Taxi Driver Online

Marshals to blow the whistle on rugby scrums at taxi ranks


TAXI queue marshals who helped keep the peace over the festive season are being tasked with tackling rugby revellers in the Capital.

It comes after a pilot scheme which saw the marshals patrol ranks at the weekend being hailed a success in cutting disorder.

The marshals' presence was said to have encouraged good behaviour at the ranks, with staff preventing queue-jumping, handing out bus timetables and telling people to finish their takeaways before entering a cab.

A second phase of the trial will continue until March 31 on Saturday nights, and on Friday nights when Edinburgh is hosting rugby internationals. Marshals will be in position at Waverley Bridge, Lothian Road and outside the Caledonian Hotel.

Sergeant Stephen Hagart of Lothian and Borders Police, who is responsible for city centre anti-crime initiatives, said the marshals provided welcome additional security and on at least one occasion had called police to an incident nearby.

He said: "The reason we will have them for the rugby is because of the increase of people in the city centre on those weekends, with a huge influx of rugby fans."

Specialised Securities, from Ingliston, will take over from Leith-based firm Rock Steady Security for the second phase of the trial, as Rock Steady cannot staff the new Friday night operation.

The marshals, dressed in highly visible yellow jackets have radio links with CCTV operators, so that if they spot bad behaviour they can direct police to the area.

They will work every weekend until March 31 and on Fridays over the Six Nations rugby international weekends, including the Wales match on February 10, the Italy match on February 24 and the Ireland game on March 10.

Edinburgh City Centre Management, which is running the scheme for the city council, reported good feedback from taxi drivers. Its project manager Mike Gallagher said:

"Some drivers were avoiding ranks because of problems with poor behaviour. Now drivers have said they are more comfortable coming to ranks."

But he added that for the initiative to continue indefinitely, private funding options such as financial input from businesses or cab firms would probably have to be examined.

Murray Fleming, secretary of Central Radio Cabs, which operates 385 cabs, said he would welcome the scheme getting a trial outwith the Christmas period.

He said: "Marshals told me it went down well and cabbies seemed appreciative.

"Marshals definitely assist the smooth running of the ranks and it's certainly worthy of a longer trial period.

"It's good to carry it out at another time of the year to give us a truer picture of how it works and if it's worthy of implementation all year round."

City community safety leader Sheila Gilmore said she hoped the marshals were here to stay.

She said: "Over the Christmas period the transport marshals proved their importance and popularity with both taxi drivers and members of the public.

"Having them on duty every Saturday night and Fridays during the busy rugby weekends will make a difference to the city centre. We hope that in time they will become a permanent fixture on our streets at weekends."

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

Can't be Edinburgh, surely not, I mean where did all this unmet demand come from?

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All animals are equal but some animals are more equal than others.
George Orwell, "Animal Farm"

How is this proof of unmet demand

And how would you know anyway - you out surveying the town every night - cos you don't driver a taxi - so where do you get your data from to draw such a conclusion

Just think Slapheid - had the marshalls been there a few years back you might not have a criminal conviction for assault of another taxi driver

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Keyboards and Cretins : Facts - not opinions - are the only truths

Damascus Moments - easy excuses for a sociopath

TDO the website of double standards and changing identities

" handing out bus timetables" does the bus company pay them to do this. if not WHY NOT? perhaps this would offset the cost because there is F'all chance of the CAB-COMPANIES paying.they are radio companies it is not in their interests for cars picking up from ranks(although the radio work at these times is not what it used to be) also whenever i saw the ranks, 90% of the time there were more marshalls than people waiting for taxi's

Grow up Mark.

Ignored!

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All animals are equal but some animals are more equal than others.
George Orwell, "Animal Farm"

It has to be said diesel, it's a tough life.

BTW, tell the boys at the Mills I'm asking for them. Are they still communicating by grunting at each other? You know it's funny how the Cannon Mills garage has more than it's fair share of thick stupid c*nts?

There must be a reason for it? Something in the water perhaps? It's a sort of taxi driver freak show, they might think of selling tickets.

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All animals are equal but some animals are more equal than others.
George Orwell, "Animal Farm"

An interesting comment - care to elucidate

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Keyboards and Cretins : Facts - not opinions - are the only truths

Damascus Moments - easy excuses for a sociopath

TDO the website of double standards and changing identities

Yeah if you don't like the question just ignore it - it might go away.

Only this time it won't go away - I 'll keep asking the questions and the more you procrastinate and and threaten violence the more the rest of the world will see you for what you are.

You don't have a truthful, honest bone in you body, but there again ignoring you worked when you were shunned by everyone else, and you finally threw the dummy out the pram and started your amazing vendetta, with Jim Taylor as your pathetic pawn.

SO - how is the use of taxi marshalls proof of unmet demand, and how would you know anyway

_________________
Keyboards and Cretins : Facts - not opinions - are the only truths

Damascus Moments - easy excuses for a sociopath

TDO the website of double standards and changing identities

Yeah if you don't like the question just ignore it - it might go away.

Only this time it won't go away - I 'll keep asking the questions and the more you procrastinate and and threaten violence the more the rest of the world will see you for what you are.

Nice one TC.

So, how about you answering questions.

How many taxi licecnes have you owned?

How many have you sold?

What do you think about the new headrests on the TX4 which prevents screen based advertising systems like Cabtivate's from being installed?

Do you think that the removal of plate values from de-restriction will stop the transfer of licences and will impact on Cabtivate's business by removing the earnings potential from plate transfer, brought into the company's balance sheet to shore it up, even after Markie babes sold off his two taxis and then added to his mortgage burden to shore up his flawed company?

Over to you TC.

Are cabtivate and its still operating?no ones answering the phones,the buzzers, Its like the the place is on lock down.

How many taxi licecnes have you owned? - NONE

How many have you sold? - NONE

What do you think about the new headrests on the TX4 which prevents screen based advertising systems like Cabtivate's from being installed? - HILARIOUS

Do you think that the removal of plate values from de-restriction will stop the transfer of licences and will impact on Cabtivate's business by removing the earnings potential from plate transfer, brought into the company's balance sheet to shore it up, even after Markie babes sold off his two taxis and then added to his mortgage burden to shore up his flawed company? - IRRELEVANT TO ME

There you go Jimbob - I've answered your questions apart from the last one which seems to be some sort of attack Mr Greenhalgh, but that's between you and him, and nothing to do with me.

Now where were YOU with answering my questions...............................

_________________
Keyboards and Cretins : Facts - not opinions - are the only truths

Damascus Moments - easy excuses for a sociopath

TDO the website of double standards and changing identities

So, how are things with cabtivate? Has the bullet been bitten yet?

Do we really want marshals handing out the timetables of our competitors?

Have we sunk so far down the food chain that we meekly accept this as a done deal?

To whom is this post addressed

_________________
Keyboards and Cretins : Facts - not opinions - are the only truths

Damascus Moments - easy excuses for a sociopath

TDO the website of double standards and changing identities