Taxi Driver Online

Local minicabs to be hit as Heathrow launches clampdown on “antisocial” drivers



Heathrow is set to impose a further crackdown on local minicabs using the airport, it told community representatives last month.

Local private hire firms, first hit with punitive ‘taxes’ by Heathrow in August 2010, are to be hit yet again by the airport.

Heathrow is working on an “informal agreement” with Transport for London to reduce reported issues with a number private hire vehicle drivers, the airport told representatives at a meeting of Heathrow’s Local Focus Forum on March 17.

The clampdown comes in response to concerns apparently raised by residents regarding the “antisocial behaviour” of private hire vehicle drivers.

But the new tool could be used by Heathrow to bar local minicab drivers from the airport altogether following calls from residents of the Heathrow villages.

Armelle Thomas, a resident from Harmondsworth, said the attitude of some of the private hire drivers was very poor and pushed Heathrow during the meeting to ban them altogether.

Chris Joyce, Surface Access Strategy Manager for the airport, said the airport is working with TfL and looking at introducing a ‘charter’ for drivers:

“The charter will provide a basic agreement linked to their licence that can be used as leverage to improve behaviour.”

Since 2010 local minicabs have been penalised with short term car parking fees every time they pick up from any of the Heathrow terminals, adding a £3.50 surcharge to a £10 taxi fare from Colnbrook. They risk a £40 charge if they do not use the designated zones. Black cabs, meanwhile, go free.

Local private hire firms have struggled amid falling demand since the recession and inter firm rivalries. Colnbrook minicab firm Elite closed down at the end of last year.

Heathrow says details of the agreement will be communicated once finalised.

source: http://www.colnbrook.info/local-taxis-t ... l-drivers/

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Think of how stupid the average person is, and realize half of them are stupider than that.
George Carlin

How are they going to define and distinguish a "local" minicab? (as opposed to a one which comes from afar?)

Won't the plate on the vehicle help with that

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

This will be the hundreds of Minicabs that populate the set down areas of Heathrow, blocking the roads in order to avoid paying for parking?

It was good to see more Police/PCSOs using the Heathrow By-Laws and issuing PCN's to the offenders last week, long may it continue

I particularly like the pro-active approach at Gatwick where they go looking for the American tax avoidance app crew and eject then from the airport boundary.

And Licensed London taxis pay BAA a fee to use the taxi facilities and ranks there . . .

That's me, although it tends to be MacDonalds or at a push Cobham.

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IDFIMH