Hackney Cabs Stockport

Station Cabs Stockport

It might surprise many passengers arriving at Manchester Airport to find that the new "Arrow Cars" taxi/private hire are a lot more expensive than using a traditional Black cab.

A Black cab can usually be found right outside the door at all three terminals, the drivers will be happy to give you a price for your chosen destination. You may then compare this to the Arrow cars price.

National Taxi protest??

In the early 1980's a National protest was organised against the (then) proposals by Steven Norris, who was Tory transport Minister. The same national deregulation was on the cards.

Hundreds of cabs travelled from the North (I was one) and we met up with the Merseyside fleet, travelled on to and around Birmingham causing chaos.

The M6 had a rolling 50mph taxi roadblock before meeting up with the London trade, who were at that time protesting about the proposal to license minicabs.

London was brought to a standstill, whilst we met Mr Norris at the commons and we all filled in some sort of a paper which meant if your MP was present, they had to come and see you.

Anyway, we made National news, the police helicopters were all over the M6, Mr Norris was almost assaulted by the Merseyside brigade - But best of all, section 16 was born.

All this was arranged without the interweb or mobile phones and it achieved it's goal.

If the London trade are to protest about the Olympic VIP lanes, then you have a "perfect storm" for a National protest.

It has been done before, will it be done again?

de-reg dilemma

Further to our breaking news on the proposal to have a National de- limit, our email box has been busy. Some tell us it’s a lie, we have made it up to buy some cheap plates. So be it, that COULD have happened.  July 19th is the deadline for the Select Committee report. If our source is lying you will know in 3 weeks time.

PS. don't shoot the messenger(s)

£300k claim against taxi driver

http://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/news/9086318.__300k_claim_over_taxi_door_injury/

Is de-regulation nation wide back on the agenda?

Thursday, 16 June 2011

The National Cab Act 2011.

We have received an Email today from our source close to Westminster, “TheMouseInTheHouse” tells us the report from the commons select Committee is almost ready and MUST be published online by July 19 this year. This is obviously when Parliament rises for summer recess. This would follow the same path and time scale of last year’s Equality bill. We would expect this bill to clear Commons before Xmas 2011 and clear Lords before March 2012. The Act can then be ratified around October 2012.

We are told the report recommends the repeal of section 16 of the Transport Act 1985. This in effect will de-limit Hackneys nationwide. The purpose is to remove the burden of bi-annual market research surveys to limit the number of hackneys on the road. “TheMouse” further alleges that a better way to contain numbers is by quality restrictions. To that end it is proposed that all new Hackney and Private hire vehicles being licensed for the first time will be required to pass Euro 5 emission standards.

Further speculation of the report is not needed. “TheMouse” promises us we will have a sneak preview before publication. However if you were toying with the idea of selling, do it on the “Hurry Up”.

Source; http://rainycityripoff.blogspot.com/

Read more: http://www.mrblackcab.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=general&action=display&thread=819#ixzz1PWXfaFeK

Salford licensing in £100k fraud investigation

A police officer and two town hall workers have been arrested in connection with a £100,000 fraud investigation.
The probe centres on the licensing department at Salford council.
One worker Jane Nugent, was arrested on suspicion of fraud at her home in Swinton.
Miss Nugent was principal licensing officer for the city until she took voluntary redundancy from her £30,000 post in January. She had worked in the department for several years.
Her boyfriend, Bury-based PC Graham Fox, has been arrested on suspicion of money laundering and placed on restricted duties by Greater Manchester Police.
The probe into Miss Nugent relates to an alleged fraud of more than £100,000 involving credit and cash transfers over a number of years.
Another council worker Gareth Robinson, from Radcliffe, a support assistant in the licensing department, was also arrested in a separate investigation. Mr Robinson was arrested on suspicion of fraud and has been suspended by the council.
It is understood the investigation into Mr Robinson centres on alleged misuse of a credit card amounting to about £7,000.
The licensing department is responsible for issuing licences for taxis, street traders, pubs, and dealing with fixed penalty notices.
Councillor Ray Mashiter, lead member for environment, said: "During one of our regular accounting reviews we uncovered some financial irregularities. As a result we contacted the police and our internal audit team has been supporting their investigation into this matter.
"As this is an ongoing investigation it would not be appropriate to comment further at this stage."
In a statement Greater Manchester Police said: "A 43-year-old woman and 25-year-old man have been arrested by detectives investigating the theft of cash from licensing services at Salford council.
"Both have been arrested on suspicion of fraud and the man has additionally been arrested on suspicion of burglary.
"A 48-year-old man, a serving GMP officer, was also arrested on suspicion of money laundering as part of the investigation.
"He has been placed on restricted duties and the matter has been referred to the IPCC."
All three have been bailed pending further inquiries until August.

OUR VIEW: All of Greater Manchester Councils should carry out an immediate audit of their own licensing units, many have not produced detailed and understandable accounts for years!!  

Arrow at Manchester airport

 Manchester cab trade blog (CLICK HERE!!!)

 

 

Hi Viz waistcoats for sale.

Monday, 30 May 2011

Private hire expansion comes at a price.

It would appear the cracks are getting bigger with Manchester Airports new top class private hire service. The following mortgage taken out in March this year would suggest that their bank is getting anxious with the size of the overdraft.


http://www.mediafire.com/?twlhcdnn1e5hugd


Source = Companies House, via Capt John.