http://menmedia.co.uk/manchestereveningnews/news/s/1471707_revealed-how-greater-manchesters-town-halls-spent-15-billion-of-your-money
Link from MEN Media
Link from MEN Media
Manchester Taxis, Stockport Taxis, Manchester Airport Taxis, Taxis Cheshire: 0161 483 1099
Wednesday, 21 March 2012
Manchester Taxis rape figures, shocking.
Good news from London earlier this month. There records for rapes and sexual assaults were down around 20% on last year.
Not such good news for Manchester though.
GMP refused to answer the Freedom of Information request I asked for this year ( see www.whatdotheyknow.com)
I naturally appealed, I am glad to say that the appeal worked and today I share that request with you.
The news is not good though, although London is four times larger than Manchester Our rapes figures are now greater than thiers. Our figure last year was 98, this year it has increased to 109. This increase is slightly over 10%.
This would suggest we are the rape Capital of England.
Not such good news for Manchester though.
GMP refused to answer the Freedom of Information request I asked for this year ( see www.whatdotheyknow.com)
I naturally appealed, I am glad to say that the appeal worked and today I share that request with you.
The news is not good though, although London is four times larger than Manchester Our rapes figures are now greater than thiers. Our figure last year was 98, this year it has increased to 109. This increase is slightly over 10%.
This would suggest we are the rape Capital of England.
Rogue Taxis plague Manchester
We have all heard the stories of Rossendale Hacks and Staffordshire Hacks working as PH for Manchester operators.
Today within half an hour I was "gobsmacked" as they say. A Newport (south Wales) hack starts on Wythenshawe Cars tomorrow. Whilst still getting over the shock of that I came accross the following hack in Withington. This one is from Gedling, a small town just the other side of NOTTINGHAM, ffs, not as far as Newport, but Christ almighty what is going on.
We cant wait for the Law Commission to Act. Licensing is about public protection, how can you protect the public if you do not know anything about the Drivers working your streets.
No wonder Rape is the favourite pastime in Manchester, if this keeps up next years FOI numbers will be through the roof and it is all Manchester Licensings fault, no mistake.
Today within half an hour I was "gobsmacked" as they say. A Newport (south Wales) hack starts on Wythenshawe Cars tomorrow. Whilst still getting over the shock of that I came accross the following hack in Withington. This one is from Gedling, a small town just the other side of NOTTINGHAM, ffs, not as far as Newport, but Christ almighty what is going on.
We cant wait for the Law Commission to Act. Licensing is about public protection, how can you protect the public if you do not know anything about the Drivers working your streets.
No wonder Rape is the favourite pastime in Manchester, if this keeps up next years FOI numbers will be through the roof and it is all Manchester Licensings fault, no mistake.
Wednesday, 14 March 2012
Be very grateful for your track!! Thank you Lord Fleet owners
Cabdriver charged with shooting co-workers
Men had lined up to lease taxis at Chicago Carriage Cab Co. in Bronzeville when tussle began
After a tussle between cabdrivers over a position in the line to lease taxis for the night, one driver pulled a 9 mm pistol and shot two of his co-workers, prosecutors said.
Frederick Bailey, 63, fired a round through one man's arm and hit another man in the back Friday night at Chicago Carriage Cab Co. in the Bronzeville neighborhood, authorities said. Prosecutors said he told police he dumped the gun in Lake Michigan after the shooting and then turned himself in.
Bailey, of the 8700 block of South State Street, is charged with aggravated battery with a gun. On Sunday, Cook County Judge Adam Bourgeois Jr. set his bond at $450,000.
Outside court, Preze Bailey said he couldn't believe his brother would have pulled the gun except in self-defense or under extreme provocation. Frederick Bailey carried the firearm because he often felt threatened while driving his cab, and he was once robbed by a passenger, his brother said.
"He had to have something on him out in those streets to protect himself," Preze Bailey said.
Frederick Bailey was queued up to lease a cab about 8:30 p.m. Friday when another driver, a 51-year-old man, cut in front of him at the taxi company in the 2600 block of South Wabash Avenue, Assistant State's Attorney Ericka Graunke said. Bailey punched the man, who he has known for several years, she said.
Another cabdriver tried to intervene, but Bailey pulled his pistol and shot the men, hitting the driver he'd been fighting in the back and the other cabbie, a 49-year-old man, in the arm, Graunke said. When he turned himself in shortly after the shooting, Bailey said he had intended to kill the man who cut in front of him, and he added that he would continue to try to kill him if freed from jail, she said.
Both men were treated and released from Stroger Hospital, according to a police report and hospital personnel.
Men had lined up to lease taxis at Chicago Carriage Cab Co. in Bronzeville when tussle began
After a tussle between cabdrivers over a position in the line to lease taxis for the night, one driver pulled a 9 mm pistol and shot two of his co-workers, prosecutors said.
Frederick Bailey, 63, fired a round through one man's arm and hit another man in the back Friday night at Chicago Carriage Cab Co. in the Bronzeville neighborhood, authorities said. Prosecutors said he told police he dumped the gun in Lake Michigan after the shooting and then turned himself in.
Bailey, of the 8700 block of South State Street, is charged with aggravated battery with a gun. On Sunday, Cook County Judge Adam Bourgeois Jr. set his bond at $450,000.
Outside court, Preze Bailey said he couldn't believe his brother would have pulled the gun except in self-defense or under extreme provocation. Frederick Bailey carried the firearm because he often felt threatened while driving his cab, and he was once robbed by a passenger, his brother said.
"He had to have something on him out in those streets to protect himself," Preze Bailey said.
Frederick Bailey was queued up to lease a cab about 8:30 p.m. Friday when another driver, a 51-year-old man, cut in front of him at the taxi company in the 2600 block of South Wabash Avenue, Assistant State's Attorney Ericka Graunke said. Bailey punched the man, who he has known for several years, she said.
Another cabdriver tried to intervene, but Bailey pulled his pistol and shot the men, hitting the driver he'd been fighting in the back and the other cabbie, a 49-year-old man, in the arm, Graunke said. When he turned himself in shortly after the shooting, Bailey said he had intended to kill the man who cut in front of him, and he added that he would continue to try to kill him if freed from jail, she said.
Both men were treated and released from Stroger Hospital, according to a police report and hospital personnel.
Saturday, 10 March 2012
Saturday, 3 March 2012
Taxi Drivers to be DNA tested?
A leading Manchester trade rep is attemting to launch a new business idea that would see all taxi drivers DNA tested. Whatever for, and how this will work is unclear at this stage.
The business plan is vague at the moment, buy my guess is that it is deeply flawed and unlikely to suceed. But it begs the question as to why a so called trade representative is considering such a proposal.
Would it be another huge waste of time like the flawed NVQ scheme? If true, the motive can only be money, a trade "rep" attempting to profit from the drivers? Surely not!
Taxi drivers are amongst some of the most highly regulated people in the country if done properly by the licensing authorities, with enhanced CRB checks and the like. The last thing the trade needs now is to que up in Manchester for a mouth swab!!
The business plan is vague at the moment, buy my guess is that it is deeply flawed and unlikely to suceed. But it begs the question as to why a so called trade representative is considering such a proposal.
Would it be another huge waste of time like the flawed NVQ scheme? If true, the motive can only be money, a trade "rep" attempting to profit from the drivers? Surely not!
Taxi drivers are amongst some of the most highly regulated people in the country if done properly by the licensing authorities, with enhanced CRB checks and the like. The last thing the trade needs now is to que up in Manchester for a mouth swab!!
Stockport Council - NO NEW TAXI LICENSES
At Wednesday’s licensing meeting, the committee voted for no new taxi licences and another survey in 3 years time, Chris Gordon remarking how happy he was with the new spirit of understanding that exists between him and the trade.
So the trade can breathe a sigh of relief from the council, however, for paranoid ***** like myself, let's not forget the train thundering down the track, "The Law Commission"
I suspect Cllr Gordon knows full well the Govenment has not finished with the taxi trade and is quite content to sit back and await the outcome, over which, he has no control.
So the trade can breathe a sigh of relief from the council, however, for paranoid ***** like myself, let's not forget the train thundering down the track, "The Law Commission"
I suspect Cllr Gordon knows full well the Govenment has not finished with the taxi trade and is quite content to sit back and await the outcome, over which, he has no control.
Friday, 2 March 2012
Fair Fuel UK Demonstration Wednesday 7th March 2012 @ 1pm
Wednesday 7th March 2012 @ 1pm
House of Commons
Diesel is the lifeblood of the Taxi trade and unlike the buses we receive no subsidy of any kind. It is becoming increasingly difficult for Taxi drivers to earn a decent living, and with the price of fuel reportedly set to rise to it's highest ever level the future looks bleak for the Licensed London Taxi trade.
The United Cabbies Group will be supporting this action and we ask you to join us.
Thank you UCG.
Read more: http://www.mrblackcab.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=everythinganything&action=display&thread=1301#ixzz1nwdLD0uV
Thursday, 1 March 2012
Disgruntled taxi drivers in Wales
Disgruntled in Wales
“On September 30, 2010, less than 12 weeks before 25-year-old Miah, of Ninian Park Road, Cardiff, was arrested for his part in the London bomb plot, he was arrested by South Wales Police after trying to apply for a renewed taxi driver’s licence. That day, a man tried to renew a hackney carriage/private hire driver’s licence in the name of Isaac Ilyas at the Vale of Glamorgan’s Civic Offices in Barry. But the photo ID he offered as part of his application raised questions, show council reports.
The individual then said he was Ibraheem Umayr, who had adopted his brother’s identity to obtain a taxi licence. But then the Criminal Records Bureau told the council’s licensing officers his fingerprints would need to be compared with those held on the Police National Computer.
At this Mr Umayr abruptly withdrew his application and requested a refund. But suspicious officers then established that his true identity was Abdul Miah, and he was interviewed in a Cardiff custody suite. On December 20, Miah, who was being monitored under police bail for the fraud offence, was arrested in the Welsh capital with four other men – two of whom were later released without charge.
While being held on remand for terror charges last year, Miah appeared at Cardiff Magistrates Court via video link and was found guilty of fraud. He was given a conditional discharge for 12 months in relation to fraud.”
The paper then went on to point out how cab drivers have access to all manner of places, just a matter of showing a cab badge and driving a cab will allow cab drivers into power stations, transport interchanges and all sorts of places terrorists would seemingly just love to go and party. I know terrorists are very probably stupid, but the thought occurs if they want access to these places, they won’t actually bother trying to obtain a taxi or private hire license to do so.
Cabbie beaten for stealing goat
Cabbie beaten for stealing goat
A goat yesterday
Cornell Francis, 28, of Fort William, Westmoreland, was convicted in the Whithorn Resident Magistrate’s Court, Westmoreland.
Barrington Holmes, a farmer, and owner of the goat, testified last week that on October 20, last year, while he was at Roaring River, Westmoreland, he received information which led him to go on a search for his 33 goats.
broken horn
He ended up at a river where he saw his black goat in the trunk of a motor car. He said he identified the goat by a broken horn. He said the goat was involved in a fight two months before he was stolen, and that was how his horn was broken.
Holmes said residents had stopped Francis when they saw the goat in the trunk of the motor car.
Constable Darroe Rowe said when he arrived on the scene, the accused Francis had several injuries all over his body.
Francis, in his defence, denied stealing the goat. He told the court that he had gone to the river to wash his motor car.
After Francis was found guilty, attorney-at-Law Michael Erskine begged Resident Magistrate Sheron Barnes not to send him to prison. Erskine said Francis had no previous conviction and had already been punished by the mob who attacked and injured him.
RM Barnes, in passing sentence ,said although she abhorred stealing, especially from hard working farmers, she would exercise some leniency and impose a fine.
Farmer Holmes informed the court that following a court order, the police returned the goat to him. He said the goat was consumed over the Christmas holidays last year.
source: http://jamaica-star.com/
Monday, 27 February 2012
!! DO NOT CARRY WHEELCHAIRS IN A TAXI !!
!! DO NOT CARRY WHEELCHAIRS IN A TAXI !!
Untill you have read, and understood the following, with compliments of our friends in Manchester who state:
It is not safe to attempt to load a wheelchair into these vehicles (Black Cabs) this means you could be committing a criminal offence if you continue to do so!!
After studying the effects of Musculoskeletal (MSD) injuries due to loading wheelchairs into Taxis, I have come to the conclusion it is unsafe to do so.
- Ramps. Vehicle ramps are governed by BS 6109 part 2. The British safety standard. This says that amongst other things ramps should;
a. Ramps should be fixed to a vehicle at one end, minimum. TX ramps come in two parts A and B, A is attached to the vehicle, B however is not, A just rest upon B, there is no positive locking mechanism, everything is left to “luck”.
b. Ramps should have 20 mm edges fitted to the ramps to stop wheelchairs going off the edge.
c. Ramps should be weight tested at least annually to show they can withstand a force of 250 kilograms.
These requirements are also stated on page 24 of the following appendix [5]
Manchester Council has responsibility for testing Hackney Carriage Vehicles in that City. Manchester have never weight tested ramps fitted to Hackney vehicles. It should be noted that VOSA, the standards agency, test ramps and tail lifts on vehicles which fall into their area of responsibility, every 12 weeks.
1. Do accidents occur whilst loading wheelchairs into vehicles? The Executive summary in the following Department of Health document says deaths and accidents occur daily.[5](page3).
2.Transport for London have had 228 accidents over a four year period, loading wheelchairs on board buses, 47 have resulted in hospitalisation [4]
It should be noted that the maximum gradients for loading wheelchairs on buses should not exceed 7 Degree’s. Accidents still happen at this angle of entry. [2] (page 6).
- LTI TX vehicles load at an angle of 19 degree’s from a flat surface. The Mercedes vehicle loads at an angle of 22 degree’s from a flat surface.
The HSE document “Getting to grips with Manual handling” [1](page 11) shows the amount of sustained force which can safely used to push a wheelchair up a slope. That limit is equal to 100 Newtons. (10 kilos).
The Transport Research Laboratory survey 1999.[3] shows that on a survey of over 700 vehicles, the mean average weight of a wheelchair user(and chair) is 121 kilos. Of these the 95 percentile shows that 95% were under 206 kilos. That also means 5% were anything up to 384 kilos [3](page 28).
Using the mean average of 121 kilos, per wheelchair, the force required to push a wheelchair bound person up the ramp on a TX vehicle is 363 Newton’s. Over three and a half times the safe limit.
Using the same calculations on a Mercedes Vito vehicle the amount of force is even greater, 460 Newton’s. This is over four and a half times the safe limit. It would seem to be obvious that at levels such as this MSD’s will continue every day.
The Management of Health and Safety at Work Act, Section 3(2) states
(2) Every self-employed person shall make a suitable and sufficient assessment of -:
(a) the risks to his own health and safety to which he is exposed whilst he is at work; and
(b) the risks to the health and safety of persons not in his employment arising out of or in connection with the conduct by him of his undertaking,
The fact that I now know it is not safe to attempt to load a wheelchair into either of these vehicles means, I would be committing a criminal offence if I continued to do so.
The conditions of use for a meter in a hackney carriage state: a meter should be clean well illuminated and placed in a position that it can be clearly seen by all passengers in the vehicle at any time during the journey.
This is obviously to protect the public from unscrupulous behavior of the driver and to ensure the passenger has enough funds available to pay for the journey.
This is obviously to protect the public from unscrupulous behavior of the driver and to ensure the passenger has enough funds available to pay for the journey.
Wheelchair bound passengers cannot see the meter at anytime whilst being carried backwards.
wheelchair bound passengers cannot anticipate and brace them selves for corners or speed bumps etc.
Wheelchair bound passengers are receiving a lesser service than ordinary members of the public. This is criminal offence under the Equality Act of 2010.
wheelchair bound passengers cannot anticipate and brace them selves for corners or speed bumps etc.
Wheelchair bound passengers are receiving a lesser service than ordinary members of the public. This is criminal offence under the Equality Act of 2010.
The need for all Authorities to consider their position on the types of vehicles used was highlighted in the High court action; Regina v Liverpool City Council. (ex parte Lunt and Allied Vehicles) 2009.[6]
I think that because of the risk of injury to the driver and the wheelchair bound passenger, we should consider refusing to take wheelchairs in these two vehicles.
I note that the DDA Act of 1995 states that:
(6) In any proceedings for an offence under this section, it is a defence for the accused to show that, even though at the time of the alleged offence the taxi conformed with those provisions of the taxi accessibility regulations with which it was required to conform, it would not have been possible for the wheelchair in question to be carried in safety in the taxi.
The Transport Research laboratory was commissioned to undertake crash test dummy exercises for the Department of Transport. There were two tests, one taken in 2003 and another taken later, specifically for children, in 2008. I add these as appendices [7] and [8]
The test for children [8] is the most alarming, pages 70 through to 90 are required reading, however I highlight two salient points;
Page 84 para 4.4.2;
“most manufacturers will say that their wheelchairs should be used forward facing only”
Page 90, para 4.5
“Some wheelchairs deformed or failed”….”which suggested that a child would be at risk of injury”.
The standard test [7] pages 30 to 38 are required reading
Page 32; “In general the wheelchair seated occupant was at a greater risk of injury than the vehicle seated occupant. All injury criteria showed an increased level of risk up to double that of an occupant seated in a baseline vehicle seat with a head restraint”
The fact that wheelchair bound occupants of Taxis, particularly when facing rearwards, receive a lesser service than that of ordinary passengers means a criminal offence is being committed under the provisions of the 2010 Equality Act.
The high danger to children in buggies and wheelchairs should result in them not being carried in rearward facing wheelchair M1 vehicles. The fact that these types of chair are stated by the manufacturers to be used forward facing only would suggest that in case of an accident your insurers would be in a position to avoid payment. Recent cases in Birmingham and elsewhere would suggest that in a fatality the driver of the Hackney could be charged with Manslaughter.
I think these matters need URGENT attention.
Appendices used;
[1] ‘Getting to grips with manual handling’; Health and Safety Executive.
[2] Transport for London. Bus Priority Team, technical advise note BP1/06
[3] Transport Research Laboratory… Project report PR/SE/622/99
[4] Freedom of Information Request from TfL.
[5] Department of Health, MHRA, DB2004(2)
[6] Regina v Liverpool City Council (ex parte Alma Lunt).
[7] Transport of wheelchair occupants in road passenger vehicles. ISBN 0-9543339-1-9 (2003).
[8] Transport Research Laboratory. Report TRL667 (2008)
Thursday, 16 February 2012
taxi driver fined for refusing to take a woman home in the dark and rain
Wednesday, October 19, 2011
A taxi driver, who refused to take a woman to her home late at night in the rain, has been slapped with fines and costs of more than £1,000.
Syed Shaheed, 48, of Newark Road, Luton, had, via an Urdu interpreter, denied snubbing Jacqueline Doney’s request to go from Howardsgate to Walden Road – a distance of around 0.7 miles.
He also claimed not to remember the incident, at around 10pm on January 5 this year.
But his protestations cut no ice when he appeared before St Albans magistrates on Monday, and he was found guilty.
The court heard how Mrs Doney had just got off the train at WGC and, not wanting to walk home alone through the woods, had opened the door to Shaheed’s silver VW Sharan, in Howardsgate and attempted to hire him.
Shaheed’s people-carrier was the first cab on the rank, and under the terms of his Hackney Carriage licence it is an offence to refuse a fare to any destination within the Welwyn Hatfield district.
IT worker Mrs Doney told the court: “I went to the taxi rank, to the first taxi on the rank and said ‘can you take me to Walden Road please?’.
“The driver said ‘pardon’ and I said can you take me to Walden Road?’.”
After explaining to Shaheed where her address was, he twice said to her: “I think you should walk.”
Mrs Doney made a note of Shaheed’s number plate ID when she got in the next taxi on the rank, and complained to the council by email.
She later identified Shaheed from a picture of him among another 12 faces.
The court also heard a transcript of Shaheed’s interview with Welwyn Hatfield Council’s Hackney Carriage officer James Vaughan, on January 26, when he was repeatedly told not to shout or raise his voice as he reacted angrily as the evidence was put to him.
Defending, Ann Tayo, said: “Clearly this is a mistake.”
But father-of-four Shaheed, who is the sole breadwinner for his children, wife and ailing mother, was ordered to pay a £250 fine, £15 victim surcharge and the council’s legal costs of £800, by chairman of the bench Alan Burton.
Outside the court Mrs Doney who was left “shocked” at Shaheed’s refusal to take her home, told the WHT: “It was the right verdict.”
Greater Manchester Taxi Touts Arrested
Well... They are in London as the picture and story clearly shows. A shining example for Greater Manchesters law enforcement authorities.
TOUT squad officers at Heathrow have stepped up their campaign to shame illegal minicab drivers.
As part of the team's ongoing focus on cracking down on tout offenders picking up passengers outside the terminals, those arrested for offences will now find their vehicle windows displayed with a large poster-sized sticker displaying 'Driver arrested on suspicion of taxi touting'.
Aside from charging extremely high priced journeys, among the most common law-breaking behaviour from drivers of illegal minicabs are not being covered by correct insurance and that vehicles are not maintained to the same standards as legal taxis.
DS Steve Nunn, head of Heathrow's Tout Squad said: "We are using these stickers as a public means of showing touts that they will not be tolerated at Heathrow.
"In addition, we want to reassure the public and lawful drivers that the problem of touting is being taken very seriously."
Heathrow's chief inspector Adrian Baxter said: "It is important that people understand the serious implications of unlicensed minicabs.
"Quite simply, if you get into an unlicensed cab, you are getting into a stranger's car."
If you have any information about illegal minicabs, or any other crime, contact Heathrow police station on 101, or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.
Tuesday, 14 February 2012
Stockport Council Taxi Survey
Much awaited Survey - Tells a tale of no unmet demand. The Council have yet to decide on their response. Watch this space. Don't forget the law commission though, that hasn't gone away.
For the anoraks amongst you, here is some interesting stuff on that more important issue for the taxi trade Nationally:
Freedom of Information reply to BC
A table listing all relevant meetings
DfT meeting with OFT November 16th 2009
Meeting with multiple organisations re PHV Guidance note 5th March 2010
Meeting with British Vehicle Rental and Leasing Association 10th March 2010
Meeting with WSP Consultants 27th May 2010
Meeting with Secret External Stakeholder October 2010
Meeting with Law Commission 17th May 2011
E-mail from DfT to Law Commission 2nd August 2011
Meeting with Law Commission and Stakeholders 4th August 2011
Meeting with John Griffin - Addison Lee 13th Oct 2011
Meeting with Law Commission and Stakeholders 22nd Nov 2011
Immediate notes made of meeting with Law Commission and Stakeholders 22nd Nov 2011
Note of meeting with Unite 6th Dec 2011
Written notes of meeting with Law Commission 18th July 2011
Typed version of written notes of meeting with Law Commission 18th July 2011
Meeting with DIPTAC 8th Dec 2011
DfT case made to the Law Commission 2010
Wednesday, 8 February 2012
Taxi driver escapes injury after vehicle overturns in Bowden
A driver was rescued from his taxi after it overturned outside a hotel. The 43-year-old's black cab collided with a fence and landed on its side near the Bowdon Hotel, Langham Road, on Thursday night.
Firefighters from Sale and Altrincham stations lowered a ladder into the taxi so the driver could climb out.
He was treated at the scene for shock but declined hospital treatment.
Police were called and the road was closed for a short time. The Highways Agency removed debris from the road.
Rob Macauley, watch manager at Altrincham fire station, said: "When we arrived the driver was conscious and breathing.
"He was standing in the footwell and we lowered a ladder down so he could climb out."
Source; http://menmedia.co.uk/manchesterevening ... -overturns
Tuesday, 7 February 2012
Unlimited taxi drivers available in Stockport, Manchester or EU wide
Dear Sir or Madam
Do you need taxi / private hire drivers that work 6-7 days a week, and are smart and friendly?
Stop wasting time and money placing expensive adverts in the local press for drivers with the often resultant - four promising to attend, two actually arriving, one on day release from care in the community and one leaving after a week because he didn't realise he had to work weekends (sound familiar)?
Our rates – A flat rate of £500 per person…We offer:
European Union Member Drivers trained in Central or Eastern Europe for up to a month
with conviction-free European Union member state driver's licenses
fluent in English (we do not accept pigeon English) and eager to work bank holidays, evenings, nights and weekends
All drivers would arrive with:
the required Certificate of good conduct
extensive local knowledge with the ability to pass any local knowledge test
a conviction-free driving history report
a completed DVLA (level 2) medical form
(all translated into English and verified as genuine by a Public notary), .
These drivers agree to repay ALL your costs in recruiting them and will sign a legally binding contract (ask for a sample) so in effect they pay, not you.
If you order 4 or more drivers you get 1 free driver
For more information call me or email me
Darren Green
Sales Director
Tel:0845 8729845
mobile: 07867 316514
Do you need taxi / private hire drivers that work 6-7 days a week, and are smart and friendly?
Stop wasting time and money placing expensive adverts in the local press for drivers with the often resultant - four promising to attend, two actually arriving, one on day release from care in the community and one leaving after a week because he didn't realise he had to work weekends (sound familiar)?
Our rates – A flat rate of £500 per person…We offer:
European Union Member Drivers trained in Central or Eastern Europe for up to a month
with conviction-free European Union member state driver's licenses
fluent in English (we do not accept pigeon English) and eager to work bank holidays, evenings, nights and weekends
All drivers would arrive with:
the required Certificate of good conduct
extensive local knowledge with the ability to pass any local knowledge test
a conviction-free driving history report
a completed DVLA (level 2) medical form
(all translated into English and verified as genuine by a Public notary), .
These drivers agree to repay ALL your costs in recruiting them and will sign a legally binding contract (ask for a sample) so in effect they pay, not you.
If you order 4 or more drivers you get 1 free driver
For more information call me or email me
Darren Green
Sales Director
Tel:0845 8729845
mobile: 07867 316514
Thumbs down for London cabs in China
SHANGHAI - The iconic black hackney carriage that has been running for more than half a century on London's streets is being shunned by passengers in Hangzhou, Zhejiang province, after less than six months into a pilot run.
In the past week, more than 30 of the 50 drivers of the new cab have suspended their contracts with the Hangzhou Foreign Tourism Taxi Company and handed back their vehicles because of sluggish business.
"Business has been very poor," said a driver surnamed Chen. "I feel like I've been driving an invisible car all day long, ignored by most of the passengers on the road, even if they are desperately in need of a ride.
"Many illegal taxis have made more money than mine."
Chen had expected to make a windfall from the "fancy eye-catching black cab" when he applied for it last August. Getting a taxi is like "winning a lottery" in Hangzhou, home to more than 8.7 million people but only 8,000 taxis.
The fleet of 50 purpose-built Englon TX4 taxis first hit the road during the National Para Games last September to help transport athletes with disability, and were kept in operation under the supervision of Hangzhou Foreign Tourism Taxi Co.
Taxi driver chaos at Newcastle's Central Station
TAXI drivers could be forced out of Newcastle’s Central Station after police were called in to investigate a £126,000 missing cash riddle.
Officers were brought in after Newcastle Taxi Drivers’ Association fell behind on the money paid to rail operator East Coast in order to have exclusive rights to the city’s most profitable taxi rank.
Police have arrested the association’s former business manager Anil Murwaha.
But as their investigation continues, hundreds of drivers face being barred from the rank if they don’t meet a timetable set by the Government-owned East Coast.
Some 220 drivers have received letters from the nationalised firm telling them that their association has failed to pay the two instalments of £68,000 and as a result, unless the association pays up, those drivers will have days to find more than £700 each in order to continue to use the station rank.
Drivers have hit out, saying they have receipts proving they paid the association and arguing it would be wrong to make them pay twice.
But East Coast bosses said the publicly owned train firm has a duty to protect taxpayers’ investments.
Pervez Khan, on behalf of the association, said it simply did not have the money to pay.
Friday, 3 February 2012
Manchester Council fees rip off
Taken from: rainy city rip off: (and well done to the persistent devil)
Manchester Licensing Accounts
Some of you are aware I have been looking at the Accounts of the Licensing unit. I have found, what I believe to be a large amount of money missing from those accounts.
I have written to the Chief executives office expressing my concerns. The letter I receive back was far from satisfactory. I have had my figures looked at by another organisation, National Private Hire Association. They agree my figures show a huge discrepancy. They also point to their formula, which they call the 250 test, which whilst simple, is brilliant. You take the gross number of vehicles, Hackney and PH, add them together, in Manchester's case that comes to 3640 vehicles. you now divide this by 250. This is the amount of working days in a calender year
This returns a figure of 14.56
Manchester Council have to administer less than 15 cabs per day. Manchester councils declared cost to do this administration is £1,750,329.00. You now divide that by 250 (days worked) and it returns a figure of £7001.
Manchester Council charge us a total of £7001 a day to administer 14.56 cabs a day. Not a bad job by any standards, I would do it I bet you would as well
This is obviously taking the P*ss, you might think,but I believe another £714,963.00 is missing from the accounts, over the last two years.
I do not want to be labelled a trouble maker, although I probably already am, but I must take this further. I am meeting advisor's later this week and I believe the next step will be to place this before the Local Government Ombudsman.
The question is, how long is it since these figures were looked at in Stockport? With our "dear leaders" looking to pat themselves on the back more and more, and set themselves up on bigger and better committees such as TfGM (Transport for Greater Manchester) these people need more scrutiny over the money they collect and spend.
Manchester Licensing Accounts
Some of you are aware I have been looking at the Accounts of the Licensing unit. I have found, what I believe to be a large amount of money missing from those accounts.
I have written to the Chief executives office expressing my concerns. The letter I receive back was far from satisfactory. I have had my figures looked at by another organisation, National Private Hire Association. They agree my figures show a huge discrepancy. They also point to their formula, which they call the 250 test, which whilst simple, is brilliant. You take the gross number of vehicles, Hackney and PH, add them together, in Manchester's case that comes to 3640 vehicles. you now divide this by 250. This is the amount of working days in a calender year
This returns a figure of 14.56
Manchester Council have to administer less than 15 cabs per day. Manchester councils declared cost to do this administration is £1,750,329.00. You now divide that by 250 (days worked) and it returns a figure of £7001.
Manchester Council charge us a total of £7001 a day to administer 14.56 cabs a day. Not a bad job by any standards, I would do it I bet you would as well
This is obviously taking the P*ss, you might think,but I believe another £714,963.00 is missing from the accounts, over the last two years.
I do not want to be labelled a trouble maker, although I probably already am, but I must take this further. I am meeting advisor's later this week and I believe the next step will be to place this before the Local Government Ombudsman.
The question is, how long is it since these figures were looked at in Stockport? With our "dear leaders" looking to pat themselves on the back more and more, and set themselves up on bigger and better committees such as TfGM (Transport for Greater Manchester) these people need more scrutiny over the money they collect and spend.
Wednesday, 25 January 2012
Hackney driver says unlimited granting of taxi licences in Ellesmere Port could put cabbies out of work
A CABBIE says drivers will be put out of business if restrictions on Hackney cabs in Ellesmere Port and Neston are lifted.
Last week Cheshire West and Chester Council launched a questionnaire asking drivers and members of the public to respond to questions with a view to making taxi rules in the borough more uniform.
Robin Miller, a hackney cab driver from Ellesmere Port, insists getting rid of the limit on the number of hackney cabs able to ply their trade in Ellesmere Port and Neston will spread the same amount of trade over more drivers.
Mr Miller said: “What they don’t seem to take into account is hackney cab drivers are dependant on a minimum amount of taxis.
“Every time the council issues another taxi licence, it depletes a taxi driver’s income.
“They have obliterated the taxi business.
As a result of deregulation of hackney cabs in Chester, nine drivers have gone bankrupt.
Last week Cheshire West and Chester Council launched a questionnaire asking drivers and members of the public to respond to questions with a view to making taxi rules in the borough more uniform.
Robin Miller, a hackney cab driver from Ellesmere Port, insists getting rid of the limit on the number of hackney cabs able to ply their trade in Ellesmere Port and Neston will spread the same amount of trade over more drivers.
Mr Miller said: “What they don’t seem to take into account is hackney cab drivers are dependant on a minimum amount of taxis.
“Every time the council issues another taxi licence, it depletes a taxi driver’s income.
“They have obliterated the taxi business.
As a result of deregulation of hackney cabs in Chester, nine drivers have gone bankrupt.
Thursday, 19 January 2012
Another one to Deregulate??
Cabbies in Leeds are spearheading a national petition against a proposed deregulation of the trade which they say could cost hundreds of drivers their jobs and reduce the quality of service in the city.
The Government is currently considering scrapping Section 16 of the Transport Act 1985 – which allows councils to limit the number of hackney carriages in their local authority area based on supply and demand – as part of a review of ancient taxi laws.
The change would open up the trade and, say campaigners, hit jobs, service quality and even the environment hard.
Leeds currently has 537 licensed hackney carriages, and the numbers are reviewed regularly.
There are, additionally, around 5,000 private hire licences in operation in the city.
Paul Landau, who chairs the Leeds Hackney Carriage branch of Unite The Union, said the worst knock-on effect would be on night-shift drivers who don’t have a car of their own but lease one from a colleague, or licence ‘proprietor’, on a ‘double shifted’ basis.
“If Section 16 is repealed under this new legislation, the restriction on numbers of taxis in Leeds and other cities will be lifted and anybody could go along to the licensing department and say ‘I would like a hackney licence’ and go to work,” Mr Landau said.
“In Leeds you could see the numbers triple overnight, or go higher.
“The potential for mass unemployment is huge.
“In Leeds we could see anywhere up to 500 jobs lost instantly in the Hackney sector.”
Mr Landau said other cities where the hackney trade was de-regulated had been forced to cap numbers again because of the pressure it was a putting on drivers. He added a “massive influx” of new taxis would also increase the city’s pollution levels.
The Government is currently considering scrapping Section 16 of the Transport Act 1985 – which allows councils to limit the number of hackney carriages in their local authority area based on supply and demand – as part of a review of ancient taxi laws.
The change would open up the trade and, say campaigners, hit jobs, service quality and even the environment hard.
Leeds currently has 537 licensed hackney carriages, and the numbers are reviewed regularly.
There are, additionally, around 5,000 private hire licences in operation in the city.
Paul Landau, who chairs the Leeds Hackney Carriage branch of Unite The Union, said the worst knock-on effect would be on night-shift drivers who don’t have a car of their own but lease one from a colleague, or licence ‘proprietor’, on a ‘double shifted’ basis.
“If Section 16 is repealed under this new legislation, the restriction on numbers of taxis in Leeds and other cities will be lifted and anybody could go along to the licensing department and say ‘I would like a hackney licence’ and go to work,” Mr Landau said.
“In Leeds you could see the numbers triple overnight, or go higher.
“The potential for mass unemployment is huge.
“In Leeds we could see anywhere up to 500 jobs lost instantly in the Hackney sector.”
Mr Landau said other cities where the hackney trade was de-regulated had been forced to cap numbers again because of the pressure it was a putting on drivers. He added a “massive influx” of new taxis would also increase the city’s pollution levels.
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