Taxi Driver Online

Taxi wars brewing over illegal fare claims in Gloucester


WAR is brewing in the city's taxi industry.

Angry private hire drivers said the pedestrianisation trial of Eastgate Street at night has cost them business as they can no longer pick up customers who have pre-booked.

But other Hackney Carriage drivers who can legally pick up from the street have hit back, claiming many private hire drivers have been acting illegally.

The boundaries are clear. Private hire drivers must not pick up street-side and can only take customers who have pre-booked.

Hackney drivers are licensed by the city council and can accept off-the-street fares.

Alan Wood, a Hackney driver in Gloucester, claims some private hires have been visiting clubs, bars and takeaways, touting for business. Touting for business in the street is illegal.

"Private hires should not be called taxis – simple as that," said Mr Wood.

"Calling them taxis is what is creating the confusion.

"These people are claiming they are losing trade because of the pedestrianisation, but they are just being stopped from carrying out an illegal act. Ninety five per cent of the Hackney Carriage drivers have seen an increase in trade during the three weekend pedestrianisation trial.

"During that period, there were five or six private hires queuing for business in Southgate Street.

"They were not pre-booked, parked illegally and looking for business.

"Touting for trade is illegal.

"The council should be doing more to stop the illegal activity."

Azam Choudhry, a private hire driver, said it is up to the council to enforce the law.

"There should not be more than four Hackney taxis parked on the rank at any one time, but there is a lot more than that," he said.

"They are also breaking the law.

"We see them parked on the road looking for fares and their drivers smoking in their cabs.

"The council should not let them do this."

Mr Choudhry says some private hires have arranged deals with bars and clubs in the city to collect fares.

A city council spokesman said: "The council takes its licensing responsibilities very seriously.

"It is important people realise if they get into a private hire vehicle without pre-booking they will not be insured for that journey."

The council's licensing team regularly run operations to check drivers are adhering to the rules and work with the police and other partners to ensure vehicles are maintained correctly.


Read more: http://www.thisisgloucestershire.co.uk/ ... z2SF9T0Vud

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Think of how stupid the average person is, and realize half of them are stupider than that.
George Carlin

we have an idiot in our licensing department who is letting the PH Barons call them selves taxis, and it creates no end of confusion and hassle for the real taxis.

this idiot even wanted the LC to blur the distinction between the two and allow the PH barons to call them selves taxis, I wonder if he is on the pay roll of the PH companies?

Didn't the LC come up with something like 'pre-booked cabs', as a sign that could be put on PH?

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IDFIMH

I think the term was actually 'pre-booked taxis'

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Note to self: Just because it pops into my head does NOT mean it should come out of my mouth!!

they're not cabs or taxis though are they? surely they're private hire

I know, but I find it funny repeating what the LC said.

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IDFIMH

That is only because the law says they are, if the law changes then what?

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Note to self: Just because it pops into my head does NOT mean it should come out of my mouth!!

Eastgate Street closure could kill takeaways say owners



TAKEAWAY owners are campaigning against shutting off Eastgate Street to traffic due to concerns the move could force many out of business.

A three-weekend trial of pedestrianising the street from 11pm until 5am was hailed a success last month and members of Gloucester's Nightsafe panel have voted to make it a permanent arrangement.

Bars and clubs enjoyed a spike in trade and police said the area was easier for them to patrol.

But kebab shop and fast-food restaurant owners along the street say their takings dipped by 20 per cent.

Ali Demerti, 29, has been running Diamond Kebabs for the last eight years.

"Stopping traffic from being able to call in to pick up food has had a big effect on our trade," he said.

"There are a lot of people in the this area seriously worried about going out of business.

"Diamond Kebab has been here for 17 years, it would be a shame not just for me but for all my customers. They are angry about it too.

"The police have said there is trouble outside takeaways, but that is not the case outside mine."

Ali says if businesses do close, any takeaway related trouble will just be moved elsewhere in the city, making it harder for police to control.

He has written a letter to the city council and police, raising his concerns.

Filit Tundel manages Forest Kebab, formerly Kebab Delight, and shares his neighbour's concerns.

"If you are going to close Eastgate Street, ten people will lose their businesses," he said.

"I have been here more than 15 years and this will have a huge effect on us.

"Our customers are worried we will have to close. People are not happy.

"We don't know who to take our concerns to, is it the city council, the county council or the police?

"If they make this decision it will be a disaster for us."

Private hire drivers have also said the trial made it harder for them to drop off and pick up customers.

City councillor Tarren Randle, who leads the evening economy action group in Gloucester, said on the whole the trial had been a popular move for most businesses.

A decision on a permanent ban on traffic at weekends will be made later this year.


Read more: http://www.thisisgloucestershire.co.uk/ ... z2TAa4baZn

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Think of how stupid the average person is, and realize half of them are stupider than that.
George Carlin

If the road is permanently closed at weekends the shops will get more business, there will be more folk due to the PH not being able to nick them

So you are an expert in the takeaway food industry in this town? How many people used to pick up their takeaway in their cars in this area Skippy?

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Grandad,

I know its not your area Grandad, but should you decide to leave the trade, you could get your old leathers out of the attic and get the nifty fifty out of the garage and do home deliveries for them

I would assume that the takeaway vehicles are also banned from the area so home delivery may be a problem as well.

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Grandad,

What most of the take aways will be worried about is they can no longer keep the punters in the shops until a PH turns up to take them away, sort of scratch my back routine

Petition against pedestrianisation of Eastgate Street

ANGRY business owners have signed a petition against the pedestrianisation of Eastgate Street as a beach pirate party goes ahead there tonight.

Takeaway owners and private car companies said the trial closure in April saw business drop hugely.

Now they fear that weekend closures of the road due to come in for the next six months will end it. That was voted for by members of Gloucester Nightsafe after the trial. Police, bars and city leaders said it made the area safer.

Azam Hussain, who owns City Cars Private Hire, said he welcomed parties like tonight's Pirate Party to draw people into Gloucester.

But he has had a petition drawn up by his solicitors, which he has handed to the council, against the closure.

He said: "There are 21 objections from the businesses which I have given to the council but I have not heard back.

"We do not want a legal battle with them but they are just not listening to us. It means customers who need dropping to Eastgate Street are now being dropped further away is a safety issue for them too."

And Ash Yafin, owner Peri Peri Chicken's land on the street, said he will consider leaving the city if he continues to loose out on business.

He said: "Why do they not close the clubs at 2pm, to reduce trouble. We should have been asked of our opinions.

"A lot of my customers use our call and collect service so they park outside the shop."

Rashid Khan, of Five Star Taxis, also signed the letter and said his busiest nights are on the weekend.

He said: "It is like the council telling us to switch our phones off after midnight. About 70 per cent of my weekly takings are from Friday and Saturday nights. The council does not realise what effect this will have."

Rashid fears he will lose custom and therefore his drivers.


Read more: http://www.thisisgloucestershire.co.uk/ ... z2UOSNxo7f

_________________
Think of how stupid the average person is, and realize half of them are stupider than that.
George Carlin

So its really got F8ck all to do with safety - its about money

_________________
Think of how stupid the average person is, and realize half of them are stupider than that.
George Carlin