Taxi Driver Online

Well they're at it again, but a slightly different issue this time

And Leeds Live have gone to town, with, er live updates etc.

But it's worth visiting the page, if only for curiosity value, if not any real enlightenment.

First video (at the bottom of the page) was about 10 seconds of the lads standing around, after sitting through a 30 second advert, which felt like it would never end.

I maybe exaggerate, but there's two more videos, and had to watch the same 30 second advert before both of them.

Anyway, the middle video is basically a one-and-a-half minute spiel from one of the reps, which is difficult to make out because of the wind noise

Third (top) video is another driver who's off the road because of a folding seat problem of some kind, thus seems to be a different one from the driver mentioned below who has the scratches etc.

But the seat problem driver's English isn't too good, so in the video another rep takes over and tells his story for him, then the reporter goes back to the first driver, and then just at that point he's drowned out as the lads on the demo start chanting, so not that clear what he's saying at all

But they're certainly complaining that there's a double standard because HCs are being treated more leniently, and one of the reps is complaining that the council is bullying them because they're mainly BAME [Black And Minority Ethnic]


Live as Leeds taxi drivers hold urgent protest outside council offices

https://www.leeds-live.co.uk/news/leeds ... d-23099992

Our reporter Samuel Port will be reporting from the scene

A protest is being held outside Leeds licencing offices this morning as part of ongoing issues with Leeds City Council.

Leeds Private Hire Drivers Organisation (LPHDO) will be meeting outside the the licencing offices in Torre Road from 10am today (Tuesday, February 15).

A message was sent to the drivers part of the organisation urging them to attend the demonstration last night (Monday).

In the video, it states the reason for the protest comes after "double standards" from the council which have left one driver off the road for two months.

They claim the driver had a scratch on the tailgate of the car and two interior gull panels which were fixed straight away but still has not been "plated up."

However, a Hackney carriage vehicle was given a 28 day notice to get similar issues fixed which the organisation has dubbed a "double standard."

Mr Mahmood, speaking to the drivers said: "Tomorrow morning drivers, this is an emergency meeting. We need to hold taxi and private hire to account and tomorrow we will show them we have woken up and we're going to hold them to account. We're no longer letting them get this beaurocracy and hypocrisy going on anymore. Enough is enough."

We have approached Leeds City Council for a comment.

The guy who'd apparently been off the road for three months has got his very own article.

But I'm guessing we're not getting the full picture here, so maybe better to take it all with a pinch of salt, as per usual.

And, for a start, the Leeds City Council response seems to be talking about a different case entirely. But whether that's deliberate or not to deflect attention from the main case in the article, who knows?


Stress and sleepless nights for Leeds taxi driver taken off the road for three months

https://www.leeds-live.co.uk/news/leeds ... i-23103161

Cabbie Ahmed Osani claims he's had his license taken off him for a minor issue

A Leeds taxi driver is so stressed, he can't sleep after being taken off the road for months.

Taxi driver Ahmed Osmani claims Leeds City Council took his license away from him three months ago after they found an issue with his seating mechanism, among other additional issues.

Ahmed attended a protest where more than 100 taxi drivers demonstrated outside the licensing office in Torre Road this morning (February 15), set up by Leeds Private Hire Driver's Organisation (LPHDO).

Ahmed said: “It’s disappointing, I’ve been waiting for so long. It’s difficult because I’ve got no job.

"I have been stressed.

"I’ve had no sleep – nothing. I don’t know what to do. I’m not working and the car is too expensive for me.”

LPHDO chairman Ahmad Hussain said: “They [the licensing team] claim there is something wrong with the mechanism of the seating, the way it is located, but there is nothing wrong with the mechanism is located."

The LPHDO claims private hire cars are being treated differently to hackney carriages, alleging they are being treated unfairly.

Ahmad said: “Another hackney car, I can’t disclose the name, but basically it failed and came back here for a retest and they didn’t do any work with it.

"He got a 28-day extension on his car to get his repairs done but he can still use it as a taxi. Why can’t this driver do this?”

This protest follows a series of similar protests which have taken place in Leeds in recent months.

Previous demonstrations were in objection to a Leeds City Council safeguarding policy which could see licenses taken away from drivers more easily as it gives more powers to passengers.

A Leeds City Council spokesperson said: “As a council we will always show compassion for taxi drivers’ circumstances when a problem is identified, and will look for ways to allow a vehicle to be licensed unless there is an overriding public or health and safety concern.

“The vehicle in question had one remaining safety concern relating to damage to the internal door panels, which could injure passengers or tear clothing. The council asked the driver to repair the damage to make sure the vehicle was safe to use by passengers.

“The vehicle had an appointment to be inspected again this morning and the council was satisfied with the condition of the vehicle and was able to licence it.

"The council is committed to consultation at all levels and will always be prepared to listen and reply to any areas of concern raised by the trade in a constructive manner.”

What a stroke of luck.

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IDFIMH