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ABZ security concerns as council proposes abolishing zones
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Author:  StuartW [ Thu May 13, 2021 7:07 am ]
Post subject:  ABZ security concerns as council proposes abolishing zones
Not the first time this has been proposed, but it was binned last time round - there's an article on here from 2013.


Aberdeen Airport urges taxi zone rethink over security fears

https://www.eveningexpress.co.uk/fp/new ... ity-fears/

Image
Image: Jim Irvine/DC Thomson Media

Airport chiefs have urged council bosses to rethink proposals to change taxi zones in Aberdeen over security fears.

Members of Aberdeen City Council’s licensing committee will next week discuss plans to abolish the current zoning system and introduce one licence covering the whole local authority area.

Council staff carried out a public consultation earlier this year, with 101 of 149 responses in favour of the proposal.

However, senior staff at Aberdeen International Airport fear the change could “compromise high levels of site-specific safety and security measures”.

The airport operates a “risk-based management system” which requires all drivers accessing the inner forecourt to be registered.

Mark Beveridge, the airport’s managing director, wrote to licensing committee convener John Reynolds outlining their fears.

Changes ‘will compromise security’

He said: “Our main concern is the policy change will compromise our high levels of site-specific safety and security measures.

“Our risk-based management system, known as SEMS, outlines measures to have all known suppliers accessing the inner forecourt including the taxi fleet.

“It is key for the airport to retain the dedicated fleet on this basis.”

He added: “In addition to controlling access, each airport driver signs up to airport-specific terms and conditions – in addition to those that are part of obtaining a local taxi license.

“This includes the airport’s security procedures such as reporting unattended luggage and vehicles and awareness of suspicious passengers.

“If all other taxis were to access the airport, it would be insisted they would need to also sign up to these terms and conditions along with the existing fleet.

“This would cause additional work and costs from AIAL’s perspective.”

Mr Beveridge also expressed concerns over the impact of drivers servicing the heliports close to the airport.

‘Detrimental impact’ on passengers

It is feared the loss of a “dedicated fleet” of taxis could lead to increased waiting times for those arriving in Aberdeen.

During peak times, up to 500 passengers can arrive at the airport within 30 minutes of each other.

Mr Beveridge added the loss of specific airport taxis would have a “detrimental impact” on passengers.

Concerns were also expressed in the responses to the public consultation, with taxi driver Derek McBride claiming the move would lead to “anarchy” with drivers arguing over fares.

Others expressed fears the airport rank could be “abandoned” in the evenings in favour of the busier city centre.

A report on the issue, which will go before the licensing committee next week, reads: “It should be noted however that the rank at the airport is a private rank and access to it would remain in the control of the airport, as is the case for the rank at the railway station.

“It would be within their remit to require availability of vehicles at certain times as part of the conditions of access to the rank.”

Councillors will be asked to approve the changes to the policy in principle, with a further report to come back to a future committee.
Author:  bloodnock [ Thu May 13, 2021 9:49 am ]
Post subject:  Re: ABZ security concerns as council proposes abolishing zon
The Airport owners seek an additional source of revenue and It's Taxis seek Protectionism over Fair Competition....nowt to do with security.
Author:  StuartW [ Thu May 13, 2021 4:19 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: ABZ security concerns as council proposes abolishing zon
Can't see anything about airport revenues in the article. Think airport quite happy with status quo, by looks of it, but council will be looking at environmental impact, empty trips etc.

Security dimension could be overdone, though, but suspect airport want to control access so they don't have overranking and traffic chaos at quiet times. And they'll want to ensure the current airport cars aren't working the town when it's busy there - why go back to the airport if you get flagged on Union Street for a nice juicy run south to Stonehaven, say.

But since it's a private rank the airport would be able to control access to the current fleet anyway, irrespective of whether the council dezoned. So I'd imagine the airport simply worried about the airport cars getting caught up in work elsewhere rather than exclusively working the airport rank. Of course, they could stipulate that the cars exclusively serve the airport in contractual terms, but that might be difficult to enforce if there's an all-Aberdeen plate.
Author:  Sussex [ Thu May 13, 2021 6:57 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: ABZ security concerns as council proposes abolishing zon
Quote:
The airport operates a “risk-based management system” which requires all drivers accessing the inner forecourt to be registered.

If only all drivers needed to be licensed, and their vehicles licensed too. :roll: :roll: :roll: :roll: :roll:
Author:  StuartW [ Fri May 14, 2021 3:35 am ]
Post subject:  Re: ABZ security concerns as council proposes abolishing zon
Sussex wrote:
Quote:
The airport operates a “risk-based management system” which requires all drivers accessing the inner forecourt to be registered.

If only all drivers needed to be licensed, and their vehicles licensed too. :roll: :roll: :roll: :roll: :roll:

As described above, it sounds like the airport security equivalent between disclosure and enhanced disclosure, or similar. Maybe it's being overdone, but I suppose the airport doesn't want every driver in Aberdeen to have to go through the advanced procedures. But, of course, they'll still be able to restrict access even if the council abolish the zones, so again it all seems a bit unclear.
Author:  StuartW [ Fri May 14, 2021 3:36 am ]
Post subject:  Re: ABZ security concerns as council proposes abolishing zon
Anyway, never a dull moment in Aberdeen. Can't wait till Tuesday 8-[


Councillors urged to approve changes to Aberdeen taxi ranks

https://www.eveningexpress.co.uk/fp/new ... axi-ranks/

Councillors will be asked to approve changes to taxi ranks in Aberdeen as a result of the city’s Spaces for People interventions.

The measures, introduced last year to enable physical distancing, rendered some parts of the city centre inaccessible to cars.

As a result, Aberdeen City Council carried out a consultation on a number of proposed changes to taxi ranks, including the suspension of some and the introduction of others.

Under the proposals, the full-time ranks on Hadden Street and Back Wynd would be suspended with the loss of 22 spaces.

New ranks would be created on Rosemount Viaduct, Exchange Street, Exchequer Row and Shiprow, Union Row and Justice Mill Lane.

The total number of spaces in the proposed new ranks is 36.

Solitary objection to plans

Just one objection was submitted as part of the public consultation, raising concerns about the distance of the planned new ranks from the centre of the city and the limited space at each.

However, in its role as roads authority, Aberdeen City Council said it was “content with the proposals and have been involved with these changes”.

Police Scotland, in response as a statutory consultee, said: “We have shared this consultation with our roads policing team and the local policing inspector, and the only observation made by the local policing inspector related to the rank outside HMT and its proximity to bridges and he asked that the local authority considers measures to ensure public safety in that regard.”

The proposals will go before the city council’s licensing committee when it meets next Tuesday.
Author:  StuartW [ Fri May 14, 2021 3:36 am ]
Post subject:  Re: ABZ security concerns as council proposes abolishing zon
Quote:
Just one objection was submitted as part of the public consultation, raising concerns about the distance of the planned new ranks from the centre of the city and the limited space at each.

All looks OK on paper, but if the new ranks are in the wrong places then they've effectively abolished the old ranks without replacing them.

And only the one objection might not mean much - the vast majority might just think it's pointless to object, especially when it comes to Covid-related measures, where democracy often seems to have been abandoned [-(
Author:  Sussex [ Fri May 14, 2021 5:02 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: ABZ security concerns as council proposes abolishing zon
Quote:
As described above, it sounds like the airport security equivalent between disclosure and enhanced disclosure, or similar. Maybe it's being overdone, but I suppose the airport doesn't want every driver in Aberdeen to have to go through the advanced procedures.

But I suspect every cab in that area picks up (at some time) and drops off all the time at the airport.

The mere fact that some can rank at the airport has nothing to do with any clearance they need to pass.

An advance disclosure isn't that much harder to achieve than a standard disclosure.
Author:  StuartW [ Fri May 14, 2021 6:27 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: ABZ security concerns as council proposes abolishing zon
Sussex wrote:
But I suspect every cab in that area picks up (at some time) and drops off all the time at the airport.

The mere fact that some can rank at the airport has nothing to do with any clearance they need to pass.

An advance disclosure isn't that much harder to achieve than a standard disclosure.

Yes, and my analogy wasn't supposed to be in any way precise, I just meant that it was another hurdle to climb over, whether or not airport management's rationale is legitimate, proportionate, or whatever, or whether it's just a smokescreen to restrict access.

But as regards security, it seems to be access to the 'inner forecourt' that's in question, so presumably the wider trade can't access this inner sanctum at the moment [-(

But I suppose the rationale is related to the likes of the Glasgow Airport bombing incident in 2007, when a 4x4 filled with gas canisters was driven into the terminal building, although it failed to ignite as intended, and a bollard stopped it actually getting into the building. From this photo it looks like the 4x4 was driven over the taxi rank, but presumably no cabs on it at the time:

Image

So obviously airport security was ramped up after that, and according to Wiki the taxi rank at Luton Airport was moved away from the terminal as a consequence, for example.

And this piece ten years later underlines how it changed airport security throughout the world, and also led to taxi access to Waverley train station in Edinburgh being restricted, for example, which has been featured on here several times.


Glasgow terror attack transformed flying forever

https://www.scotsman.com/business/glasg ... er-1446103

The failed terrorist attack on Glasgow Airport ten years ago was a watershed in terminal security that has permanently changed the way we fly.

As the Glasgow Airport development masterplan put it: “The terrorist attack led to wide-ranging changes regarding vehicle access to airports throughout the world.”

Police said had it not been for a concrete stanchion, the Jeep would have been able to enter the terminal.[...]

Mr Dewar, who is now chief executive of Edinburgh Airport, said: “We are trying to make airports a very unattractive target – you will be caught and might lose your life.” That included close monitoring of the terminal to spot suspicious people, and the deployment of explosive-monitoring devices.

Other measures include minimising concentrations of people “landside”, such as by keeping check-in queues short and moving passengers through security as soon as possible to the greater safety of the “airside” of the terminal – the “core asset”.

There is also blast protection to prevent debris from any potential explosion becoming shrapnel.[...]

Steel bollards now guard airport terminals to prevent another vehicle-based assault, with passengers switched to nearby drop-off areas instead.

The Glasgow incident, along with two failed car bomb attacks in London the previous day, also had a knock-on effect on railway station security.

Transec said it accelerated work to control vehicle access to stations. This led to the closure of car parks, drop-off areas and taxi ranks at Edinburgh Waverley and Glasgow Central.
Author:  StuartW [ Fri May 14, 2021 6:27 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: ABZ security concerns as council proposes abolishing zon
So obviously all that would seem to offer the basic rationale for limiting access, but whether ABZ management are overdoing it, who knows?

But looking back at the photo of the ABZ terminal building and the proximity of the taxi rank, you can kind of see what they're getting at :?

Image
Author:  Sussex [ Sat May 15, 2021 7:25 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: ABZ security concerns as council proposes abolishing zon
Maybe I'm just a cynical old so and so but to me this is all down to financial control rather than safety control, and/or it's nonsense being fed by the existing permit holders to the airport management who are taking it hook line and sinker.

Heathrow is one of the biggest terrorist targets in the world, yet any green badge London cabby can pick up outside any of the terminals.

And for that matter any vehicle, be they taxi, PH or private, can drop outside any of the terminals.
Author:  StuartW [ Mon May 17, 2021 6:57 am ]
Post subject:  Re: ABZ security concerns as council proposes abolishing zon
You may be right. Was having a look back to see when the dezoning was last proposed, and think it was 2013, although I though it might be a bit more recent.

But found a couple of threads which may indicate why the management want to retain a degree of control, so I'll bump them. Or I will when I can find them again :roll:
Author:  StuartW [ Mon May 17, 2021 7:48 am ]
Post subject:  Re: ABZ security concerns as council proposes abolishing zon
Another factor could be that Aberdeen Airport will be more of a goldfish bowl, relatively speaking, so more susceptible to bad press locally, or to local political pressures, so they'll want to avoid any scenario that might go belly up.

I mean, in 2019 Aberdeen Airport had about 3m passengers, as compared to Heathrow's 81m, Gatwick 47m, Manchester 29m, Stansted 28m, or even Luton with 18m.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_b ... ed_Kingdom
Author:  StuartW [ Wed May 19, 2021 4:22 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: ABZ security concerns as council proposes abolishing zon
Well councillors have knocked back the proposal, and the airport zone stays.

But apart from a rehash of the airport management's spiel, the only stuff reported here is a couple of councillors essentially agreeing with the airport, so not clear from this why the dezoning was ever proposed in the first place, or where the impetus for the proposal came from :?


Council to keep taxi zone system after Aberdeen Airport security concerns

https://www.eveningexpress.co.uk/fp/new ... -concerns/

Aberdeen will continue to have multiple zones for taxis after airport chiefs expressed concerns over security.

Proposals had been launched to abolish the current zoning system and creating one taxi licence covering the entire local authority area.

A public consultation was carried out earlier this year, with 101 responses out of 149 in favour of the suggestion.

However, senior staff at Aberdeen International Airport wrote to the administration’s licensing committee to object to the plans, claiming it would “compromise high levels of site-specific safety and security measures”.

Security fears over proposals

The airport’s security system requires all drivers accessing the inner forecourt to be registered, and removing the zone system would have meant every licensed taxi driver in the city would have had to go through airport-specific training.

Concerns were also raised that the airport would be neglected by drivers at busy times in favour of more lucrative areas, such as the city centre.

In a letter, the airport’s operations director Mark Beveridge said: “In addition to controlling access, each airport driver signs up to airport-specific terms and conditions – in addition to those that are part of obtaining a local taxi license.

“This includes the airport’s security procedures such as reporting unattended luggage and vehicles and awareness of suspicious passengers.

“If all other taxis were to access the airport, it would be insisted they would need to also sign up to these terms and conditions along with the existing fleet.”

John Reynolds, the convener of the licensing committee, put forward a motion to retain the existing zones, which was approved unanimously by the committee.

“I am old enough to remember the zones coming in,” he said.

“The reason we introduced the zones was although a contracted driver would pick up a fare from the airport and take the passenger to the city centre, because they had a yellow plate they could immediately pick up a flag-down.

“The vehicle didn’t have to go straight back to the airport. The driver could work the city centre.

“With the introduction of the new plates the drivers had to go back to the airport.”

Airport in ‘unique’ situation

Fellow committee member Gordon Townson highlighted Aberdeen International’s “unique” position due to its close links with heliports.

“Aberdeen airport I believe has more flight movements than Manchester and it is a very distinct Scottish airport, which is why it needs what is in place there at the moment,” he said.

“The complexion of Aberdeen airport with the heliports means there is constant demand unlike any other major city in Scotland, where you can gauge times coming in.

“I think Aberdeen is unique in the way it is structured.”

Rank changes approved

Meanwhile, the licensing committee also approved changes to a number of taxi ranks in the city.

The ranks on Back Wynd and Hadden Street have been suspended as a result of the Spaces for People interventions in the city centre.

New ones are to be created on Rosemount Viaduct, Exchange Street, Exchequer Row and Shiprow, Union Row and Justice Mill Lane.

The proposals were agreed unanimously by the committee.
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