Taxi Driver Online

a year a go pink ladies came on the scene now there vehicles are up for re-test it seems they are not going bother re-licencing them as private hire and atempt to run then as limos/chauffer hire instead i have seen at least 2 vehicles unplated picking up passengers and droping off at the railway station today

aswell as having no plates theyve still got "private hire only " on the doors.

as well as running a radio advert saying "warringtons only ladie cab firm"


so can anyone ask them

are they private hire
are they contract only
are they taxis

do they know what they are ??????????????????
do customers ????????????????????

If they are trying it on then why hasn't someone informed the local LO and the local paper.

For the local LO this has got to be the easiest prosecution they could ever wish for, and I would be amazed if court proceedings don't follow in the next few months.

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IDFIMH

I highlighted in another thread that this is the road they would probably go down. I have no doubt that all franchises throughout the country have been informed they can operate without being licensed. If the local trade in Warrington feel strongly about this then they should inform the Licensing officer that they believe these people are operating outside the law.

It would be interesting to hear what the LO says?

Regards

JD

I have now seen this companies taxis or whatever you call them operating in Plymouth now, and i hear a rumour that they too are trying to set up a limo type service. I know our local rag are very interested in this as i have had the nod so to speak so we shall have to wait and see.

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Legal and proud

Loads a love from BERTIE !!

Having spoken to licensing in Warrington I can confirm that they are aware of the situation and are taking legal advice on the matter. It appears Pink Ladies are still submitting driver license applications and still have several vehicles that currently licensed as P/H vehicles but other vehicles that were licensed have not been renewed. This suggests vehicle licenses will not be renewed on expiry and I expect this trend to continue throughout the country.

The plan is unfolding exactly as I suggested in a previous thread and we probably all agree that it will be most interesting to see who will be the first authority to test the legal boundaries of this activity?

Regards

JD

So male driver are all rapists, but hire pink slappers and you could be driven around in a death trap that isnt tested every six months?

I feel a letter to the local paper coming on.................................

go on geoff we all love you letters to the paper i posted this on warrington worldwides forum:

http://www.warrington-worldwide.co.uk/s ... 6;t=001715

i think its kinda ironic how pink ladies are becoming the thing they were trying to protect women from but i guess when money gets involved good intentions go out the window if any court cases go against them they will have commited several offences and will probaly go out of buisness and all to just save a few pounds on test fees

Just emailed phil johnson (head of transport Warrington Council) pointing out that pink Ladies carry out Social Services contracts carrying vunerable people and youngsters, and if the're aware that should an unlicenced vehicle be involved in an accident whilst working on such a contract and it's found to be illegal, then the council would be responsible for knowingly allowing such a vehicle to operate on their behalf.

Cant wait for his reply!

Not a bad avenue to go down.

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IDFIMH

This is the reply recived today form Phil Johnson head of Warrington Borough Council Transport.
It shows their on the ball with the problem.

Dear sir
Thanks for your note.
I hope I can provide some of the reassurance you requested.

Firstly, we have a egal firm looking at the issues of Pink Ladies who are
seeking to justify running unlicenced vehicles. We are also led to believe
that James Button, the person who publishes the definitive text on Taxi's
has indicated that Pink Ladies have possibly found a loophole insofar as the
way they franchaise their particular operations, however this has yet to be
confirmed.

However, with regard to the use of the Pink Ladies company on contracted WBC
services, whether Social Services or Special Education needs, it is a
condition of our contracts that only licenced vehicles can be used. When
this issue arose WBC's taxi licensing officer indicated to me that some of
their vehicle licences were running out.
We (WBC) carried out an internal review of Pink Ladies involvement with the
Council's Passenger Transport Unit, the unit which procures transport
services for both Social Services and Education vulnerable clients. Pink
Ladies then operated a total of 14 contracts with us. We contacted Pink
Ladies and asked for a confirmed list of which licensed vehicles they would
be using on our contracts as we knew they still had four licences still
current. This was provided and because they obviously could not meet the
needs of all contracts, four have been terminated. Contracts operate
throughout the day, hence ten are still operating with licensed vehicles.

In order to verify that Pink Ladies were providing licenced vehicles, checks
have been carried out this morning at two locations and The company was
confirmed as complying with Contract conditions

Pink Ladies has provided a very reliable, flexible and cost effective
service that will be lost, if the legal loophole is found to be valid, the
Council will not, as you rightly suggest, envisage a removal or reduction of
contract conditions. As this situation develops, the Council will review its
position.
I'm sure I don't need direct confirmation from our Executive Members for
Environment or 'Safer Communities' that they would wish officers to ensure
the safety of vulnerable clients as first priority - and that is what we
will do.

I'm sure you know Warrington is not the only authority which is dealing with
this particular problem at the moment, Cumbria, St Helens and Wigan, I
believe are similarly affected, as the Pink Ladies franchise spreads out
from Warrington.
Please feel free to contact me again at any time for any reassurance you
need.
Regards,

Phil Johnson
Head of Service (Transportation)

Is this the same James Button who thought Mr Gladen was wrong?

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IDFIMH

This is by far the best way your manor can sort it in the short term. Basically if they are not licensed, then they don't get the work. I wish a few more councils shared such a view.

In the longer term a review of the act is needed, either via the courts or via the gov.

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IDFIMH

Pink ladies have today appeared in our local paper just as i suspected they would, they claim they dont need a licence as they are a members only travel club under an exemption of section 75 of the local government miscellaneous provisions act 1976. Apparently they fall in to a grey area says the evening herald.

Could someone in the know please explain this section 75 act for me.

_________________
Legal and proud

Loads a love from BERTIE !!

http://www.taxi-driver.co.uk/phpBB2/vie ... php?t=3630 is the main authority which, to me, says it will all end in tears for the pink mob.

If it doesn't then no-one in their right mind will f*** about with licensing PH. Be they drivers or operators.

Because of this, either the courts will insist on the pinkies licensing as PH (or taxi), or the government will have to act.

What people need to do around all these pinky hotspots is to do a bit of scare-mongering in the local press.

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IDFIMH