but we also
understand that Uber’s friends in
Downing Street just wish to change
the rules against us in favour of
this corporation and the donations
they will expect for their party
funds.
Murder is Murder
I
f I take a gun and
shoot someone,
it is murder! If I
have invented a
new weapon and
kill someone it
is still murder!
That the law
doesn’t expressly
say I must not kill
someone using my
new invention, doesn’t
make it not murder if
i do!
Likewise, just
Meanwhile, TfL makes our
lives a misery with its stupid
road schemes, even going so far
as to rub salt in our wounds by
spending our money to claim
“Every Journey Matters.”
The drivers in Paris, Berlin,
Amsterdam and Rome would not
stand for this rubbish: even our
train driver’s stand up for their
rights.
Everyone knows talking to these
fools is a waste of time. It is time
for action until we receive fair
treatment. We must demonstrate
every week, for months if
necessary, because now is the time.
There’s hardly any work so we will
not be losing any money.
R Carr
Bow
because it is an app does not
mean Uber is not plying
for hire, nor does
it become all right
because many people
use the service.
If that were the case,
if enough people used
bus lanes or refused to
pay fares on buses and
trains, that would be
all right too wouldn’t
it?
Michael Epstein
43446
Do you have a gripe you want to raise or know someone in the trade that deserves praise? Contact us at [email protected] or Taxi House, 11 Woodfield Rd, London W9 2BA
www.ltda.co.uk |
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Find out more
www.cmt.london
@TheLTDA
19
Taxi Talk
THE WINTER OF
OUR DISCONTENT
ALF TOWNSEND
The big chill has set in around the taxi ranks but you have got to keep your chin up
T
his is the sad story about an
ancient Hackney Carriage
driver who roamed the streets
of ‘”olde” London town desperately
searching for fares so he could feed
himself and his “horse.” Sadly, if
things don’t improve, he may well
be forced to put his old nag in the
stewing pot!
Joking aside, any cabby with
a few winters under his or her
belt, will take it as read that the
first week of the New Year is
always very quiet. But, after some
54 winters on the cab, I have to
confess that the start of 2016 was
definitely the quietest I’ve ever
known!
After a totally wasted tour of
London it was patently obvious
that London cabbies were among
the few trades back at work – not
forgetting the multitude of Uber
cars plotted up in every side street!
The posh kids from private schools
were still on holiday – with many
of them soaking up the sun in the
Bahamas or the Maldives with
mummy and daddy. As for the few
shoppers in the West End, they
were all skint after Christmas!
Finally, after the best part of an
hour I got my first job off the rank
at Camden Town, a ride to Soho.
Right, I thought, I’ll have a look at
the rank at the Langham Hilton,
Portland Place. In retrospect, it was
not a good idea. I have never seen
the rank so long; I swear it went
back almost to New Cavendish
Street. But forever the optimist
I headed for my regular spot at
Marylebone station – which turned
out to be yet another bad idea
because the rank went all the way
up Harewood Avenue and around
the corner into Rossmore Road.
But it’s no good riding around
aimlessly if there’s just nothing
about, you’ve got to put on and do
your porridge!
Some 45 minutes later, I finally
got off to King’s Cross – for a
“legal” I might add. I noticed that
the rank for St. Pancras went all
the way round the block, so I
looked for the end of the King’s
Cross rank. I did a right into
Goodsway, but there were cabs
the whole length of the road and
even cabs in York Way waiting to
feed on. It was decision time and I
decided to call it day after getting
just four jobs in four hours! I had a
good moan to my son later about the
lack of work – even though he was
doing four hours at Heathrow. He
replied, forever the eternal optimist,
“don’t worry old chap, things can only
get better!” I live in hope!
...the haunting
first line from David Bowie’s
hit ‘Space Oddity’, still
resonates and is instantly
recognisable
Ground control to
Major Tom
Even after some 40 years, the
haunting first line from David
Bowie’s hit ‘Space Oddity’,
still resonates and is instantly
recognisable.
The recent sad passing of this
music legend was especially poignant
in our family, because our lovely
eldest daughter Jenny, who we sadly
lost to breast cancer at the end of
the millennium, was an avid Bowie
fan. I fondly recall back in the 70s
when Jenny and her best mate
Harriet Bakewell, the daughter of the
BBC doyen Joan – now Dame Joan
Bakewell - left the house to go to
David Bowie’s home in Beckenham,
South London, just to try and get
a glimpse of him. Later in the day
she would return, freezing cold and
starving hungry, but with a sparkle
in her lovely blue eyes.
While she was tucking into her
grub, she would describe standing
outside his house all day and the
excitement when he waved to them
out of a window – with no shirt
on. Or when they saw him going
down the stairs – probably to the
toilet! Wonderful, but bitter sweet
memories!
When is free not free?
Many of you reading this piece
would have received a letter from
your broadband supplier – as I did
- offering you a free year deal to
have fibre optics fitted. Afterwards
it would cost a tenner a month. The
letter stated that fibre optics would at
least quadruple your internet speed.
“Right,” I thought, “I’ll have some of
that” because I do like a freebie!
I got straight on the blower to the
call centre, which I believe is in the
Philippines, and started chatting
to this pleasant, foreign guy who
kept calling me Albert after every
sentence. “Yes, fibre optics were
available in my area,” he said, “and
they are a wonderful asset, but it would
cost £50 to have it fitted.” “Whoa, hold
it there matey,” said I. “You want me to
pay fifty quid – which would be the first
five months of any future
contract, just for a
guy to come round
and replace the
present box?
Then at the
end of the
twelve month
freebie, if I
decide that I
don’t want to
keep the fibre
optics, the same
guy will come round and change the
box again for fifty quid. So, in effect, I
will only get two free months out of the
twelve!” You couldn’t call it a con or
a scam, but it’s certainly a cunning
ploy to steer you towards an 18
month contract! I said “no thank you”
and put the phone down.
Heading West
Michael Andreou, the likeable bossman at MAM’s Electrics, has been
forced to move from his premises
in the Blundell Street Trading
Estate, off York Way. He is
now situated at Unit Nine,
Mitre Way, Mitre Park,
W10.
Most of you will know
this place, just off of
Scrubs Lane, because
it houses a taximeter
firm and Michael is bang
opposite ComCab! n
www.ltda.co.uk |
@TheLTDA
THE BIG 40
ONE!
The membership of the LTDA is
times greater
than some other driver organisations!
HERE’S WHY...
CAUTION
The LTDA legal service is
the only trade scheme which
defends members for ALL
alleged offences (traffic,
hackney or criminal), anytime,
anywhere in the UK. Non
members are advised to
check carefully the exceptions
and exclusions contained
or imposed by other
legal protection schemes
circulating in our trade.
BADGESAFE SCHEME
The LTDA retains experienced
barristers with specialist knowledge
of the London cab trade. Normally
when drivers accumulate 12 points on
their licence they receive an automatic
6 month ban, but in the case of
LTDA members over 90% of those
represented by our barristers receive a
ban of just 1 month or in most cases
no ban whatsoever.
EXPERTISE = SUCCESS
The LTDA’s in-house lawyers are
proud of their unrivalled record of court
triumphs; in fact the rate of acquittals
for members defended
in court by the LTDA is 4 times
higher than the national average. This
unparalleled level of success is due
entirely to the expertise acquired by the
LTDA over many years of specialising
in cab related legal matters.
YOUR FUTURE
The LTDA remains the only trade
body resolutely opposed to the
computerisation of the Knowledge of
London testing system.
(No to the quickie Knowledge
campaign).
INLAND REVENUE
ASSISTANCE AND ADVICE
Many drivers and accountants refer
to the LTDA for specialist advice on
Inland Revenue investigations.
(Free to members).
SICKNESS AND
ACCIDENT PROTECTION
When trouble strikes it’s comforting
to know that you’ve got the strength
of the LTDA around you. (Additional
subscription payable).
LTDA HOLIDAY CLUB
Many members have saved
thousands of pounds by taking
advantage of special offers and prices
(members only).
WIN £5,000 EVERY
MONTH IN THE
LTDA LOTTERY
12 big prizes every year, but you have
to be in it to win it (members only £5
per entry).
ACCESS TO
‘SIMPLY HEALTH’
Great value health care from
the LTDA. The Association pioneered
this scheme in the taxi trade and it
still offers the cheapest rates. (Special
rates for LTDA members only).
HEATHROW OFFICE AND
REPRESENTATION
Call in to the LTDA office at Heathrow,
first door on the right in the canteen
block. The LTDA’s representatives will
give you a warm welcome. (Open to all).
WELFARE DEPARTMENT
LTDA officers make home visits to
members who are in severe distress
or with special needs and authorise
contingency payments where
appropriate.
RANKS AND HIGHWAYS
REPRESENTATION
The LTDA has negotiated taxi access
to most bus lanes and leads the way
negotiating on issues that affect you,
the licensed taxi driver.
GENERAL ADVICE
If you are new to the trade and you
don’t know your `roader’ from your
`legal’, give us a call. We’re always here
to help. (Tel: 020 7286 1046 - non
members are welcome to call).
24 HOUR TOUT LINE
Seen a tout in action? Take the details
and phone them in, we will do the rest.
(Tel: 020 7266 4769).
VEHICLE MANUFACTURERS
Continually representing members’
interests in disputes with vehicle
manufacturers and suppliers.
AUTHORITIES AND MEDIA
The LTDA is the largest and most
respected driver organisation in
the trade. We lead the way when
negotiating with the Government,
GLA, TfL, Police, Mayor’s Office,
Heathrow, Rail Authorities, Local
Councils and when dealing with all
sections of the media.
MEDICAL ASSISTANCE
Many cab drivers are discovering to
their cost that their licences are at
risk due to the TfL’s interpretation
of the new DVLA Group 2 Medical
Standards. The LTDA has successfully
challenged many decisions by the
TfL to revoke members’ licences on
medical grounds.
FANTASTIC VALUE
LTDA subscriptions have not
increased for 14 years! It costs just 4
quid a week to join the trade’s biggest
organisation and 3 quid of that is tax
deductible!
(Payable monthly).
HEALTH AND SPORTS
PROMOTION
We regularly run promotions with
leading health and sports companies
resulting in big savings to members.
LEISURE DISCOUNTS
Huge savings on weekend breaks at fine
hotels and holiday centres. You will not
believe these prices! (Members only).
To learn more about LTDA benefits and current joining offers
call: 020 7286 1046 or visit www.ltda.co.uk
13314-LTDA-Big One Ad.indd 1
05/12/2014 15:02
21
Top Trade Story
“LIES, DAMN LIES
AND STATISTICS”
PAUL BRENNAN, LTDA REP
The figures don’t add up, but that doesn’t stop TfL changing the rules to suit itself
N
ow, I’m all for making the
roads of London safer, why
wouldn’t I be! I earn a living
driving on said roads and even more
importantly, my children use
London’s roads every day. However,
it seems to me that the powers that be
are not getting things right when it
comes to exactly how we should
make our roads safer. For instance,
take a look at the new average speed
sections we have on the A40 Westway
and Western Avenue.
When asked in a Freedom of
Information request why we have a
40mph average speed on the
Westway, TfL said it was done “after a
review of the Killed and Seriously Injured
(KSI) statistics”. Fair play you might
think, until you actually look at those
figures and discover, during the
whole of 2014 there was only one
serious accident on the Westway
between Paddington Green and
Bloemfontein Rd.
Safer for all
It took place at the westbound
Northern R/ab slip and involved a
single car and a single person being
injured.
Now, I’m willing to concede that
one accident is indeed one accident
too many, but does it really justify a
ridiculously low 40 mph speed limit?
Or is it that more drivers will be
caught speeding (and so fined) on
this stretch of road that best suits a
50/60 mph limit? Looking at
the rest of
the A40 average speed restriction all
the way to the Polish war memorial,
we find that in the whole of 2014
there were an additional five serious
accidents and one fatal accident.
The latter was at 5pm on a dry road
when a man was hit by a car and
sadly died. Was speed the cause? I
don’t know, but there’s an 86% chance
that it was not.
So, on a 20 mile stretch of road that
carries 35 million vehicles a year, 11
vehicles were involved in a KSI
accident. Does that really justify the
vast cost to implement this SPEED
only scheme? Or are they using this
scheme to make money via driver
fines?
After all, in the two years prior to
this scheme only 11% of accidents on
this stretch of road had speed
recorded as a contributing factor. One
could ask whether that money could
have been better spent digging a few
cycle underpasses at notoriously
dangerous junctions for cyclists?
After all, if the cyclists are going
under then they’re not in front of a
big queue of vehicles at traffic lights,
which is safer for all.
Real problems
Maybe they could used the cash for
just such a scheme at the Elephant
and Castle where, instead of filling
in all the “the dark, dirty and smelly”
subways, they could have fixed
them up so cyclists could pass
safely underneath this notoriously
treacherous part of London. If they
had, the rest of us would not now
be sitting in a never ending queue of
buses on all the approaches creating
more pollution.
I digress, so if only 11% of the
accidents were caused by speed, what
were the other 89% caused by?
Government stats show that 20% of
all accidents are sleep related (hasn’t
there been a few stories about certain
drivers working long hours and
dozing off at the wheel?) Can you
guess what makes you four times
more likely to crash and actually
costs 21 lives every year? Yes, that’s
right, drivers using a mobile phone at
the wheel.
It’s strange then that the same
powers that be who want to increase
fines and points on motorists and
who also swear blind Uber driver’s
phones are just that, a phone and
definitely not a meter, and also say
it’s ridiculous to have a five minute
wait for an Uber driver to safely park
up and plan a route when he can do it
all from his smart phone whilst
driving, because it’s what Londoners
want.
Really? So, what Londoners want is
thousands of drivers every week
using a smart phone at the wheel of a
car even though it means they are
four times more likely to crash? And
why is TfL saying on the backs of
their buses “when driving, glancing at
your phone just once is one risk too
many?” If they really want to make
London roads safer they need to
address the real problems, but I
suppose Uber won’t allow them to do
that. After all, what is an Uber driver
without his phone?
Who’s He?
Matt Bell has resigned as the head of
TPH Compliance. Who is Matt Bell?
Well, he’s the bloke who couldn’t
solve a simple problem of 50 breaches
of section 31 complaints we submitted
six months ago. Let’s hope who ever
replaces him tries a little harder. I will
play my part in making sure they do.
North branch
The first LTDA North branch meeting
of 2016 at Taxi House is on Tuesday,
January 26, at 5pm. Moving meeting
times to a later slot will be on the
agenda, along with an update on the
new rank backlog. n
www.ltda.co.uk |
@TheLTDA
E m
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U po
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23
OFFERS
Philips Dashcam Giveaway
Member’s Competition
WIN ADR810 Dashcam
The lovely people at Philips have
given us a couple of their high-tec
dashcams to giveaway to LTDA
members. The top of the range
ADR810 dashcam features clever
functions such as Emergency
Easy Capture to help you catch
unexpected incidents quickly.
There is a 156 degree super
wide angle lens with “great low
light performance and true colours to
ensure that you capture crystal clear
evidence, comparable to Blu-Ray, in any
situation.”
The camera is supplied with a
sturdy mounting with easy fitting
and adjustment. It can withstand
high vibrations and temperatures,
and is CE/FCC certified for safe
installation and use. Simply plug
into your cigarette lighter and off
you go.
Need to clarify responsibility on the
spot? No worries! The camera has a
2.7” LCD screen and built-in playback
software. The videos also feature date
and time stamps to speed up any
insurance processes.
The ADR610 is more like the little
brother to the ADR810 but still offers
state of the art HD video recording for
emergencies - footage is automatically
saved to secure the evidence and
prevent overwriting. The Philips
ADR810 retails for around £140 and
the ADR610 for £100 but two LTDA
members can get their hands on one
for nothing.
Simply answer the following
question...
Which of these is a famous road safety
brand...
A. Don’t Look Now
B. The Green Cross Code
C. Kerb Your Enthusiasm
Email your name, membership
number and the answer to
[email protected] or write to
TAXI Dash Comp, 11 Woodfield
Road,London, W9 2BA, by February 9.
The winner of the Road Angel
Dashcam competition was Tim
Tierney, Watford.
New Contactless Card Reader Giveaway
Giveaway
WIN a card reader
To celebrate a new campaign
by taxi advertising company
Ubiquitous and PayPal to promote
contactless services in cabs – TAXI
has two card readers to giveaway.
Paypal Here is a new handheld
device which costs £79 but allows
customers a fuss free way to pay for
their journeys.
It has been approved as a card
payment solution by Transport
for London (TfL) and is being
promoted by an ad campaign on
Ubiquitous cabs.
Transaction fees are 2.75%
and payments are deposited
immediately into your PayPal
account, “meaning there is no wait for
the money to reach your account.”
MasterCard, Maestro, American
Express and Visa cards and even
Apple Pay are accepted.
PayPal Here accepts secure
payments by pairing the reader
with a smartphone or tablet (for
iOS and Android) via Bluetooth.
The app can be downloaded
from iTunes App Store and
Google Play and the reader can
be purchased here...
www.paypal.co.uk/here
To enter the card reader
competition, email editor@
ltda.co.uk, or write to Taxi
Contactless Comp, 11 Woodfield
Road, London, W9 2BA, by
February 9, with your name
and address and finish the
following sentence “they think
it’s all over...”
A. “But they’re idiots”
B. “There’s 30 minutes left”
C. “It is now”
*Fees for a business: 2.75% for Chip and
PIN, contactless and Chip & signature
card payments, or 3.4% plus 20p for
payments made with swipe cards or if
card details are entered manually. There is
no contract or monthly fee.
Dentistry Discount Taxi Offer Taxi Readers Golf Discount
A visit to dental hygienist visit,
including scaling and polishing is
also on offer at £55.
Company director, Vaida
Buksnaityte, said: “We have a
team of highly experienced dental
practitioners and hygienists who
are leading the way for prevention
to be at the heart of dentistry in the
UK. Our team provides services in
preventative, restorative, cosmetic
and holistic dentistry.
“We work with our patients to
improve their understanding of oral
health whilst identifying individual
risk from dental disease. Our work is
based on prevention plans to avoid the
onset of oral health problems, not just
the treatment of them.”
Director Vaida Buksnaityte
Offers
TAXI readers are being offered
discounted dental examinations
and treatments at top a clinic in
Kensington.
Oris Parkdent Dental Clinic is the
“leading clinic for preventative dentistry
in Kensington”, and is offering 15%
off all treatments and a full dental
examination and x-ray for £50.
Quote TAXI when
you call ParkDent,
on 020 7938 2378
for a consultation
or to arrange an
appointment.
13 Kensington High St,
London W8 5NP
Discount
A new company which aims to help
golfers get together to play courses in
the south east is offering
a 10% discount to taxi drivers.
If you work shifts or evenings or
are retired and often find it hard to
find someone to play with, then
Golf Days Out can help you get
back into the swing of things.
Events cost £55 per person and
start with coffee and a bacon or egg
roll, which is followed by 18 holes
of golf, including longest drive and
nearest the pins competitions, a
lunch and a prize giving. Venues
include Surbiton, Sutton Green,
Gatton Manor, Cranleigh and
Merrist Wood.
Quote TAXI when
booking to get 10% off
the first event.
For more information
visit the website
www.golfdaysout.co.uk
or telephone
07917 358352
www.ltda.co.uk |
@TheLTDA
25
CAUGHT ON CAMERA
DIARY
Crash,
Bang,
Wallop...
WATC
H
£150
M&S V
OUCH
ERS
T
he Uber plague is
continuing to cause
mayhem in London as
you can see from this
week’s Caught on Camera.
Our inbox was bursting
with pics – many of them
featuring fine examples of
driving courtesy of you
know who.
This edition’s winner
bags themselves £30 for
the Uber smash photo – it’s
good to see the firm’s drivers
are maintaining the same
standards in 2016.
Keep your eyes peeled
and your cameras, or mobile
phones, at the ready.
Send your entries to us
via the MMS line on 07908
640017 or email them to
[email protected]
Who says Uber does contactless?
Oh bollards!
Happy snooze year!
Fantastic
Savings with
Warner
We don’t carry the disabled, but we can nick their spaces
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Tired of driving other people around?
Come for a break where it’s all about you!
At Warner, you can do whatever you like - try
a daytime activity like archery, Zumba or
a quiz? Curl up in a corner with a book or
explore the local area, before settling down
to live entertainment every evening. And
with breakfasts and dinner included, you’ll
find our holidays hard to resist!
Every break includes:
✓ Stylish accommodation
✓ Buffet breakfasts & 3-course evening meals
✓ Live entertainment every evening
✓ Range of daytime activities
✓ Just for grown ups
LTDA Year Round Offer
✓ Savings of up to £350* per break
✓ Extra £10 off per person per break
✓ Low deposits
✓ No booking fees or credit card charges
QUOTE PHCTAXI
LTDA Late Deals
LTDA Last Minute Deals
Looking for a last minute getaway?
If you want to go away within the next 7 days,
Warner can offer you 30% off all of our best prices –
including upgrades!
PLUS, when you travel to Bembridge or Norton Grange,
we’ll make sure you get a half price ferry crossing.
QUOTE TAXIOFFER
9am-9pm
To book call our friendly team free on: 0800 1 388 399 (open
7 days a week)
Perfect parking!
Terms & Conditions: *Discounts apply to rooms only, dining will not be discounted. Prices are based on 2 people sharing, on breaks in 2015. Savings
are per break. This offer ends on the 31 December 2015. All offers are subject to promotional availability, can be withdrawn at any time and cannot be
combined with any other offer. Breaks are subject to availability. All holidays booked within 10 weeks of the chosen holiday date must be paid in full at
time of booking. Full terms and conditions apply. Everyone in your booking must be 21 years of age or over. Bourne Holidays Limited (trading as Warner
Leisure Hotels) is a company registered in England and Wales with company number 01854900 whose registered office is 1 Park Lane, Hemel Hempstead,
Hertfordshire, HP2 4YL.
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www.ltda.co.uk |
@TheLTDA
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27
NEWS
Rickshaw crash safety fears Perverted Uber driver jailed
Mrs Houston: broken leg
London
A woman was left with a broken leg
after being thrown from a rickshaw
which was being driven dangerously
around London.
Jennifer Houston and her husband
Andrew, who live in Coventry, were
due to see Charlie and the Chocolate
Factory when they decided to take
what they thought would be a fun
ride in a pedicab.
The group, which included two
friends, were approached outside
Covent Garden Tube station by a
rickshaw driver.
Mr Houston, 53, said: “We thought
it might be fun to go round; all four of us
got in to go down the road and we were
enjoying the ride.
“But then he started weaving, turning
the wheel from side to side, and went
down a one way road,” Mr Houston
said. Disaster struck in Tavistock
Street.
He added: “I remember one minute
sitting there and the next minute we were
in the road.”
The front forks of the rickshaw
had completely buckled, causing the
vehicle to collapse.
Mrs Houston, 54, was taken to
University College Hospital, where
she was diagnosed with a broken
femur and had an operation to fit pins
and plates in her leg.
Mr Houston said the incident has
left him concerned about the safety of
rickshaws in the capital.
He said: “We are all probably lucky to
not have sustained greater injury.”
Cllr Melvyn Caplan, of
Westminster City Council, said: “It
is concerning to hear reports of a serious
injury to a rickshaw passenger. Rickshaw
drivers are completely unregulated
at present and that means that their
passengers are not protected by the
drivers having insurance for accidents.
“Westminster City Council has been
calling for proper regulation and the
licensing of rickshaws for years and will
continue to do so.”
Court
An Uber driver has been jailed after
a court found him guilty of sexually
assaulting a woman in his cab.
Samson Haile, from Brentford, was
sentenced to eight months in prison
on Wednesday, January 22.
The pervert picked up a 26-year-old
female passenger in Ladbroke Grove
on February 27 and started making
sleazy remarks to her.
The 32-year-old then went on say he
wanted to have sex with her.
The victim, fearing for her safety,
said she wanted to get out of the
vehicle, but Haile continued along
the road and began to touch her. She
managed to flee the car in Cromwell
Haile’s behaviour was “worrying”
Road before reporting her ordeal to
the police.
Detective Constable Carly Driscoll
said: “Of particular concern was the
rapid escalation in the behaviour of
Samson Haile. He went from talking
about sex to actually touching a lone,
vulnerable female in a very short space
of time.
“I would like to praise the victim for
having the confidence and courage to
report her ordeal to police.”
“I hope [the] sentencing gives her a
degree of closure and also displays the
professionalism and commitment of
officers within the Met to investigate
allegations of sexual crime.”
The Metropolitan Police said Haile
went on to pick up a group of people
including an off-duty female police
officer who was also subjected to
sexual comments and invited to
have sex.
An information report filed
by the officer helped lead to his
identification and arrest.
Haile was given a Sexual Harm
Prevention Order, banning him
from working as a private hire
driver in England and Wales. He
will also be on the sex offender
register for 10 years.
What the
public want
London is a buzz city — a rich cocktail of work and play.
It’s a city where people want to be. It’s vast and diverse
with great public transport — particularly its most
dynamic element: taxis!
The public has taken to booking apps like ducks to water
— and now it’s our job to get them to swim our way.
We have the Knowledge and now we must have
the Volume
TAXIS ON APPS (street hail + electronic hail = the future)
Customers want choice and
we need YOU, the driver
Please register your interest in Streets of London now at
www.streets-of-london.co.uk
Taxi 4 141mm x 226mm half page advert press.indd 1
19/01/2016 11:52
www.ltda.co.uk |
@TheLTDA
WHY SMART FLEETS
ARE CHOOSING KARHOO
Over the last few years our industry
has seen the playing field unfairly tip
in favour of non-regulated e-hailing
operators who have taken away a
significant amount of business from
traditional fleets. We believe Karhoo
is the smartest and fairest way to
level the playing field for all.
Karhoo is a vendor-neutral platform that
connects passengers with fleets in real
time. Our technology plugs directly into your
despatch system, any passenger using the
Karhoo app can see all the taxis around them
and find the ride that suits them best, filtering
their ride by ETA, price and supplier.
Karhoo also gives consumers the ability
to pre-book and to make multiple bookings.
So not only can passengers get from A-B
with Karhoo, but to C and D as well.
This will mean more potential fares for drivers
and fewer dead miles, all adding up to more
money in their pocket.
Karhoo is free to join and use, we only
show customers what you show us, making
Karhoo completely transparent about both
fares and availability.
The more fleets there are on the app, the
better it will be for passengers, the better
it will be for the industry.
C53209_trade press ads_226mmx288mm_v1.01.indd 1
20/01/2016 10:11
29
NEWS
MASSETT’S
CAMERA HOTSPOTS
Mansion House Street
Yellow box
Berkley Street J/W Piccadilly
Yellow box cameras
Bagleys Lane/New Kings Road Yellow box
Harrods
Zig-Zags behind the rank in
Brompton Road and no U-turns
Camden20mph limit
Waterloo RoadZig-Zags
SelfridgesOver ranking
Eldon Street
Do not set down on Zig-Zags
Clapham High Street
Zig-Zags
Islington 20mph limit
Extreme Hotspot 1:
Beware Westway speed camera
Red Routes
TfL is actively enforcing
yellow box restrictions
Extreme Hotspot 2:
Terminus Place
Bus only left turn. TfL to
issue PCNs
Limehouse Link
Tower Bridge
20 mph speed limit – average speed cameras
Craven RoadZig-Zags
Smithfield
Do not park in load in boxes, they are enforced by camera
A13
Average speed cameras in operation
The City
RICHMOND ROAD
30 mph speed limit
20mph limit
195 Richmond Road, Hackney, London, E8 3NJ
020
7923
7003
CAB CENTRE [email protected]
INCORPORATING
FOREST TAXIS AND CANTWELL TAXIS
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n Maintenance mechanical and Bodywork
n Annual Overhauls and 6 monthly MOT’s
n Servicing TX1 – TX2 – TX4, Euro 4 / Euro 5
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www.ltda.co.uk |
@TheLTDA
31
NEWS
Uber driver snubs pregnant woman
Trade
A pregnant woman who requested
an Uber car when she went into
labour was refused a lift by the
driver and charged £9 for timewasting.
David Lee and his wife, who
wishes to remain anonymous,
said they were outside their New
York City home with the birthing
coach and her overnight bag,
when the wife retched on
the pavement.
His heartless Uber
driver claimed he
would lose £694 a
day if she was sick
in the car and then
told them no other
driver would
accept a woman
in labour as a
passenger.
The couple
tried to assure
the driver that
she wouldn’t be
sick - and if she
was, they would
pay for cleaning
in full but he
refused to back down.
The couple were left gobsmacked
when the driver then demanded
£9 for his wasted time before
driving off leaving them
worried she might give
birth on
the pavement.
When David,
a 37-yearold lawyer,
contacted Uber,
its response was
that the driver
had done nothing
wrong in refusing
the fare, and in
charging them for his
time.
He said: “I don’t blame Uber
for one driver’s poor actions, since bad
apples can appear in any organisation,
but I do think that when a company
has a culture of bullying their way past
laws and regulations, as Uber seems
to do, they begin to think they can act
with impunity in anything.”
Uber did eventually make a
refund of the cash but refused to
give him the driver’s details calling
it “driver privacy.”
A second Uber driver did
eventually reach the couple and
agreed to take them to the hospital.
Uber has since claimed that
“denying service to a passenger
in labour is unacceptable:
it goes against our code
of conduct and the
standard of service
our riders rely on.
“We extend
our deepest
apologies to both
riders and have
taken action to
respond to this
complaint.
We are glad that
the rider’s next
driver was professional
and courteous.”
Emily Martin, the general
counsel of the National Women’s
Law Center in Washington DC,
said: “Uber drivers are bound by the
same public accommodation laws that
prohibit New York City taxi drivers and
car services from discriminating on the
basis of pregnancy when deciding who
they will pick up - and those laws are a
good thing, as they help ensure that not
many babies end up being born on New
York City sidewalks.”
Urgent Notice
DRIVER LICENCE
RENEWAL NOTICE
If your licence expires in less
than four months it is vital
that you contact TPH on:
0343 222 4444
and request a renewal pack.
Failure to do so could result
in you being out of work
Once the pack is received
you must submit your application (especially the
CRB disclosure application)
A.S.A.P.
Please refer to tph notices
18/13 and 19/13 on their
website for ‘official’ advice
http://www.tfl.gov.uk/info
-for/taxis-and-private-hire/
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www.ltda.co.uk |
@TheLTDA
33
Two Fingers
A BODY
OF EVIDENCE
AL FRESCO
Detective Al Fresco discovers some clues as to the whereabouts of his dear old uncle’s savings
M
y Uncle Mo didn’t attend
a recent family celebration
– sadly, he’d died about
a year-and-a-half earlier, and his
funeral was last week.
It all started with a telephone
call at 3.30am from the staff nurse
at the Star and Garter Home in
Richmond informing me that Uncle
Maurice had died.
I promised to be there first thing
in the morning. I was wondering
aloud what to do with poor old
uncle Mo’s body when the phone
rang. “It’s your Uncle Maurice’s
friend, Arnold”, said the staff nurse,
“he wants you”.
“Hello?” I enquired. “Hello”, said
a soppy voice at the other end.
“I’m your Uncle Maurice’s friend,
Arnold.” Arnold, an insurance
agent, I remembered, had worn
a beige mackintosh with a wide
belt, like Frank Spencer, which he
did up tight around his middle,
the surplus beltage hanging down
limply around his nether regions.
He saved foreign stamps, not just
any old stamps; foreign stamps
from all around the world, of every
denomination - featuring pictures
of fungi. Arnold said: “Your Uncle
Maurice made me his executor. In
his will, he asked to leave his body to
medical science. Is that all right with
you?”
“If that’s what my uncle wanted, then
it’s OK by me,” I said.
“There is just one thing”, said
Arnold. “After three years, as your
uncle’s next of kin, you get the body
back.” I took a deep breath and
pondered the implications of his
statement. “And what do I do with
it then?”
He added: “That’s what I’d like to
talk to you about.”
Epic journey
Uncle Mo’s medical science trip
ended early, which was the reason
the kids and I were outside the
Eastern Chapel of Golders Green
Crematorium recently. My oldest
son, Gavyn, was there, too. Danny,
my younger son, was absent. He was
on a “stag weekend’ - in Barcelona.
Barcelona for a stag night? I had
mine in a pub on the Isle of Dogs.
My mates clubbed together and
bought me three vodka and limes.
My lips went numb, I poked a
plastic twizzle stick in my eye and I
peed on my new shoes. I remember
the singers had short tight dresses,
big hands, big feet and tattoos.
They looked like dockers and most
probably were.
However, Barcelona, was
where I had my first grown up
uncle/nephew bonding session
with Maurice. He was on a
Mediterranean cruise. He loved
his annual cruise. He was a single
man and remained so. As a young
man, he was smart and good
looking, a bit of a “ladies man”.
He’d come back from his annual
cruise, eyes sparkling and address
book bulging. I’d driven to Spain
in my green Mini, with my mates
Ivor, and the two Micky’s, to see
my (ex) girlfriend Vanessa (she
was my girlfriend when I planned
the holiday, but by the time we
set off on our epic journey, she’d
ditched me for an accountant son
of her mum’s friend). Anyway, you
should have seen her face when
me and the boys fetched up at her
hotel. “Oo!” she screamed to her
friend, Shelley, “he’s come a fousand
miles for a bit of nookie.” I hadn’t,
and I didn’t, but me and the boys
did get to go on board Uncle Mo’s
cruise liner for a slap-up lunch.
But as he got older, and retired
from work, Uncle Mo became
a recluse. I hardly saw him. He
lived in the end flat on the top
floor of a six story council block
in Bethnal Green. He didn’t have
a telly or a phone. Still, he was
rumoured to have tucked away
a tidy sum - he’d hardly spent
any money over the years. His
only luxury was an old Bakerlite
radio on which he listened to
the world service and radio four.
In his younger days he’d been a
dedicated communist when the
Communist Party had been a
political force in the East End.
So, there we were: Joanne,
Gavyn and me outside Golders
Green Crematorium, waiting for
nerdy Arnold. The undertaker,
crematorium manager and
reverend had already introduced
themselves. Uncle Mo was inside,
waiting for his last short journey.
With two minutes to spare
he turned up accompanied by
a striking young woman who
he introduced as “his second
wife, Tiffany.” Her face looked
familiar. She was wearing a neat,
black, Chanel number. There was
something inexplicably different
about Arnold. Perhaps it was his
shiny, silk whistle, or perhaps it
was the Oyster Rolex he raised
a silk shirted cuff to examine;
or the voice, that had deepened.
“Sorry we’re late” he said, smoothly,
shaking hands all round, “that
navigating gizmo on the car had us
driving round and round in circles.
I was thinking of dragging it out of
the car and popping it inside the box
with Uncle Maurice to help him on his
journey, except he’d never get where he
was supposed to.”
Page 3 model
It was a dignified service. Arnold
had done all the arranging, and he’d
done Uncle Mo proud.
Back outside, in the hot
afternoon, we reminisced,
before going our separate ways.
“Can I give you a lift..?” I said
automatically, forgetting he’d
said he’d come in his car with
the duff navigating system.
“It’s all right thanks, Al. My car’s
parked over there.” He nodded his
head in the direction of a large,
gleaming, saloon. Tiffany clung
on to Arnold’s arm. I strained
to remember if it was a red top
paper I’d seen her in. Anyway, I
thanked Arnold for all he’d done.
“Think nothing of it, Al. After all,
it was the least I could do.” I had to
ask. “Shame nothing came of that
rumour that Uncle Mo had squirreled
away a pile of cash over the years.”
“Oh!” smiled Arnold, “the
rumour. It wasn’t a rumour” he
turned to his page three model
wife, “was it Tiff?” n
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• Standard service
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www.ltda.co.uk |
agent
15 River Road • Barking • IG11 0HE • 020 8594 9080 • [email protected]
IF YOU’VE HAD
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07719 454 606
35
Licensed to Chat
IT’S ALL
GLOW HERE
MUSHER MEG
Just when you thought your other half couldn’t be any more annoying a new habit emerges
R
ecently I read a magazine
article that described how I
could turn on my inner glow
and look 10 years younger. The two
top tips were to drink more water
and get more sleep.
Downing three litres of water a
day is essential– and this would
explain why most cabbies don’t
have an inner glow. Unless you are
blessed with a bladder
of steel it’s just not
feasible to slug back a
jumbo sized bottle
of mineral water
and then sit in the
West End traffic,
without peeing
your pants and
giving yourself
an outer glow.
And, as for the
more sleep route
to getting my glow going, well I
am having trouble in the bedroom
lately. It’s Mr Meg’s fault. He can’t
keep his hands
off me.
Our bedtime routine starts
with building a pillow barricade
between us. This is to make sure
that he doesn’t breathe on me. Ever.
Not even George Clooney would be
allowed to exhale in my direction.
This pillow pile is also good for
elbow jabs and head butts in the
night. Mr Meg is a very active
sleeper.
But, since Christmas he has
developed a new way to irritate me.
I thought there were so many ways
he does that already it would be
impossible to find another.
His latest thing is that when he
is fast asleep he reaches over the
pillow dividers, grabs my hair
and pulls it. Hard. I can’t retaliate
because the hairiest parts of his
body are his nostrils and I’m not
going there in the dark.
The first time he pulled my hair
in the middle of the night I sat bolt
upright in bed and hollered “what
the bloody hell do you think you’re
doing?” That was a big mistake.
My shouting only half woke him
up and he jumped out of bed and
grabbed the American baseball bat
he secrets away behind the door in
case of intruders. After that episode
I decided getting a hair-pull in
the night was a safer option than
battling a madman wearing only his
boxers and wielding a baseball bat.
Mr Meg says he has no clue what
he is doing in the dark, or why. So I
decided to sleep wearing a balaclava
to try and break his hair pulling
habit. I am a woman of a “certain”
age who says “is it hot in here?”’ a few
hundred times each week; so the
balaclava was not at all comfy womfy.
And it frightened the postman when
I went downstairs early one morning
to sign for a parcel and forgot to take
it off before I opened the door.
Now there is a new development.
At around 3am each morning Mr
Meg’s hand creeps over the pillow
divide. He gropes his way around the
back of my head giving the balaclava
a few tugs as he goes ….and then he
comes up and over to my face and
starts giving it little squeezes. He
does my nose, lips and cheeks before
then using his hand to grip all of it
at once.
Is this manhandling of my head a
sign of affection? Or insecurity? Is he
checking I’m still there?
Or maybe he’s warming his hand
on my inner glow? n
HALVEY ENGINEERING
ECO-TAXIS
CABS TO RENT
GOOD
RATES
BRAND NEW TXII ENGINES
Why pay £1,800 for rockers and chain
when you can have a brand new
Also
out-of-the-crate genuine Ford
TX4 engine
reconditioned
engine for £2,600 fitted.
Recon TXII engines supplied and fitted £1,800
0208-312-2224
All prices subject to VAT
WOOLWICH AREA
1yr warranty
for
£2,300
www.ltda.co.uk |
@TheLTDA
37
www.ltda.co.uk |
@TheLTDA
NEWS
Tube deal edges closer
Transport
Transport union bosses and TfL
were holding crisis talks as TAXI
went to press in a bid to evert a
series of strikes planned over the
Night Tube.
Tube workers had planned to
walkout on Tuesday, January 26 for
24 hours from 9pm, and again from
the same time on Monday, February
15 and Wednesday, February 17.
RMT, Aslef and Unite unions
claim the shift rotas for the 24 hour
Tube will have a detrimental effect
on the lives of its staff.
They are also angry that Mayor
Boris Johnson had been reportedly
looking for part time staff since
the failure to broker a deal left the
project in limbo.
The main parties were said to be
edging towards a deal after staff
were offered cash and a shorter
working week.
RMT general secretary Mick Cash
said: “RMT supports the principle of a
properly worked-out Night Tube service
introduced through agreement with
the unions.” Underground remain
opposed to plans to slash 800 jobs
from stations, which it is claimed
are “safety critical”.
Boris Johnson slammed the
decision to strike as “a disgrace.”
He said: “They were offered excellent
terms and conditions for their members
to deliver the Night Tube.
“They turned those down – without
ever properly consulting their
membership. They claimed – falsely –
that the Night Tube would badly affect
the work-life balance of staff.
“They held a series of strikes in pursuit
of outrageous demands. They used the
opportunity of the talks over the Night
Tube to try to impose a new four-day
week, which would have been completely
unaffordable for TfL and for London’s
fare payers.”
“Strikes are a disgrace”
Stay in the know with the LTDA
DVLA reminder
The photo card part of the driving
licence lasts for 10 years and must
renewed after that period. The
licence becomes invalid if it is not
renewed with a current picture.
15 year reminder
The London taxi 15 year age limit
refers to the cab’s ‘birthday’ (in the
log book) not its plate date.
For example: A cab passed
when it is 14 years and 11 months
old WILL be granted a further 12
months of life.
Cabs may be booked in for
testing in the normal way when
the plate has 28 days or less
to run.
The cab can then work up
to the test date. If the plates
are taken off with more than
28 days to run, both the plates
and the paper licence must be
surrendered to one of the six NSL
inspection centres in and around
London.
The ‘unplated’ cab must then
not be worked, and at least one
week should be allowed before
attempting to book the next
GB Taxi Services Ltd
NSL test, to allow
the computerised
booking system
to recognise that the plates have
been registered.
Lost/stolen identifier
If your identifier is lost or
stolen you must notify LTPH
immediately (0343 222 4444 / tph.
[email protected])
You may then continue working.
A letter of confirmation will be
sent out to you by Transport for
London, prior to a replacement
identifier being processed.
Shop a tout
Anyone who sees touting or any
other form of illegal cab-related
activity is urged to contact TfL
with the details.
Take down the registration
number and make a note of the
date, time and location where
incident took place.
Type “cab enforcement” into
your internet search engine
and follow the links to the ‘report
illegal activity’ section of the TfL
website.
VITOS
FROM
£230
s
e
t
a
l
p
0
TX4 1
s
e
t
a
l
p
65
To TX4
75
2
£
O
T
0
21
£
M
O
R
s
’
F
6
O
R
U
E
W
E
OVERHAULS
N
D
N
A
R
B
E
M.O.T. STATION
L
B
A
L
I
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24HR ROADSIDE SUPPORT
AV
CAB RENTAL
GB Taxi Services Ltd
Unit 22 Redburn Ind Est
Woodall Road
Enfield EN3 4LE
SERVICING
CRASH REPAIRS
SPARE CABS AVAILABLE
NEW DRIVERS WELCOME
Call: 020 8912 2351
39
www.ltda.co.uk |
@TheLTDA
PUZZLER
Crossword Competition!
T
o complete our crossword puzzle and be in with a chance to win £80
send your completed entry to Crossword 360, Taxi, Taxi House, 11
Woodfield Road, W9 2BA before February 9. First name out of the
that gets the cash.
Across
1 Colour (6)
4 To some extent (4, 2)
9 Rower (7)
10 Full of vigour (5)
11 Weight unit (5)
12 Surrender (7)
13 Disagreement (12)
18 Mean tactics (3, 4)
20 Insurgent (5)
22 Small dog (5)
23 Disagreement (7)
24 Sycophants (3, 3)
25 Reduce (6)
Down
1 Light particle (6)
2 Repeat (5)
3 Gleaming (7)
5 Islands (5)
6 Reject (7)
7 Hovering (6)
8 Not included (11)
14 Continue forwards (7)
15 Nobleman’s territory (7)
16 Spirited (6)
17 Contestant (6)
19 Small bitter fruit (5) 21 Muslim woman’s garment (5)
Overheard by Brad Ashton
While my hearing aid is being
repaired this week I haven’t
managed to hear much. So here are
a few I’ve imagined.
Guinevere to Sir Galahad the
following morning: “oh, what a
knight!”
The ill Trojan soldier to his
fellow invaders: “Is there a doctor
in the horse?”
The confession of a new
convict: “Up till now I’ve always
looked after number one. Now it’s
number 56792.”
Michelangelo after he’d painted
the Cysteine Chapel “Yes, I think
I’ve hidden the damp spot.”
The Egyptian who’s just
prepared Pharaoh for his burial:
“That just about wraps it up.”
The murderer about to be
electrocuted to the witnesses:
“Anyone want to play musical
chairs?”
The Stone Age cave girl to the
disappointed caveman: “Sorry,
I never let a man club me on a
first date.”
The Jewish doctor to his
ill patient: “No, this isn’t a
prescription. It’s my mother’s
recipe for chicken soup.”
The boss to his incompetent
employee: “You’ll go far in this
company. I’m sending you to our
branch in Venezuela.”
The girl whose boyfriend’s
trying to make love to her in the
back seat of his Mini: “I hope you
realise you’re putting me in an
awkward position.”
The very tearful diner to
the restaurant waiter: “My
compliments to the chef. Tell
him this onion soup is great!”
The cannibal to his mates about
the German in the pot: “Who wants
the Frankfurter?”
The wife, after their meal, to her
angry husband: “I’ll wash,
you gripe.”
The prospective father-in-law to
his daughter’s suiter: “If it’s only
my daughter’s hand you want,
you’d better have a talk with YOUR
father.”
The playing golfer to his
chattering wife: “There are enough
big traps on this course already. So
why don’t you shut yours!”
The psychiatrist to the robot on
his couch: “What makes you think
you’ve got a screw loose?”
The female pheasant to the male
pheasant: “What do you mean am
I game?”
The monk to the nun: “Listen,
they’re playing our psalm.”
One skunk to another: “So
do you!”
The doctor to his pregnant
patient: “Tell me when the pains are
three minutes apart. I want to boil
an egg.”
The jockey to his mount just
before the race: “Roses are red,
violets are blue. The horse that
comes last, is made into glue.”
CROSSWORD NO. 360
SOLUTION TO CROSSWORD 358
Across: 1 Bobby, 4 Backboard, 9 Lighter, 10 Niggard, 11 Franc, 13 Lotus,
15 Ode, 16 Nag, 17 Anvil, 19 Style, 21 Het up, 23 Venal, 24 Elf, 25 Red,
26 Sedan, 28 Xebec, 29 Innings, 31 Ravioli, 33 Associate, 34 Tilde.
Down: 1 Bullfinch, 2 Big bang, 3 Yet, 4 Beryl, 5 Con, 6 Bogus, 7 Anatomy,
8 Dodge, 12 Champ, 14 Talon, 18 Vivid, 19 Silex,
20 Effective, 22 Tidings, 24 Embroil, 25 Raita,
26 Sonic, 27 Nerve, 30 Sea, 32 Vet.
Congratulations
ISSUE 358 WINNER
Anne Anderton, Ruislip
Just for fun
Have a go at
this medium
level Sudoku
puzzle. Fill
the grid so
that every
row, every
column and
every 3x3 box
contains the
numbers 1-9.
Follow @TheLTDA on Twitter for news, updates and warnings
41
8640-LTDA_LTDA protects_Taxi Ad
12/11/09
09:29
www.ltda.co.uk |
Page 1
LTDA
PROTECTS
Phone 0207 286 1046 for details or visit www.ltda.co.uk
A selection of our numerous
Distribution Points
n A1 Taxis, Melody Lane, Highbury N5
n Abacus Accounts, Southbrook Road,
Lee SE12
n Astral Café, Regency Place SW1
n Bubbles Car Wash, E2
n C & S Taxis, Dunbridge Street E2
n Cabsurance, Seven Kings
n Camberfield Taxi Services
n Computer Cab, Mitre Way W12
n Coney Allen, Dunbridge Street E1
n CP Beehive Service Station, Beehive Lane,
Gants Hill
n Cricklewood Carriers, Cricklewood
n Dial A Cab, City Road N1
n Edgware Station Rank
n Euston Station Rank
n G & L Taxis, Crayford Road N7
n Globe Transmissions, Cudworth
Street E1
n The Ham, Brentford
n Heathrow Airport Canteen
n Hexagon Garage, Lukin Street E1
n Jet Garage, Clipstone Street W1
n Knowledge Centre, Caledonian Road
n KPM, Hemming Street E1
n London City Airport Canteen
n LP Motors, Dunbridge Street E2
n Martin Cordell, E3 and Stanmore
n Paddington Station Rank
n Putney Bridge Taxis, The Arches,
Putney Bridge Station SW6
n Richmond Road Taxi Centre, E8
n Safewise Supermarket, Harrow
n South Bank Service Station, Great Suffolk
Street SE1
n TAXI HOUSE W9
n Taxi & Private Hire, Blackfriars Rd SE1
n Temple Place Shelter
n Tent Street Taxi Centre E2
n Turbo Accessories, Three Colts Lane E2
n Waterloo Station
n Wimbledon Station Rank
n WizAnn Knowledge School,
Watts Grove E3
PUBLISHED BY LTDA
Taxi House 11 Woodfield Road,
London W9 2BA
T: 020 7286 1046 | www.ltda.co.uk
@TheLTDA
Managing Editor
Steve Still
T: 0207 121 0523 | F: 0207 286 2494
The Massett File Richard Massett
International NEWS Wim Faber
Two Fingers Al Fresco
Taxi Talk Alf Townsend
Overheard Brad Ashton
Licensed to Chat Musher Meg
PRODUCED BY
Century One publishing ltd
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LTDA
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced,
stored in a retrieval system or transmitted by any means electronic,
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publishers. The views and opinions expressed in this publication
may not necessarily be those of the publishers. Please note that
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@TheLTDA
43
www.ltda.co.uk |
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BERMONDSEY
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FOR RENT
SERVICE, REPAIRS
& BODYWORK
PHONE PAUL ON 020 7358 1272
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Based in Mitcham - CR4 4NQ
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n Verifone card readers provided free of charge in every vehicle
n National AA cover, Homestart and Relay
n All vehicles are serviced every 6,000 miles
n No insurance excess to pay
n Maintained and repaired by the best mechanics and technicians in London
45
CLASSIFIED
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LTDA Meetings
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SOUTH
Last Tuesday of Jan and last
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First Monday of Jan and third
Tuesday of March, May, June, Nov
CALL 0207 208 1046 FOR TIMES & VENUE
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VNK MOTORS LTD
Cabs
Available
Now
New Premises:
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a Taxi
Mechanic
n TXII Reconditioned Engine £1,600
n We buy TXIIs, TX4s
n 24 Hour breakdown
n Taxis for Rent TXI, TXII & TX4’s from £180 - £235
n TXIs start from £160 pw upto TX4s from £200 pw
n All repairs undertaken including; insurance bodywork,
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n TX4 Reconditioned Engine £1,900
(4 Years or 100,000 miles warranty) All genuine LTI parts
(2 Years or 50,000 miles warranty)
Tel: 0207 485 0959
Unit 8 Thornham Grove, E15 1DN, 0208 981 1647 / 07951 321566
001-01
3_taxi_
Advertise Here
001-013_tax
i_issue_358
in TAXI magazine
The officia
l public
TA X I
ation of
the Licen
sed Taxi
Drivers’
_TAXI
345X2
50 11/12/
2015
15:01
CENTURY ONE PUBLISHING
CALL JONNY ON 01727 739 193
357_TAXI
345X2
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Page 1
TA X I
HIGHL
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@TheLTDA
No.359
No.357|1
DECEMB
@
15 DEC
EMBER
2015
| 12 JAN
UARY
2016
SEE PA
GE 4
PLACE YOUR AD BY TUESDAY 09 FEBRUARY
FOR TAXI ISSUE 361
issue_
Page 1
SEE PA
GE 3
“BET T
CAMP ER FOR LO
N
AIGN
Are yo
LAUNCDON”
u supp
orting
your tra
HED
de? P5
, P2
More
More rea
ders tha
n the res
reade
rs tha
n the
4 and P2
t put tog
ether.
Ask an
y driver
!
rest pu
More rea
t togeth
5
LTDA
UBER
PANICHIT THE
BUTTO
N
er. As
ders tha
k any
n the res
driver!
t put tog
LTDA
ether.
Ask an
y driver
!
LTDA
SEE PAG
ER 2015
E4
www.ltda.co.uk |
@TheLTDA
LINAGE
Accountants
ARTEMIS & CO ACCOUNTANTS.
Specialising in the Taxi and Minicab
trade and all other accountancy.
Accounts and Tax Returns £250.
inc. Based in North London. Email:
[email protected]. Tel:
02088049400. Mob: 07702200971
CHARTERED ACCOUNTANTS
specialising in the taxi trade.
Accounts and tax returns £295inc.
Call Andy 02083601446
Cabs for Rent
A1 TAXIS ARE NOW at Melody Lane,
Highbury Grove (opposite church),
family run garage, TX4s to rent, 24
hour backup system
02072264642
ALL TXII’S & TX4’S FOR RENT,
from £180pw, 1st week free, London
Essex Kent based backup, spare cab,
AA RAC Cover call 07908639567
ALL MERCEDES VITO’S, EURO4
& Euro5 for rent, prices start from
£200pw, call 07956211478
ALL NORTH/WEST, TXS.
Full Flat/Part time/ Odd Days/
Shifts from £180, Full backup
07549102030
CHEAP TAXIS – TXIS/TXIIS/TX4S
from £150pw, Full Back-up, Bethnal
Green, Call Eric
07766542798
E16 RENTALS, TX4S ASCOTTS
maintained, also Merc’s available.
Pay by cash, bank, online,
07957465423/
www.e16-taxirentals.co.uk
PAULS TAXI SPECIALIST LTD,
cabs for rent, TXI, TXII, TX4 &
Vito, prices starting from £165pw,
call 01708553037, 07969522681 or
07545951691
TAYLAN TAXIS, cabs for rent based
in E2, call Ozie 07462885206
TXI & TXII’S FROM £160PW. VITO’s
£225pw. RAC Cover. No Adverts.
Garage Backup. Essex
01708373786
TXI’S FROM £180PW, TXII’S from
£185pw, TX4’s for rent, 24hr back-up
system, Clean cabs – 02076132436,
07947644541 or 07702221672
TXI’S, TXII’S & TX4’S FROM £150PW,
Camden location, full backup. We
will buy your cab for cash. Call
07771713722
TXII’S & TX4’S FOR RENT,
full back up, Family garage, Old
Kent Road based 02073581272
TXII’S TO VITO’S, FULL BACK UP,
spare cabs available - Welling (Kent)
Call Martin 07956521420
TXII’S £155 TO RENT, cheapest in
London, £155pw, 24 hr backup, pay
in bank 07478698754
VITO’S FROM £200, TXI’S, TXII’S
from £150. Double team welcome.
All cabs well maintained. Full
backup and taxi recovery that
carries spares on board to get you
back on the road ASAP. First week
free. Refund back after 1 month,
plus free Christmas week. Pay in at
a bank, or internet banking. Call JR
Taxi Rentals
07816856797
Cabs for Sale
05 TXII FOR SALE, Vodafone livery,
very good cab, one owner since
new, £9,500, plate expires March
01202419779
58REG TX4, BLACK, SILVER SPEC,
1 owner 224k miles FSH, plated
until Oct16 £15,500
07956293748
MERCEDES VITO 10 PLATE, 1
owner, 102,000 miles, VGC, £17,500
07747047152
TXI, X-REG FOR SALE, 1 YEARS
plate, very good condition £3800,
07947644541
TX4 ELEGANCE EURO 5, 15 plate,
15,000 miles, over 2 years warranty
remaining, selling due to medical
reasons, £33,000 01737 556575
Coulsdon Surrey
TX4 SILVER, 57 BLACK, FDSH,
202k, VGC, plated in your name,
superside £14,450 ONO
07549102030
Cabs Wanted
ALL TXI/FAIRWAY TAXIS purchased
for cash, clean owner driven, quick
viewing. oldlondontaxis@yahoo.
co.uk, or call Graham on
07435562759
WANTED TXI’S - OFF PLATE/
plated, top quality TXI’s wanted,
GUARANTEED TOP PRICE PAID
07787513629
ALL TXI’S & FAIRWAYS WANTED,
instant decision - cash paid. Tel:
07973335739 or 01253407500
A CAB WANTED URGENTLY,
fair condition, any year; we pay
the most, 01322669081 or
07836250222
ALL CABS BOUGHT FOR CASH,
top prices paid. Cab hire also
available, EastLondonAnd
Essex TaxiRentals.co.uk
07877093866
CABS URGENTLY WANTED,
cash same day, we pay your
finance, call Roy 07956293748
TROY TAXIS – ALL 15 YEAR OLD
TXI’s wanted, no one beats me on
price, cash paid…instant decision
call Troy (green badge driver)
07958652921
TAXI WANTED TO RENT BISHOPS
Stortford. Three long days a week.
Contact Gary for more information
07586 345 748
WE BUY VITO’S & TX’S. We also sell/
rent TX’s and Vito’s ready for work.
Call for more information
07985124194
Drivers Wanted
FED UP WITH THE GARAGE
you are renting from? Give us a try.
Regular driver wanted for TXII, AA
cover, clean cab, small fleet, garage
backup, based SE London, £170pw,
call 07771 544054
Mechanic Wanted
Experienced Taxi & Vito mechanic
wanted, East London. Top rate paid,
call 07985124194 or 02035388450
Recovery
RECOVERY AND ROADSIDE a
ssistance/relocation for London taxis,
reasonable rates 7 days, 07785900006
Miscellaneous
OLD KNOWLEDGE BIKES WANTED,
Dead or Alive, Cash on Collection Please Call 07749488367. Thankyou
2016 LINAGE
RATES:
UP TO 15 WORDS £27
UP TO 25 WORDS £41
UP TO 35 WORDS £48
PLUS (VAT)
PLACE YOUR LINAGE
BY WED 10 FEBRUARY 4PM
FOR TAXI ISSUE 361
*PLEASE NOTE LINAGE RATES HAVE
INCREASED FOR 2016
CENTURY ONE PUBLISHING
CALL JONNY ON
01727 739 193
At Plan we fully support your efforts to
protect your iconic trade.
We back your cause and have joined
your protests. Your future is our future.
Great Value
Cab Insurance
Fantastic value cover designed to
keep your business motoring
Stay on the move with free
breakdown assistance inc. homestart
Protect your business with a
replacement black cab following a
fault claim
Keeping your business motoring
planinsurance.co.uk
0333 003 0062
47
THE NEW
Now available with 2 years free servicing*
Larry, 56
Licensed Cabbie
North London
‘HAPPY AS LARRY’
TX4 Elegance from £159 per week** with 2 years free servicing*
Offer ends 31st March 2016
Call 03300 245 922 for more details
Or visit www.london-taxis.co.uk for more information
The Only Black Cab
The London Taxi Company
39-41 Brewery Road, London, N7 9QH
03330 144 441
Ascott Cab Company Ltd
1-3 Blackhorse Road, London, SE8 5HY
0208 692 1122
Terms and conditions apply. Free servicing offer includes 15,000 miles, 30,000 miles, 45,000 miles and 60,000 miles servicing intervals and annual air conditioning service. Free servicing offer only available when vehicle is purchased in
conjunction with finance provided by Black Horse Taxi Finance. Offer available on TX4 Elegance model only. Offer is only applicable to vehicles registered and delivered by 31 March 2016. Offer not to be used in conjunction with any
other offer. **Business users only. Finance offer available on Personal Contract Purchase 9.2% APR representative; figures based on TX4 Elegance (automatic transmission) at £42,795 OTR with a customer deposit of £3,295 followed by
48 monthly payments of £688.21 (equivalent weekly payments of £158.81) plus an optional final payment of £16,830 based upon an annual contracted mileage of 30,000 (120,000 over term) and an Option To Purchase Fee of £10 on the
last payment. Deposits can be made from £0 and paid on collection; the above is an example deposit based on the finance illustration. Three year plans are also available. Excess mileage charge of 6.0 pence (+VAT) per mile applies. If the
vehicle is in good condition and has not exceeded the allowed mileage you will have nothing to pay. Finance is subject to status and is only available to UK residents aged 18 and over. Finance is provided by Black Horse Taxi Finance a
trading style of Black Horse Ltd, St William House,Tresillian Terrace, Cardiff CF10 5BH. Fuel economy information:TX4 (Euro 6) in mpg (1/100km): Urban 25.7 (11.0), Extra Urban 41.5 (6.8), Combined 33.2 (8.5), CO2 emissions: 222g/km.
*
14-01-16 - LTC - TAXI - Press Advert (226x314mm).indd 1
19/01/2016 16:37:54

HATTON - TAXI Newspaper

Transcription

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