Taxi Driver Online
http://www.taxi-driver.co.uk/phpBB2/

Some Brief News Snippets October 26
http://www.taxi-driver.co.uk/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=7184		 Page 1 of 1
Author:  JD [ Fri Oct 26, 2007 4:15 pm ]
Post subject:  Some Brief News Snippets October 26
Bristol Evening Post

October 25, 2007 Thursday

Taxi tokens will benefit thousands

Council chiefs claim up to 14,000 elderly and disabled residents will benefit from the reintroduction of taxi tokens next April.

The Conservative administration on South Gloucestershire Council said the scheme, which will be an alternative to the national bus pass, will improve the quality of life of thousands of people.

Councillor Brian Allinson, cabinet member for planning and transport, said an elderly couple can expect to receive £276 of travel over the four years of the council.

This amounts to £2.87 per person per month.

He said: "We have undertaken a massive consultation exercise among elderly and disabled residents which demonstrates very strong support for the introduction of a token alternative to the free bus pass scheme.

"According to this professional research, there are around 14,000 people who would choose to benefit from our scheme, which proves just how needed and popular this alternative is.

"Many councils around the country recognise that the bus pass is not suitable for everybody and that a token alternative is the way to address this for a variety of reasons, ranging from inadequate bus services, being physically unable to board a bus or simply personal choice."

Mr Allinson said running the scheme 'in-house' would save £250,000 on the annual cost of £750,000.

He added: "If our proposals are endorsed at the next council meeting, an elderly or disabled couple can expect to receive £276 of free taxi travel over the life of this council.

"That represents a real and worthwhile contribution to trips to the hospital, shops or simply to visit friends and relatives."

The Liberal Democrats are set to oppose the return of the tokens. They claim the free bus pass represents better value for the authority.
_______________________

Something we all know about but nevertheless Blackpool have saw fit to highlight the changes brought about by the amendment to the 1976 act.
_______________________

Blackpool Gazette

October 25, 2007

Taxi licence rules widen

MORE vehicles will come under the umbrella of taxi and private hire licensing rules following changes in the law.

Limousines, airport travel, chauffeur services, novelty vehicles, executive hire, park and ride and other operators will have to be licensed by the council by next January.

The new licensing rules are designed to enable councils to carry out safety checks on vehicles and suitability checks on their drivers in the interests of public safety.

Obligation

Following legislation passed by Government, the changes will also include drivers having to undertake a Criminal Records Bureau check.

The legal obligation is upon the vehicle operators to contact the council and they are being urged to do so as soon as possible.

Businesses and drivers working while not properly licensed could face prosecution, with significant fines and costs.

Coun Ian Fowler, cabinet member for business services and deputy leader of Blackpool Council, said: "We are lucky to have all kinds of private hire vehicles in Blackpool for our residents and visitors to use. The new licensing changes will make using the services safer so people can be less apprehensive about using them.

"There is a clear benefit for businesses too as they will feel more secure knowing their drivers have been vetted. Not being licensed could invalidate vehicle insurance, so clearly operators need to take action to make sure they comply."

Vehicles previously licensed under seven day contracts now come under the new laws and must be licensed by the local authority for the area they operate in.

Drivers are urged to check they are licensed properly by checking the legislation which can be found at www.blackpool.gov.uk/Licensing/TaxisandLandaus/ or by contacting Ted Rhodes on (01253) 478345.
___________________________

Morning Star

October 26, 2007 Friday

Dundee taxi drivers hold off walkout

Dundee taxi drivers shelved planned protests on Thursday after council officials agreed to meet representatives in a row over a number of issues.

Talks aimed at settling the dispute over taxi-rank space, the number of licences granted and the conduct of some private hire firms will take place on Friday.

As a result, a convoy-style demonstration which was scheduled for Friday afternoon has been called off, said industry union Unite.

Hundreds of taxi drivers recently voted in favour of strikes and rolling protests unless Dundee City Council agreed to the negotiations.

_________________
Stamford Mercury

October 25, 2007

Plans to relocate ranks spark outrage

TAXI firms in Stamford have reacted strongly against proposals to relocate ranks in the town.

South Kesteven District Council's licensing committee considers the changes at its meeting next Friday.

They include relocating the Sheep Market rank to the front of the National Farmers Union offices at the corner of Sheep Market and Mallory Lane and installing a rank on Star Lane for Friday market days only.

The council believes the changes, if accepted, would see better taxi rank provision in the town.

Head of environmental protection Mike Brown said: "The rank outside the Golden Fleece in Sheep Market was closed for the Gateway project and taxis using the bus station was purely a temporary arrangement."
Jhurid Ahmed, of Ace Taxis in Green Lane, said he was in favour of the proposals.

But Phil Wilsher, of Sheep Market-based Clapham Taxis, said they did not make sense. He said: "We thought the council was going to allow extended taxi parking at the bus station on Fridays, which is our busiest day by far.
"Now we are faced with parking outside the NFU which is unacceptable because there's only enough room for three taxis, and we have four.
"We told the council exactly what was needed but they have ignored us."
Sandras Stowers of AG Silver Taxis in Silver Lane said the council appeared determined to push taxi drivers from the centre of town to the outskirts. She said: "We have 12 drivers who pay £300 a year for badges and tax. Trade is difficult as it is without the council messing with the ranks. "Whatever we say, they will do what they want but it is getting harder and harder to make a living."

Stamford has a total of 62 licensed taxi drivers. There are 12 parking spaces in Broad Street and six temporary spaces at the bus station.
The county council and Lincolnshire Police have been consulted, and views were sought from all of the town's licensed Hackney carriage owners and drivers. And taxi fares recommended by South Kesteven District Council, which are among the lowest in the East Midlands, could be going up if plans for a review are put to public consultation. They were last reviewed in 2004 and are due to be discussed again at next Friday's licensing committee meeting in the light of recent fuel price rises.
___________________________

Batley Today

October 25, 2007

Anger at plans to make busy street one-way

PLANS to make Commercial Street into a one-way road have met with angry opposition. Shopkeepers and taxi drivers fear proposals to turn Commercial Street - from Wards Hill to Well Lane - into a one-way stretch will ruin their businesses.

It forms part of a Kirklees Council road scheme, following repeated calls for a pedestrian crossing at Wards Hill. The junction with Commercial Street has been called too dangerous - with traffic flowing from different directions.

But Douglas Smith, who opens his new chippy Mr Cod this week, fears the road plans would destroy his business if they went ahead. He and wife Lidia - who only discovered the plans last week - believe traffic jams will result, putting customers off from coming into the area.

Mr Smith said: "Commercial Street is the main road in Batley. Why affect all the traders and taxis like this? "My business will do well if people can come up Well Lane, turn right, and park here. We wouldn't have bought this if they couldn't." Mrs Smith added people drive up and park briefly on Commercial Street to visit the small shops.

Mohammed Raja, chairman of North Kirklees Hackney Carriage Association, said traffic would be congested from Commercial Street, Cross Street, and Wards Hill. He said: "The taxi drivers are very angry because there are enough congestion problems as it is. We are professional drivers - when it comes to traffic we know best. It will cause a bottleneck, especially at Cross Street." And he was shocked at proposals to get rid of the taxi rank at Wards Hill, pushing it back to near the four-hour car park.

Cabbie Yusuf Passwala added: "Time is not on our side. We need a meeting as soon as possible." Mrs Smith said traffic would end up just going round in a circle, with heavy queues in Commercial Street and Wards Hill. "And where is the support for small businesses?" she added. "It's going to turn people away from the town." Mr Smith added: "Look what it's done to Dewsbury - the place is deserted with nowhere to park."
Traders in the affected area blasted the council for not consulting with them earlier about the proposals.

A Kirklees engineer had visited the Batley Business and Retail Association in August - but none of the traders in Commercial Street are members.
Council research from two years ago, backing calls for a crossing at the busy junction, showed high numbers of shoppers around Wards Hill.
But traders insisted numbers since then had reduced dramatically as they demanded a fresh study.

Hazel Redfearn, manager of Dysons greengrocers, said she too feared the small shops would lose business. Coun Martyn Bolt, cabinet member for highways, said officers had already agreed to conduct further investigations at the traders' request.
______________________________

October 25, 2007 Thursday

Council to approve more taxis for York

York Press

PLANS to allow more taxis to operate on the streets of York are set to be given the go-ahead - but drivers have said: "We don't need them".
Councillors are expected to approve a scheme next week which would see a set number of extra licences issued in the city.

And a study looking into whether more taxi rank space can be found in the centre of York is also likely to be carried out. But Alan Rowley, secretary of the York Taxi Association, says granting more licences would be a pointless exercise.

York City Council currently limits the number of hackney carriages - the only cabs which can pick up at ranks or be flagged down by passengers in the street - to 158.
________________________

The Lincolnshire echo published an article on the 24th October reminding the public how the Taxi system operates. The reasons are not immediately clear but nevertheless here is the article?
_______________________

Lincolnshire Echo

October 24, 2007 Wednesday

How the system is operated

There are two types of taxi: Hackney Carriage and private hire. If you want to drive a taxi you will need a council licence and a council-issued badge.

The licence and badge cost £48 for the first year and take five to six weeks to process. A licence is required before any person can drive a licensed private hire vehicle.

Before a licence is granted, the applicant must satisfy the council that: He/she is a fit and proper person to hold a licence. He/she is medically fit.
He/she is 21 years old or over. He/she has held a full driver's licence (not a provisional licence) granted to the applicant under Part III of the Road Traffic Act 1972 authorising him/her to drive a motor car for at least 12 months prior to the date of the application.

He/she must pass a police criminality check carried out by the Criminal Records Bureau (CRB) to ensure public safety.
_____________________

The Sunderland Echo

October 24, 2007

Uproar over city centre taxi ban

Disgruntled cab drivers claim revellers could be at risk after the council unveiled plans to make the city centre a no-go zone for taxis after midnight.

Sunderland City Council's experimental traffic order could see the "Evening Economy Area" - Green Terrace, Albion Place, Vine Place and Park Lane - closed to all vehicles between midnight and 5am on Saturdays, Sundays, bank holidays and December 27 - the busiest night of the year.

Private hire and hackney carriages would only be allowed to pick-up punters at the Park Lane Interchange rank, under the plan, expected to run for the next 18 months.

Civic officials say the move comes after seven accidents between cars and pedestrians in the excluded zones - all prime spots for late-night revellers.
But cabbies say the plans could cost them their livelihood and put customers at risk.

Jim Hannan, of the City of Sunderland Private Hire Operators' Association, which represents Sunderland's 600-plus private hire drivers, said: "The council claims they have identified a road safety issue within the city centre. They base their claim on seven road accidents during the last three years during the hours of midnight to 5am. "Were taxis or private hire involved in these accidents? They give no further information."
And he raised fears for the safety of lone female drinkers forced to walk through the city at night to find a taxi.

"Young and vulnerable groups could fall foul to all kinds of mischief as they make their way from Holmeside and Green Terrace to the top of Park Lane," said Mr Hannan. "Public disorder incidents will rise within this area and in the long term people that cannot get picked up at, or near, the venue will vote with their feet and spend their weekends and money in South Shields or Newcastle. "This I'm sure will have a detrimental effect on the vibrant evening economy that the council claims we enjoy."
Cabbies also fear they will lose valuable contracts with city centre businesses, relying on taxis to get staff home safely after dark.
Coun Joe Lawson, Portfolio Holder for Planning and Transportation, said: "This has come about because the police have expressed concerns for pedestrians on an evening. The last thing we want to see is an accident happen so we have listened to the police and introduced an experimental order." When asked if he shared drivers' fears about the fate of female partygoers, he said: "I respect those risks, there is no doubt about that. Wherever you go there are risks. The police were primarily looking at the road safety element.

"When the issue of road safety is raised we are duty bound to investigate and come up with a solution." Inspector Steve Tallantire, of the police in Sunderland, added: "After a number of reported accidents and near misses the council agreed to this order to further improve safety to city centre visitors during the most critical times." Women's safety charity dismayed

JULIE BENTLEY, chief executive of personal safety charity the Suzy Lamplugh Trust, criticised the proposals, claiming they "make no sense".
She said: "We would always advise people, whenever possible, to book a cab in advance to collect them from their final venue ... to prevent them from having to walk the streets to get a cab.

"This scheme would appear to make this impossible. We'd be concerned about any such plans which would cause people, who are perhaps alone and have been drinking too much, having to travel some distance in order to catch a cab.

"It appears to make no sense." Council: Why we're doing it
PHIL BARRETT, Sunderland City Council's director of development and regeneration services, explained the thinking behind banning traffic from the city centre on busy party nights. He said: "The council is currently consulting with local businesses and residents in the city centre, namely in and around the streets of Green Terrace, Park Lane and Holmeside, as well as the adjoining side streets, on the possible introduction of a traffic regulation order that will prohibit vehicular access between midnight and 5am on Saturday, Sundays, bank and public holidays and December 27.
"The proposal is currently at consultation stage and, if agreed with residents and businesses, will be introduced on an experimental basis for a period of up to 18 months.

"During this time the effects of the scheme will be considered. "The results will inform the council on its decision to make permanent or remove the scheme. "The purpose of the proposal is to reduce vehicle and pedestrian conflict in the city centre and reduce the road safety concerns during weekends and bank holidays."
__________________________

Bucks Herald

October 23, 2007

Operation to improve taxi safety hailed a success

AN enforcement operation to check that taxi and private hire drivers in Aylesbury are not working illegally and putting passengers at risk has been hailed a great success.

Operation Safe Journey, a taxi safety initiative created by Aylesbury Vale District Council, has resulted in a significant reduction in the number of drivers illegally plying for hire in the town.

An enforcement team from the council have been working until the early hours most weekends since June to check that red-plated hackney carriages and yellow-plated private hire vehicles pick up passengers who have pre-booked in advance.

Only the white-plated hackney carriages can wait at taxi ranks and be flagged down in the street. Red-plated hackney carriages can be hailed in areas outside of Aylesbury but can only pick up passengers in the town if they have been pre-booked.

Private hire cars (or mini-cabs as they are sometimes called) must be booked by ringing beforehand. Passengers can put themselves at risk by flagging down mini-cabs which have not been pre-booked as the vehicle's insurance cover will not be valid.

The enforcement team carried out a series of covert test purchase operations to check that taxi and private hire drivers were complying with the conditions of their licence. This involved officers approaching red-plated hackney carriages and yellow-plated private hire vehicles parked in the street and asking the drivers if they were free for a journey.
Out of 12 test purchases only one driver agreed to take an undercover officer to their destination, ignoring the fact that they had not pre-booked in advance. The council is now considering prosecuting the driver for this offence.

Licensing officers have also been inspecting taxis and private hire vehicles to check that they are clean and roadworthy, that drivers are properly licensed, and that they have the correct plates and door signs displayed. The number of private hire vehicles not displaying door signs has fallen by nearly 50 per cent since the operation began.

Officers have been using a handheld device to access taxi and private hire driver records whilst out at night on enforcement duties. This innovative device allows officers to check the driver's name, address, licence details, photo, vehicle registration number and a host of other important information at the touch of a button.

The device can also be used to take photographs, perform voice recordings and video any activities worth noting. The system is being trialled until December when the district council will review its success.
AVDC has also been trialling a taxi marshal scheme to direct people to taxi ranks and observe private hire vehicles in known hot spots for illegal plying for hire. Aylesbury's taxi marshals have helped hundreds of visitors to the town centre get home safely since the scheme began last month.
Launched on September 21, the scheme provides visitors with a safe and convenient way to get a taxi home after a night out in the town. Two taxi marshals, who operate in Exchange Street (outside Chicago's) and the Kingsbury area, offer a safe waiting area until a taxi arrives and have a direct link to the police and local venues.

AVDC's licensing committee gave the go-ahead for officers to increase enforcement activities in Aylesbury at a meeting earlier this year. The decision to take action followed complaints received by the council's licensing team that some private hire vehicles and red-plated hackney carriages were picking up passengers around the streets of Aylesbury without a prior booking.

Cllr Judy Brandis, Chairman of the Licensing Committee, said: "The council takes enforcement very seriously and our role is to ensure that the trade operates in a safe manner. I'm very pleased to hear that the general feedback from taxi and private hire operators on the operation has been positive and that they welcome the initiative. We will continue to work with our local taxi and private hire companies to ensure a safe service is provided to local residents and visitors to Aylesbury."
The council is planning to organise a similar taxi enforcement operation over the Christmas period to combat illegal plying for hire and help people get home safely after a night out.

For more information on licensed vehicles in Aylesbury Vale, visit the council's website at www.aylesburyvaledc.gov.uk, or call the licensing team on 01296 585150.
____________________

The Sentinel (Stoke)

October 22, 2007 Monday

What you could pay for your journey

The proposed charges include:

A Hackney carriage journey of less than 800 yards costing £2.20, instead of £2. Each subsequent 160 yards would still cost 10p, meaning the first mile would cost £2.80, rather than £2.60. Passengers would still be charged £1.10 for each subsequent mile.

Waiting time charges unchanged at 20p per minute. For journeys of less than 800 yards between midnight and 6am, drivers want to charge £3 rather than £2.70. The same increase would apply on public and Bank holidays.

Taxis carrying at least five people less than 800 yards would charge £2.40, rather than £2.21. Every subsequent 160 yards would cost one pence extra at 15p. The same journey after midnight and on Bank Holidays would increase from £2.94 to £3.20. Each subsequent 160 yards would cost 20p - one pence less.
________________________

October 22, 2007 Monday

Parking woe sparks call for rank revamp

Echo

SPIRALLING parking problems outside Basildon railway station has led to calls for an urgent revamp.

There are only two taxi rank spaces close to the station, outside Trafford House, off Station Way, and no short-term parking where drivers can stop while waiting for train passengers.

Cabbies claim drivers are parking in the rank because of this, which is preventing them picking up customers.

The situation is causing heated rows between cabbies and the public.
Now Basildon Hackney Carriage Proprietors' Association has arranged a meeting with Basildon Council, to discuss extending the rank and adding short stay parking bays.

Cabbie Ralph Morgan, 64, said: "We understand there's nowhere for people to park, but they shouldn't use our rank. No one wants to row with customers."

Driver Thomas Hendrickson, 43, of Bonnygate, Basildon, said: "There's nowhere really for drivers to stop.

"I've got to wait somewhere to pick up my wife.
"Otherwise you would have to pay to use one of the car parks, which isn't fair as you probably only need to be there a couple of minutes."
Mr Morgan claimed buses no longer use the bus stop or the bus lane, which leads from Station Way to Cherrydown East.

He has suggested the bus stop is scrapped, leaving space for a bigger rank , car parking bays and spaces for private coaches.
Council leader Malcolm Buckley said: "There is a major rank over the other side of the road to the station.

"However, admittedly people want to be able to catch a taxi from outside the station door, so the current situation isn't ideal. We would have to consult with bus operators about what to do with the bus stop.
"The real opportunity to revamp will come when the area is redeveloped through the Basildon masterplan."
_______________

Evening Star

October 19, 2007 Friday

A TAXI driver could face prosecution after his parked vehicle ran away and smashed into a pensioner, leaving her with serious leg injuries.
Police are investigating to see if the vehicle had been left parked properly in Hamilton Road, Felixstowe, with its handbrake on, or not.

If they find the handbrake had not been pulled properly into place driver
Ron Grant could face charges for not leaving his cab safe and secure.
A 63-year-old woman walking on the pavement at the top of Bent Hill, Felixstowe, was crushed against a wall by Mr Grant's green Vauxhall Vectra Elite.

She was taken to Ipswich Hospital suffering suspected fractured legs and a broken ankle.

Her condition is described as "stable" though she is expected to remain in hospital for a while yet.

A police spokeswoman said investigations into the accident were continuing.

"There will be a full investigation with the first task a detailed vehicle examination to see if there was anything wrong with the car," she said.
"Officers will be looking carefully at whether there were any problems with the car to establish how the accident happened before consideration can be given over whether any action needs to be taken against the driver."

Mr Grant, 66, a taxi driver for 23 years, had parked his vehicle outside Coastal Taxis while he picked up details of his work shifts. He is adamant that he put the handbrake on.

"I switched off the car, pulled on my handbrake, put on my hazard lights and locked the car - that's what I always do, it's my habit," he said.
He had only bought the car a week before the accident last Thursday and it had undergone the Hackney Carriage licence inspection to make sure it was safe and roadworthy.

Vauxhall has acknowledged that there have been several "roll-away" incidents with its cars.

Some 270,000 owners of Vectra and Signum cars have been issued with a handbrake warning label, following a number of complaints from owners that their handbrakes were not secure.

The company has said it believes the handbrake system is safe. Its engineers have looked into the issue thoroughly and tested the mechanisms on cars with alleged problems but have not been able to find a fault. They are still examining a number of theories.
____________________________________

October 15, 2007 Monday

Trained to help the disabled

Echo

CAB drivers in Castle Point are being trained to ensure they give the best possible service to people with disabilities.

The disability awareness training has been organised by the licensing team at Castle Council and is being provided to Hackney carriage and private hire drivers.

The training will help drivers aid passengers, including wheelchair users, people with walking difficulties and those with hearing problems.
The one-day courses also looked at customer care and the safety and comfort of passengers.

Cliff Brunt, chairman of the licensing committee, said: "We hope drivers find this training both interesting and useful."
___________________

Coventry Evening Telegraph (England)

October 4, 2007 Thursday

Cabbies driving up standards

TAXI drivers might be renowned for having the 'knowledge' but Solihull College is going that extra mile to help improve the service provided by local cabbies.

The college's specially tailored customer service courses are geared to giving taxi drivers the edge when it comes to delivering a first class service.

The short course, run at the college's Blossomfield Road campus, equips the would-be private hire and hackney carriage drivers with the skills now required to become fully licensed.

The college's employer services team, which delivers the course and a wide range of other programmes aimed at employers and employees alike, is now hoping to offer even more places on the customer services course.

Shirley Brien, from the employer services team at Solihull College, said: "Hopefully, the skills the drivers learn on this course will not only benefit them in the future but also the customers who use their services."
_________________________

Grimsby Evening Telegraph

October 6, 2007 Saturday

Taxis set for rank space dispute

Taxi drivers may stage further protests over the dispute on designated rank spaces.

The announcement comes as delegates for the area's taxi drivers prepare to meet North East Lincolnshire Council representatives to discuss possible solutions to the problem.

As reported, up to 100 drivers took part in a "go slow" protest through Grimsby town centre last month over claims that NELC has allowed an increase in the number of registered taxis while simultaneously reducing the number of approved rank spaces.

The chairman of the North East Lincolnshire Hackney Carriage Association, Dave Atkin, said he still has hopes to resolve the matter - but did not rule out the possibility of further action being taken.

Mr Atkin said: "This all goes back over two years. The protest was not a spur of the moment thing. It was two years of frustration due to inactivity by the council.

"Now we have four less rank spaces in the town and 100 more taxis. That has been going on since 2005.

"If there is the same amount of customers and more people plying for trade then it will have an effect on takings.

"The catalyst for the action two weeks ago was the declaration by the British Transport Police that they would no longer tolerate inappropriate or illegal parking of taxis in the station approach. It was understood by everybody that taxis should not be double parked but there was nowhere else to go.

"That was when the taxi drivers decided to make a protest to show the council that there is not anywhere for us to park.
"As far as any official response from the council is concerned there has been none whatsoever.

"We do have a scheduled meeting with the council on Tuesday, October 23, at which the issue might be raised."
When asked about the possibility of further action being taken by drivers,

Mr Atkin answered: "There is nothing planned at the moment but that is not to say it won't happen. "If there is a requirement for it, then we will see."
__________________

Nottingham Evening Post

October 2, 2007 Tuesday

80 caught in bus-lane trap

Almost 80 motorists were fined for driving in a bus lane on a single stretch of road in just four hours.

The crackdown in Wollaton Road, Nottingham, was the fourth operation to tackle illegal bus lane users in the area.
Drivers are thought to break bus-only rules there more than anywhere else in the city.

Police, city council and Nottingham City Transport have teamed up to take action.

A total of 77 £30 tickets were issued between 2pm and 6pm on Wednesday. That means almost 300 motorists have been caught in eight hours of operations since April.
The vehicles included 64 cars, one Hackney Carriage, two private hire vehicles, six vans and four motorcycles or scooters.

PC Derek Pickering said: "Unfortunately, motorists do not seem to be getting the message. This was the fourth occasion this operation has been carried out at this location with 220 tickets issued on the three previous times."

NCT revenue teams were also on buses as part of the Respect for Transport initiative checking for people abusing the ticket system.
PC Pickering said: "There were a few misuses of the Citycard and of tickets.

"Having a uniformed presence acts as both a reassurance and as a deterrent and the operation was very successful."

A spokeswoman for the community protection service said the stretch of bus lane in Wollaton Road was the worst in the city, along with Hucknall Road.
_______________________
October 26

Job opportunities in Bath.

V Cars, Bath's newest taxi firm, is looking to take on 40 more drivers.

The company was set up by businessman Dave Scaramanga, who took over Bath Taxis and added to its fleet.

He changed the firm's name to V Cars, which now has 70 vehicles on the roads.

It is the city's second largest cab company after Abbey Taxis.
________________________
Author:  edders23 [ Fri Oct 26, 2007 7:31 pm ]
Post subject: 
The stamford article is a little inaccurate the council offered the trade through a letter 3 months ago 3 options most of the drivers wrote back to the council and rejected all of them

as proposed the NFU site is marginally closer to the town centre than the bus station the trouble is theyve built a giant patio over the site of the friday rank our normal rank being occupied by the market on a Friday day

The thing is that the Friday rank(Patio) was a poor second to our original position and put many customers off in the first place trade was down about 40% when they first moved us there

there are better sites such as All saints street or All Saints place BUT this would annoy the bus companies and other town centre residents and the council would rather upset the cabbies than those people

At the quieter times on a Friday day there are usually 8 to 15 cabs queing and there simply isn't the room to do that with the current proposals

At the quieter times on a Friday night there are up to 50 cabs queing for our usual rank which would hold 8 if the asian drivers didn't insist on the front car sitting level with the passageway leading up from the High street

The figure are wrong as well i think there are about 70 licenced HC's in Stamford and about 85 drivers
Author:  edders23 [ Fri Oct 26, 2007 7:35 pm ]
Post subject: 
Interesting to read the first article our council SKDC have just SCRAPPED their tokens scheme citing the new National bus pass as the reason apparently they have to issue the bus pass to everyone so the alternative of tokens which could have been used on buses trains or TAXIS has been ditched :sad:
Page 1 of 1 All times are UTC [ DST ]
Powered by phpBB® Forum Software © phpBB Group
http://www.phpbb.com/