Taxi Driver Online

This is the new kid on the block in Dundee. Haven't seen this banner, but noticed some bits and pieces around the city, so obviously on an advertising drive.

But who'd have expected one of their banners to get stolen?


Dundee taxi firm offers £100 reward after 20ft banner ‘stolen’

https://www.thecourier.co.uk/fp/news/du ... er-dundee/


Image: DC Thomson

A Dundee taxi firm has offered a three-figure reward after its 20ft advertising banner was “stolen”.

CityCabs 450450 placed signage near Riverside Avenue around four weeks ago before it was taken on Monday night.

The company, which launched earlier this month, issued an appeal for its safe return, offering a £100 reward.



Fleet director, Peter Marr Jnr, said an agreement was in place with the landlord to display 20ft x 4ft signage at the site.

He said: “We’ve had the sign there for around four weeks.

“There was an agreement with the landlord to have it installed.

“We’ve checked with them and they’ve confirmed they hadn’t removed it.

“The banner is about 20ft long and would probably have needed more than one person to remove it.

“We’re trying to check with Dundee City Council to see if they possibly removed it.

“I would assume they would have notified us beforehand if they were planning to take it down.

“It costs around £1,500 to get it made up so we’ve issued a reward to get it back.”

Peter questioned why anyone would want to steal the new company‘s banner as they launched an online appeal.

‘Bewilderment’

He added: “Given the location there isn’t a lot of people going by that way on foot.

“Someone’s gone out their way to remove this and we believe it has been stolen.

“If it is a random act of vandalism you’d assume the signage would’ve been dumped nearby.

“There is a bit of bewilderment as to why anyone would want to take it and what use they’d have for it.”

Dundee City Council have been approached for comment.

are they really expecting to get it back ? such a tempting target for competitors

_________________
lack of modern legislation is the iceberg sinking the titanic of the transport sector

Here's another one that'll disappear. Why?

Years ago the council put up lots of these outside pubs and clubs so the smokers had somewhere to put their butts. But complete waste of time and money because they were soon ripped off the walls, and most of the fagends still ended up on the pavement anyway, as the photo below demonstrates

But I'm doubly sure this one will disappear. Why? Because it's outside the Taxi Drivers' Social Club

I'll give it a fortnight

Always tickles me when you mention that club. Got to be the only one in the UK.

_________________
IDFIMH

Wondered if the council might have objected, but didn't realise it was such a dire emergency that they had to send people round to take down the banner before even contacting City Cabs


Dundee taxi firm’s shock as council reveals it removed ‘stolen’ 20ft banner

A 20ft taxi banner in Dundee initially believed to have been stolen was removed over safety fears, the council has revealed.

CityCabs 450450 issued a public appeal on Tuesday for its safe recovery following its disappearance near Riverside Avenue.

The firm had been so confused by the incident, bosses offered up a £100 reward for its safe return.

The local authority however has since confirmed it pulled-down the “unauthorised” banner amid fears it could be a “distraction” for road users.

CityCabs 450450 fleet director, Peter Marr Jnr, reiterated an agreement had been in place with the landlord to use the site at Dundee Technology Park.

Speaking to The Courier Peter said he was “happy” the banner had now been found.

However, he questioned the council’s claims that the signage could be a distraction, as the local authority sell advertising at “busy” roundabouts.

‘Advertising at circles around Dundee’

Peter said: “I’m happy the banner has been found, given it cost £1,500.

“There was an agreement in place with the landlord to use the wall.

“They were happy for us to install the banner.

“There had been a General Accident sign there previously and also a Norwich Union logo as well.

“The wall is also quite a distance away from the road surface.

“The council are selling advertising space at busy circles around Dundee.

“Surely it could be argued they (signs) also act as a distraction for motorists?”

A spokesman for Dundee City Council (DCC) said a letter had been issued to notify the taxi company that the sign was available for collection.

Peter said he was “disappointed” in the way the matter had been dealt with by DCC.

He added: “We’re obviously a new company and we’re trying to promote the business.

“If there was an issue with the banner the council could have just called and we would have removed the banner.

“We’ve gone back to the landlord to discuss the matter further to establish who owns the wall.”

‘Alternative advertising methods’

A spokesman said: “Dundee City Council removed this banner.

“It is available for collection by CityCabs (450450) and we have written to them to notify of this.

“Unauthorised banners such as these facing a major road can cause a distraction to road users.

“If a commercial company wishes to advertise then they are required to go through the formal planning process for advertising consent.

“Alternative advertising methods that are not potentially distracting to road users are available including local newspapers, local radio and social media.”

The Courier's photo here ably demonstrates the council's hypocrisy, with its own 'sponsored' advertising at the roundabouts, which is fine because the council gets the revenue. And, ironically, there's another CityCabs banner in the background.

https://wpcluster.dctdigital.com/wp-con ... ffgze9.jpg

That looks like a busy roundabout in the city. By contrast, this below is where they removed the banner - the walled area to the left with the graffiti on it. It's certainly close to a busy roundabout, but you'd only really notice the banner coming out of the roundabout into a straight and unproblematic bit of road, so the danger looks minimal to me, and certainly less than that caused by the council's own sponsored roundabouts

https://www.google.com/maps/@56.464451, ... 384!8i8192

Are they going to pay the "Reward" to the Council?



Obviously short of Sailmakers in Dundee, would never cost £1,500 here.

_________________
Chris The Fish

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gdlyi5mc ... re=related

Yes, Chris, did think £1,500 sounded a bit much, but I'd guess that was the price of several banners, and there's one in the Courier's photo link in my last post, so who knows how many they've had made up..

Anyway, by some strange twist of fate I was in Dundee earlier, and the 'ashtray' has gone

Who'd have expected that?




In fact it may have already disappeared when I suggested the other day that it might go AWOL, because the earlier photo was taken about ten days ago...

Funnily enough, the one on the other side of the entrance door is still there, but it'll surely disappear in due course

It generally takes councils weeks/months to do anything.

The fact that this sign was taken down post haste indicates to me there is more to this than meets the eye.

_________________
IDFIMH

Yes, definitely more to it all than meets the eye, and of course councils can be very selective about enforcement as regards this kind of thing, as we'll all know from the trade.

But I wonder if it's actually misfired on the council, and the press coverage has actually been better for the office than the missing banner

Incidentally, when the social club opened about 25 years ago, it was initially called the Taxi Owners' Club (not sure if it had anything to do with the TOA), but was quickly changed, because presumably the 'optics' of that didn't look good

Think they changed the name of the TOA to include drivers as well, so it became the Taxi Owners' and Drivers' Association, or something like that

clearly the council is miffed at not getting their wedge

_________________
lack of modern legislation is the iceberg sinking the titanic of the transport sector

Well the other City Cabs fag bin at the taxi club has disappeared as well.

Who'd have predicted that

The Demon Cigarette Bin Nicker of Dundee.

Would have made a great Two Ronnies sketch.

_________________
IDFIMH