Taxi Driver Online

Minicabs Operator 'threatened' Amid Taxis Row

July 02, 2009

The owner of a minicab firm in Shepperton is embroiled in a heated exchange with council officials after he claimed he was subjected to threatening behaviour from licensed taxi drivers.

Tim Want, of Station Cars near Shepperton railway station, has raised several objections to Hackney carriage drivers allegedly touting for business outside the station, where there is not yet an official taxi rank.

His latest complaint accuses eight drivers of “invading” the station forecourt on Friday, June 26 before he said one of them drove past the Station Cars office and made abusive hand gestures.

“I found this action extremely threatening and had to report the incident to the Surrey Police,” he said.

“With a passenger on board [this was] rather offensive behaviour.”

Mr Want also accused Spelthorne Borough Council of being too soft on Hackney carriage licence holders.

“It again appears that the licensing department has a serious problem with Hackney licensed drivers who do not want to understand the rules and regulations that they are governed by,” he said.

“There also appears to be, within the council, an inability or unwillingness to enforce those rules and regulations.”

Dawn Morrison, licensing manager at Spelthorne Borough Council, said Mr Want had failed to provide sufficient evidence of threatening behaviour and also advised him against criticising council officials.

“Threatening behaviour is a police matter and if there is a prosecution we would take that seriously,” she said.

“It’s difficult because we cannot just accept Mr Want’s word on things like this. I understand he is upset but we need to see evidence that we can take forward."

Mrs Morrison said she had written to licensed drivers and warned them against picking up passengers outside the station, which is set to have a new two-car rank installed as part of an overall council review of taxis in the borough.

“The drivers are thinking because the plans were approved [for a new rank] that it’s virtually a rank now and pushing their luck,” she added.

“It is unacceptable if Mr Want is being threatened but we hear that he is particularly angry which is not helping matters.”

There are currently around 80 licensed drivers in Spelthorne, and minicab firm owners have called on the council to crack down on any illegal touting and parking.

The council suspended the licence of a Hackney carriage driver for 30 days in May for illegal parking in Gresham Road, Staines, and at least two more are due to be handed formal warnings.

Source; getsurrey.co.uk

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Brummie Cabbie.

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Threatened by an abusive hand gesture, which probably gave the impression that he had a strong disposition to self-abuse???

That's what I call wasting police time.

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Brummie Cabbie.

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All that because some Hacks were taking up the spaces where his illegal PHC's could've ply'd for hire eh.

Just what I was thinking. Pot and kettle

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That's very pressumptious of you. Nobody has said they do and if the office is close enough they don't need to

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Note to self: Just because it pops into my head does NOT mean it should come out of my mouth!!

Yes and I suppose they don't park up next to their office either.

BTW to borrow a PH excuse, how does he know these hacks weren't waiting for prebooked fares?

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I'm shocked that you would think PH would stoop to such low level behaviour I'm sure if they did it would only be on a coffee break and they wouldn't be working

_________________
Note to self: Just because it pops into my head does NOT mean it should come out of my mouth!!

Dung of a male cow!!!

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Brummie Cabbie.

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Disagree with other members' views;
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PMSL

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Note to self: Just because it pops into my head does NOT mean it should come out of my mouth!!

Does the 1847 act not apply in Seplthorne?

If folks stick their hands out to hire a cab, the council can do nothing about it.

And is really a two car rank the best they can do?

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IDFIMH

Not sure the PH are illegal?

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IDFIMH

I think perhaps she meant to warn them about illegally parking and plying for hire outside the station, but, hey nobody's perfect are they

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Note to self: Just because it pops into my head does NOT mean it should come out of my mouth!!

Again this comes down to Railway Stations being sold to the highest bidder.

If the PH firm want to have an office there, let them.

But let the Taxis have a rank as well, people like choice and the cheaper prices that real Taxis tend to charge.

Its quite nice to see Spelthorne Taxis working in Spelthorne, I always though central London was an extension of their area?