Taxi Driver Online

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Thursday, 1 September 2011The Time For Consultation is Over, It's Time For Action...By Thomas the Taxi.
Members of the LPHCA recently met to hear TfL outline its response to the results of the Private Hire consultation paper.



After two demonstrations from Taxi drivers in response to a call from the United Cabby's Group, TPH asked the trade to hold back from any further action and John Mason stated that no more satellite office licenses would be issued, unless requested by police, till after the consultation paper was released.
It was hinted that much was going to change within the licensing process including reforms to operational practices of PH drivers/Operators and operating centers.
The trade waited and waited, as the results were continually postponed.
Now, over a year on, we find LTPH have again treated the London Taxi Trade with contempt, as we get nothing other than the re-introduction of the need for planning permission for operating centers, a measure that should never have been removed in the first place and the insistence that drivers should be resident in this country for a minimum 3 years period prior to licensing.


In her speech to the assembled members of the LPHCA, deputy director of LTPH Helen Chapman revealed;

Pre Booked Stickers: LTPH do not feel these are necessary and will not be taking the idea forward.
Additional Driver Identification in Vehicles: The need to display driver ID inside vehicles, LTPH feel this is an unnecessary step for Private Hire drivers.
Tinted Windows: LTPH didn't think this was a problem.
Wheelchair Requirement: Wheelchair accessible vehicles (WCA), are not a requirement for PH companies.
Residential PH: The requirement of small operators to have no more than two vehicles when operating inside residential premises, has been dropped.
Vehicle colours: There are to be no restrictions on the colour scheme of PHV's.
PHV's Similar to License Taxis: The restriction that "PHV vehicles must not resemble Licensed Taxis" is scrapped.
Read article in full click here



Editorial Comment:
So LTPH feel its OK for sexual predators to continue to be able to trap unsuspecting victims in vehicles where passers by will not be able to see a victim in distress.
While the Licensed Taxi trade is torn apart over ID badges, private hire vehicles will have less identification as stickers are replaced by a solitary badge attached to their number plate and no need for pre-booked stickers.


As most of us suspected, this PH consultation has turned out to be no more than a con, a diversionary measure designed solely with the aim of buying time.
Over the next few months it will emerge that Private Hire ranks are to be deployed in central London after the success of the ones in the suburbs, the ones sanctioned by our friends at the LTDA (See issue 3 UC News).
Also on the agenda at surface Transport committee level, is PH sharing ranks with Licensed Taxis at main line stations and the airport, (attended by our own Bob Oddy who hasn't spoken at a meeting for nearly 4 years, minutes available on-line).


Meters will be allowed in minicabs in the run up to the Olympics as with an extra 3 million visitors expected while the games are on TfL/LTPH are worried that we will not be able to cope with all this extra work.


In the next phase of "Harmonisation", the restriction that PHV vehicles must not resemble Licensed Taxis is scrapped. Manufactures who were instrumental in offering a 15 year age limit that will see over 3500 cabs off the road next year, will be selling TX4 and Vito's to PH drivers as more disabled accounts go to private hire.


Also while we have been side-tract waiting for the result of the consultation one of London's biggest radio taxi companies has been bought by a private hire company and will now work hand in hand with our competition (and the drivers just carry on!!).


How must the members of the LTDA, LTDC and Unite the union feel after putting their trust (and money) in people that have stood back and let this trade be sold out


WAKE UP, DO WE HAVE TO SPELL IT OUT IN WORDS OF ONE SYLLABLE? ...TAKE OFF THE KID GLOVES ITS TIME FOR ACTION.


What will you do to save you trade and safeguard your job?
Would you do what the bikers have done, demonstrate one day a week...every week?
Please comment below.


Shortly the Anderson Shelter will be producing a down-loadable leaflet for you to distribute to your passengers. Its time we let the public know just what these public servants are up to.


Posted by Editorial Staff at 9/01/2011 04:27:00 PM
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11 comments:
street urchin said...
Jim,

It ain't gonna happen!

Most taxi drivers can only see the £ and not beyond that. They will blindly stumble into next year and then suddenly whinge that their "rights" are being sold out by TfL.

They will leave it to the same few drivers to make a nuisance of themselves and fight their corner whilst they continue to pick up yards away from where those ardent drivers are protesting.

I despair where this trade is going, i can only hope i can study or train for something else but at 40 years old time is not on my side.

01/09/2011 19:32
Travis B said...
Well here we have it as predicted by many of us on here!

Along with this list of shocking revelations, I have just read in the trade press Mr John Mason's carefully worded rebuttal to the UCG news story about PHV ranks. He states

There will be no official PHV ranks'.

What does he think his agreed concessions about having no issues with PHV's waiting on residents bays, car parks (Westfield, LAP, LCA come to mind) etc will become!

I am sure he knows that to but he can fall back on his quote to defend himself.

As for the UTG, how proud must they be today? Mr Grant Davis & co. say 'he's one of your own that John Mason he is' REALLY? REALLY?

All the 'contact' with LTPH has got us nowhere except maybe for a chosen few?

Looks like a 'winter of discontent' in the cab trade.

02/09/2011 09:29
Anonymous said...
All doom and gloom above with that attitude nothing will happen ... iv spoken to drivers and had a very positive responce, simple solution boo any drivers that are working as they drive by. I would even go so far as to record the Reg numbers of any cabs working and print them in a trade paper. We have to be tough on those that don't support our trade fight and united.

I will strike every week, Thursday is the bz day for traffic let's strike then 3/7

02/09/2011 11:30
Ex clubmam John said...
We have wasted a whole year waiting for this report that most of us new would spell out clear we are finished.
The only bargaining point we hold is the Olympics because after the games we van strike as much as we like, it won't achieve jack.
We must demonstrate one day a week, every week at strategic points designed to cause the most disruption to the bus companies.
Hendy won't like his buses delayed.

02/09/2011 12:22
Wilhelm Von Silly said...
John Mason promised the club a brighter future on the other side. He proclaimed he was the best option the cab trade had got.

Now that Grant and his committee have had their heads firmly put through the headboard and their rear ends are sore, they are faced with the stark reality that they have been well and truly shafted. As Del-Boy would say " What a bunch of plonkers you are!" I have a vision of Cox and Davis running down alleyways with a suitcases in their hands lol.

02/09/2011 12:44
LTPH IS RUN BY A CHAV said...
The hoardings that went up around Palestra in August coincided with article in Private Hire and Courier magazine. This is TfL's barricade of guilt and it speaks volumes of TfL's fear of the backlash that is about to take place for the sheer arrogance and disrespect the licensing authority has shown towards the decent men and women of the London Cab Trade.

These latest revelations are the result of a sick agenda of a maladjusted ex-bus driver with a deep seated resentment and hatred of London cab drivers.

This personal agenda to destroy the London Cab Trade must be stopped and Hendy must be removed from his position. London's cab trade is in grave danger of disappearing; London's infrastructure is on its knees thanks to this twisted sick man!

There will be a demo and every cab driver in London will be expected to be there!

02/09/2011 15:32
Anonymous said...
It has nothing to do with anyone's personal hatred of taxi drivers. It's to do with bribes. Every time a minicab rank goes in, five grand will go directly into the pocket of whoever okays it. Every time a taxi rank goes in, the people get a better service, but no-one in authority gives a crap about that. Boris said before the general election that the Conservatives should lead Britain out of the mire of the expenses scandal, but all he cares about is which gang of crooks will be filling his pockets and the pockets of Tory councillors.

I think If Courtney Connell became the mayoral candidate for UKIP, the combined votes of blacks and Eurosceptics, along with the support of every cabbie in London, could win the mayorship, but I have no idea how he feels about UKIP or about being mayor.

02/09/2011 17:49
Anonymous said...
Is it all bad news? surely a 3 year residency is going to kill them? Griffin lost the bus lanes case and in doing so admitted that over 60% of his drivers are immigrants. No new cheap labour will create a level playing field?

03/09/2011 09:32
Ex Club Member no. 456 said...
Mr Griffins donation has brought home the desired results. Within 3 years we will become a tourist only attraction and the default mode of personal transport will be a PHV.

There will be 'Waiting Area' aka ranks (your not fooling us TfL) at all the airports. alonside Mr Low's Pedicab Bays in Westminster and it seems on Resident Parking Bays.

Many thanks Grant, Bob O and Peter Rose, no doubt you will be 'sorted' personally.

We have one shot left to fire, The Olympic Opening Ceremony and the blockade.

Looks like UTG 'diplomacy' or should we say treachery has failed us yet again and surely for the last time.

Stand aside then, Time for peaceful direct action and plenty of it!

03/09/2011 10:01
Anonymous said...
I don't know about Courtney for Mayor, but we could certainly do with him as our rep on the board of TfL. Oddy must go! Campaign starting soon.

03/09/2011 10:05
Anonymous said...
No doubt the club are going to run the results of the PH consultation as a cab trade exclusive in The Bodge. Davis is walking around oblivious to what he started with a fish and chip supper with Mason, followed by a binge drinking session with Helen Chapman. What will he and his alcoholic side kick think of next?

03/09/2011 12:20