The Reiver
Disgruntled in Waverley Network rail announced during February, for security reasons, taxis and cars were to be banned permanently from driving into Waverley Station, Edinburgh. In a seemingly rare glimpse of cab trade unity, the major majority of cab drivers appear to be appalled by the decision of Network Rail.
Of course, amongst the masses there’s always one uneducated individual, one poor sod actually who suggests it wouldn’t affect him because he didn’t work that particular rank, obviously it hadn’t quite struck him that the cabs booted out of the station might have to find work elsewhere. Other factors appear to be the cab rank at the station is at the bottom of a ramp, external access will mean passengers seeking taxis would effectively have to struggle up the ramp to obtain a cab. This would be something that would be practically impossible for a person in a wheelchair or for elderly passengers.
Of course terrorism is a very real threat, although my biggest threat is not actually having enough money to pay for things such as my mortgage, cab, insurance and food, but somewhere along the line terrorism is a threat. Mind you, on a personal level, al Qaeda, the IRA, PLO or Tolpuddle martyrs have never once threatened to cut off my electricity, telephone or water, indeed, they have subsequently failed to write me a letter telling me I was overdrawn and they were charging me £50 odd quid for the privilege. Personally, I know which one terrorises me more.
It naturally makes sense for network rail to make me aware of an enemy who doesn’t actually appear to have terrorised me whatsoever.
The terrorist threat is apparently being blamed, or more accurately, ‘cited’, as a reason for removing cabs, indeed, it has been stated the London Olympics are the primary reason. I’ve been pretty much certain terrorists were slightly unhinged for quite some time, but attacking a train station some 400 miles away from the arenas puts a whole new perspective on their madness. I mean, missing a target by some 400 miles is almost as bad as allied smart bombs falling on schools ain’t it?
Is this all part of a massive conspiracy to place us into a state of fear? – A little like buying a box of mini Pringles on the train then being told the price?
Naturally, the conspiracy nut deep down inside of me does wonder about this.
Disgrunted in the Toon Moving on it would appear cabbies in the Toon are a little upset at the moment. It seems the local association, the NTDA, who organise the permit system through East Coast Trains on behalf of 220 drivers failed to pay the last two instalments and cabbies are facing the order of the boot. The amount owed is in the region of £126K.
East Coast Trains have very nicely pointed out that they work on behalf of the tax payer and therefore have a responsibility – drivers can pay the outstanding money in two instalments direct to East Coast – the train company stated in a letter to permit holders;
“Should you choose not to take up the offer of a temporary permit up to April 30, 2012, you would not be able to operate on the rank from February 22, 2012 – and would be contravening Railway Byelaws should you do so.”
This is despite the fact numerous drivers have allegedly already paid the company responsible for collecting the permit fees.
The company called in the police to investigate what they see as theft and the police are currently investigating the matter. A 40 year old man has been arrested and is assisting police with their enquiries.
Many in the North East see it as essential that a local association of drivers operate the permit system, they organise marshals and the disciplinary system. I suggest the next few months will dictate as to whether or not that is necessary.
Disgruntled in Wales A few weeks ago the local press in South Wales reported a rather interesting story on one of the terrorists jailed for plotting to bomb the stock exchange in London.
“On September 30, 2010, less than 12 weeks before 25-year-old Miah, of Ninian Park Road, Cardiff, was arrested for his part in the London bomb plot, he was arrested by South Wales Police after trying to apply for a renewed taxi driver’s licence. That day, a man tried to renew a hackney carriage/private hire driver’s licence in the name of Isaac Ilyas at the Vale of Glamorgan’s Civic Offices in Barry. But the photo ID he offered as part of his application raised questions, show council reports.
The individual then said he was Ibraheem Umayr, who had adopted his brother’s identity to obtain a taxi licence. But then the Criminal Records Bureau told the council’s licensing officers his fingerprints would need to be compared with those held on the Police National Computer.
At this Mr Umayr abruptly withdrew his application and requested a refund. But suspicious officers then established that his true identity was Abdul Miah, and he was interviewed in a Cardiff custody suite. On December 20, Miah, who was being monitored under police bail for the fraud offence, was arrested in the Welsh capital with four other men – two of whom were later released without charge.
While being held on remand for terror charges last year, Miah appeared at Cardiff Magistrates Court via video link and was found guilty of fraud. He was given a conditional discharge for 12 months in relation to fraud.” The paper then went on to point out how cab drivers have access to all manner of places, just a matter of showing a cab badge and driving a cab will allow cab drivers into power stations, transport interchanges and all sorts of places terrorists would seemingly just love to go and party. I know terrorists are very probably stupid, but the thought occurs if they want access to these places, they won’t actually bother trying to obtain a taxi or private hire license to do so.
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