Taxi Driver Online

Shouldn't really have bothered with these two, but only way I can be bothered reading the articles at times is when doing the legwork for posting them here, so it's kind of ready for posting anyway

Good photo, though


Struggling taxi driver impacted by pandemic says he has been let down by district council

https://leamingtonobserver.co.uk/news/s ... t-council/


Image: Leamington Observer

A STRUGGLING taxi driver whose business has been hit by the pandemic says he has been failed by Warwick District Council.

Tajinder Thandi lives in Coventry, but works in Leamington. Despite being licensed to do so by the council, Mr Thandi was turned down for an ‘Additional Restrictions Grant’ (ARG) because his business is registered under his home address in Coventry.

The driver, who has worked in Leamington for seven years, says he and other drivers who do not live in the district had been failed by the council.

He told the Observer: “Sadly, I do not qualify because I don’t live in the district. Myself and many drivers who do not live here have been rejected for the grant. I want to highlight the greed of the council and their failure to support their own drivers during a time which has forced many off the road.

“The council gave us no relief on licensing fees during the pandemic. Myself and many other drivers who solely operate in the Warwick District Council area have been kicked to the side because of where we live. The council has failed us and I want the public to know that.

“We haven’t received any funding. Some have offered support with protection equipment and reduced or no license fees.”

Like many self-employed workers, the dad-of-one’s business has suffered financial losses over the last year.

He added: “Covid-19 forced us off the roads for a few months, there was relief when the pubs opened but, because of time restrictions, there was one busy hour out of the whole shift in the evening.

“Many drivers have been forced of the roads after facing financial difficulties. Many drivers – myself included – have been forced into other driving jobs like couriering or food delivery. We are not seeking sympathy for hardship, we just want the council to be made aware we shouldn’t be treated different to those who are Warwickshire residents.”

A district council spokeswoman said its policy for the ARG scheme has always stipulated a business must trade in the local authority area – an approach, she says, adopted by any district or borough distributing the discretionary grants.

She added: “Although the licence this taxi operator holds allows him to take fares in Warwick district, this applicant’s trading address is in Coventry.

“Comparably, there are other businesses which are also able to ‘operate’ their business across multiple areas across UK, but are only eligible for a grant if their business ‘trading address’ is located within the Warwick District boundary. Such examples include holiday lettings businesses.”


MP angered over omission of West Lancs taxi drivers from support fund

https://www.champnews.com/story.asp?id=GN4_ART_1819392

West Lancashire MP Rosie Cooper has expressed her frustration at the Liverpool City Region’s (LCR) decision to exclude its licensed taxi drivers who live in West Lancashire from its Covid taxi driver support grants.

Local authorities across the country have put in place schemes to support their licensed drivers with support grants due to the impact Covid has had on their income.

West Lancashire Borough Council implemented a comprehensive scheme which offered support to all drivers licensed within WLBC, whether they are resident within the immediate area or not, recognising their contribution to this area.

However, drivers who reside in West Lancs but licensed in Sefton for example, have been excluded by the Liverpool City Region from receiving similar support as their residency is outside of their boundary.

West Lancashire MP Rosie Cooper said: “Throughout the pandemic Government and local councils have provided millions of pounds in grant support and rightly so, to businesses and workers who have been directly affected.

“There are many examples of system failures which have meant some have fallen through the gaps and received less or no support.

“Here we have a situation where the taxi licensing authorities across the Liverpool City Region are content to take licensing fees from drivers for their plates, benefit from their continued operation providing transport for key workers across the City Region, then abandon them when they seek the basic support their other colleagues are receiving.

“Even West Lancashire Borough Council produced a system which supported all of their licensed drivers, wherever they live, but Liverpool City Region have pulled a fast one and left constituents of mine without the financial help they deserve.

“It is a disgraceful, insular and protectionist attitude from LCR and so I have written directly to the Metro Mayor Steve Rotheram appealing for him to intervene and ensure the system in place is fair and recognises these drivers and key workers that have kept his city region running through this pandemic.”

Rosie Cooper MP sounds a bit het up about it all. Can't be bothered looking them up, but I'm guessing her and Steve Rotherham aren't members of the same party.