Taxi Newspaper #447

LTDA The newspaper of the Licensed Taxi Drivers’ Association www.ltda.co.uk @TheLTDA #447 9 July 2019

CRIME: p15

CABBIE ATTACKED

BY ENRAGED CYCLIST

p3

Daylight Robbery!

LTDA The newspaper of the Licensed Taxi Drivers’ Association www.ltda.co.uk @TheLTDA #436

5 February 2019

p23 BATTLE FOR TCR:

CYCLIST BLASTS DEN” “SHAMEFUL CAM

p2

AGE LIMIT CUTSE WOULD INCRENA POLLUTIO terred from 70% drivers de 12-year threat buying a TXe by

12 Year Age Limit to Cost Trade £50m

Mayor offers “concessions” on Euro 5 and Tooley Street

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@TheLTDA

Women Win Damages from Uber UK

NEWS IN BRIEF

LEGAL

‘Uber’ Driver Makes Barking Decision

Two women who alleged they were sexually assaulted by the same driver have won a significant pay-out from Uber – the first such successful claim against the company in the UK. Both ordered cars via the Uber app after nights out in Leeds [right] in December 2015, with the two alleged assaults taking place just a week apart.

The women each made a separate police report alleging that their driver, Naveed Iqbal, had sexually assaulted them by groping them during their journeys.

A council investigation found Iqbal, who did have a private hire licence, had used his brother’s Uber login details to access the app and find jobs under his name.

Lawyers for the women argued that Uber was liable for the alleged assaults as it had a duty of care to protect passengers.

Uber has now agreed to an undisclosed out of court settlement with both of the women, in what is believed to be the first case of its kind in the UK. The first woman claimed that she had been groped twice on December 6, 2015, after an evening out celebrating her birthday.

She said: “My whole life has been

UBERWATCH

turned upside down since that night.

When it first happened, my initial reaction was anger and disbelief, but I very quickly developed anxiety.

“I was aware that the driver knew where I lived, and this made me anxious about being at home.

“I suffered from poor concentration, a lack of enjoyment and poor motivation, and I had this feeling of being dirty all the time.”

The second woman booked an Uber on December 13, 2015, after a night out with friends. She said that during

the journey the driver started rubbing her leg before trying to kiss her and force her to engage in a sex act.

Emma Crowther, the two victims’ legal representative, stated that had Uber investigated the allegations made by the first client properly, it would have been highly likely that the driver would not have been able to commit the second alleged assault a week later.

As a result of the council investigation, Iqbal had his licence revoked despite no criminal charges being brought against him.

A suspected Uber driver was branded a moron after driving onto the concourse at Barking station.

Pictures of the Toyota Prius inside station prompted numerous jokes about the incompetence of the company’s drivers online.

One person called the driver a “brainless Uber moron” while others blamed TfL for handing out private hire licences like confetti.

Despite the risk of danger to station users, British Transport Police (BTP) claimed the driver was being threatened by his passenger and drove into the concourse out “fear for his own safety.”

No arrests have been made.

TEST YOUR HARD ROCK KNOWLEDGE? Turn to page 11.

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The mayor’s decision to push on with an age limit cut is a missed opportunity that hurts drivers

STEVE MCNAMARA

DAYLIGHT ROBBERY!

TOP TRADE STORY

The Age Limit Reduction Explained

decision last week at a hastily arranged meeting with the Deputy Mayor for Transport, Heidi Alexander. At this meeting, as at all the previous ollowing the expected announcement that ones, I made an in-depth and detailed presentation the mayor is to implement a reduction in of the benefits of our solution alongside a detailed the taxi vehicle age limit from 15 years impact. I have also repeatedly offered to work to 12 years, the LTDA immediately issued TfL closely with Mayor Sadiq Khan and TfL to with pre-action protocol letters as a precursor to a conduct emissions tests on our retrofitted cab, possible judicial review. Cabbies bought cabs with including the completion of the mandatory business plans based on a legitimate expectation 10,000-mile real-world working conditions trials that the cab had a 15-year working life. Moving before October. Unfortunately, my efforts fell on the goal posts, and with such little notice, is an deaf ears, and I am convinced that City Hall had outrage which we intend to bring to the attention already made up its mind while hiding under the of the courts. guise of an official consultation.

The announcement is bad news for the trade, This is a totally missed opportunity by the especially for those with older cabs. The only mayor, our solution provided him with the comfort we can take from the announcement is significant emissions reduction he needs, at that they have listened to part of our argument good value for money for the taxpayer, and most and that they will exempt Euro V cabs converted importantly it would not have put drivers out of to Euro VI as per our proposal. These cabs will business. Unfortunately, he has chosen the simple retain a 15-year age limit. While some owners of soundbite solution, at the expense of cabbies. We Euro V cabs will welcome their possible reprieve, estimate the loss of residual values in cabs affected especially if TfL agrees to fund the conversions, could be anything up to £50m. This loss will it is a kick in the teeth for anyone with a Euro IV be borne primarily by individual working class cab or older (roughly anything older than a 62 cabbies. It’s an attack on drivers’ livelihoods and a plate). These owners will start to being hit by the disgrace, especially coming from a Labour mayor. proposed changes from November next year, when Our fight against the overwhelming influence the age limit drops to 14 years, reducing to 13 of the air quality debate within the mayor’s years in 2021 and 12 years in 2022. TfL has also office and the GLA has been an uphill struggle. closed the loophole where a cab could effectively The age limits issue, coupled with his plans to be licensed until just before its 16th birthday. In make everyone who lives, or ever drives, inside another attempt to soften the blow, taxi access to the North or South Circular pay £12.50 per day, Tooley Street has been retained. only serves to decrease his popularity ahead of Most of you will already be aware of the the elections next year, but he seems either not to efforts the LTDA made to avert the reduction care, or is so badly advised he is unaware. in the vehicle age limit from 15 years to 12.

Even more incredible than the mayor’s decision Our solution of converting all the Euro V cabs is that some of the usual suspects on social media to a Euro VI standard, roughly 62/13 have somehow turned this into the LTDAs fault! to 16/65 plates, was designed and presented I challenge any of these keyboard warriors, or any as an alternative to any age limit changes to of the other trade groups, to show me anyone who any cabs. This part solution is not what we has done, is, or will be doing more than the LTDA wanted. We proposed to completely negate on this issue. Needless to say, I won’t be holding the need for an age limit change because my breath while I wait for the answer. u our solution gave better air quality benefits Steve McNamara is the quicker, by just targeting the EU V cabs.

LTDA’s General Secretary I made a last-ditch attempt to avert this

F

a) The 15-year age limit will be retained for: u Euro 6 taxis; u taxis which have been converted to run on Liquid Petroleum Gas (LPG) after 31 October 2019 and which meet the Euro 6 standard for emissions; and u taxis which meet existing zero emission capable (ZEC) taxi requirements (as defined). b) Subject to (c) below, the phased reduction in taxi vehicle maximum age limit for Euro 3, 4 and 5 diesel taxis, from 15 years in 2019 to 14 years in 2020, 13 years in 2021 and 12 years in 2022, also effective from 1 November of those years; c) The removal of the age limit exemptions, which currently exist for alternative fuel conversions, historic and classic/niche vehicles and for hardship/personal circumstances, noting that TfL retains the ability to consider individual applications and to grant exemptions to the age limit in exceptional circumstances where we consider it justified to do so.

TfL received 5,125 responses to the online consultation questionnaire, with 49 stakeholders (trade associations and related businesses) also responding.

TfL said: “The Licensed Taxi Drivers’ Association (LTDA) has been investigating potential technological solutions to retrofit Euro 5 diesel taxis to meet Euro 6 standards. TfL will keep this under review. If a Euro 6 retrofit is approved in future, TfL will consider ways to incorporate retrofitted Euro 5 taxis in the new Conditions of Fitness and age limits. If such vehicles can be shown to meet the required Euro 6 emissions standards in real world driving conditions, they could be eligible for the 15-year age limits in the same way as factory standard Euro 6 taxis. TfL will work with the LTDA to look at how any such retrofit solution that may come forward could be applied.”

Can you help the legal challenge?

Did you buy a new Euro IV cab between 2013 and 2015 with the business plan to keep it for 15 years?

You may be able to help, please contact us:

or info@ltda.co.uk

See your advertisement here TAXI is the membership magazine for the Licensed Taxi Drivers’ Association (LTDA).

It is circulated to 15,000 taxi drivers in London every fortnight.

The LTDA is the definitive voice of and for London cab drivers and is responsible for ensuring best practise in the trade, making sure its members’ voices are heard and serving members with the back up and support they need.

Get in touch To see your advertisement in the leading magazine for black cab drivers in London contact us today: Jack Green Jack@centuryonepublishing.uk 01727 739 196

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9 July 2019 |||| TAXI

Charity Trip to Southend– “Humbling and Inspiring” CHARITY More than 200 “fantastic” children enjoyed a trip to the seaside thanks to taxi driver volunteers and one of the trade’s most beloved charities.

The colourfully decorated cabs once again gathered at Sainsbury’s car park in Chingford, before setting off on the legendary outing to Southend-on-Sea. Once the volunteer drivers were fed, the youngsters and their helpers were allocated their places, the convoy set off for the coast.

On arrival at Southend the children excitedly headed to Adventure Island to enjoy free access to the rides and attractions.

Michael Son, BEM, LTCFC Chairman said: “Our Southend outing was a huge success. The taxis looked amazing with our new branding on and the sight of the convoy travelling to Southend was really something special.

“Huge thanks to everyone who gives up their precious time for the day, especially our volunteer taxi drivers.

“It is a humbling sight to watch the determined children go on all the rides and they are truly inspiring.

“I must also thank our sponsors and committee members for the time and effort that is put into organising

Southend each year. It is a privilege to help these fantastic children who are so appreciative of this wonderful day.”

After the rides, the coaches arrived to take the very excited and happy children back to the Cliffs Pavilion for lunch and a disco! Compere Dave Davies got the children on their feet before Action Amanda and the Furry Tail Folk did their turns. There was also entertainment from Tracy Wise and Edwardo and Merlin, whose magic tricks kept everybody and puppeteer Barry Harvey.

Niki Hunter scooped the first prize in the Best Dressed Taxi competition for his Incredible Hulk taxi, while Alexa Hicks came second with her beautifully dressed cab.

The disco ended at 6pm and the children and their helpers returned to their taxis to head back to Chingford.

Each driver was given £20 to put towards their fuel - £10 of this was kindly donated to each driver by Shell Stations UK. LTCFC was set up in 1928 to raise money and organise events for disadvantaged children and is run by volunteer drivers. To donate, volunteer or find out more about the LTCFC visit the website www.ltcfc.org.uk

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@TheLTDA

Drivers are once again being used to plug funding gaps in services caused by Government

RICHARD MASSETT

A £100M WAR ON MOTORISTS

THE MASSETT FILE

M

otorists have long been an easy mark for the regulator and the police. Whenever they are strapped for a bit of cash it seems they come up with a plan to extract more from us.

One of the main issues we have to deal with on a daily basis at Taxi House is appeals against fines of all kinds. You get used to it, it’s one of the pitfalls of working in London, a place which is watched by thousands of cameras.

But the latest plan by the Metropolitan Police Force to boost its coffers is staggering.

The Met plans to launch a huge programme of speed limit enforcement, increasing the number of offences processed from 160,000 to one million a year.

This idea was outlined to councillors on London Council’s transport and environment committee recently.

Police forces around the country have borne the brunt of successive cuts by the Government and the Met itself has been heavily criticised in TAXI and other newspapers for failing to tackle serious crime. It must feel that this is the only way to raise more funds, but it is short-sighted, and simply creates bad feeling.

Until now, police in London have previously been criticised for being slow to prosecute in the 20mph zones. In fact, plans had been floated to decriminalise speeding to make it easier for borough councils to go after motorists, but this has so far proved unworkable.

The increase is to be delivered “through an increase and in safety camera enforcement, as well as an increase in on-street activity and mobile speed enforcement equipment. It is now expected that this will mean a more heavy-handed targeting of the growing number of 20mph zones that are being introduced across the city.

This follows TfL’s announcement that it intends to make more sites eligible for speed cameras by tweaking the criteria.

The regulator plans to cut the speed limit on main roads under its control in central London to 20mph from May. This will include the Victoria and Albert embankments, Millbank, Tower Hill and Blackfriars Road. The speed cameras will be recalibrated and drivers who breach the limit face a minimum £100 fine and three penalty points.

This clearly is a case of fund-raising on an epic scale as it flies in the face of all available evidence and could lead to an extra £100 million being raised each year.

However, speed is a factor in just 5% of road accidents. Distracted driving is by far the most common

cause of road accidents, along with drink / drug driving.

Roger Lawson of the Alliance of British Drivers has pointedly criticised this attempt at picking the pockets of drivers. He said: “Is there any justification for this when speeding is one of the least important factors in road traffic accidents.

“This is surely more about the police having learned they can make money by offering speed awareness courses.”

AA president Edmund King said setting targets for catching drivers was not the way forward.

He added: “A reduction in traffic police and personnel involved in camera enforcement has led to a dip in the number of speeding tickets,” but he said policing the roads should be done on safety criteria alone, not on “absolute numbers.”

It’s about time the powers that be found another victim and stopped using motorists as cash cows to plug gaps in Government funding. They need to target the issues that cause the greatest number of incidents, such as distracted and drunk driving, lobby the Government for the cash, and use more creative means to get drivers to slow down. u

Richard Massett, LTDA Chairman, and Chairman of the London Cab Ranks Committee

MASSETT'S CAMERA HOTSPOTS EXMOUTH MARKET Red zone BERKLEY STREET J/W PICCADILLY Yellow box cameras JOHN ISLIP STREET No right turn into Ponsonby Terrace FULHAM BROADWAY/BARCLAY ROAD Yellow box CAMDEN 20mph limit SELFRIDGES Over ranking LUDGATE HILL Zig-Zags ISLINGTON 20mph limit RED ROUTES TfL is actively enforcing yellow box restrictions TOWER BRIDGE 20 mph speed limit – average speed cameras LIMEHOUSE LINK 30mph speed limit SMITHFIELD Do not park in loading boxes, they are enforced by camera A13 Average speed cameras in operation THE CITY 20mph limit KILLICK STREET Pedestrian zone WESTMINSTER PARK PLAZA No right turn into Addington Street VERNON PLACE No left turn into Southampton Row

u HOTSPOT 1

Lime Street, EC3 — no motor vehicles Mon-Fri, 8am-6pm

u HOTSPOT 2

Binfield Road

—24hr pedestrian zone

@TheLTDA

|||| www.ltda.co.uk

NEWS IN BRIEF £600m Cycling Bridge Canned A planned walking and cycling bridge linking Canary Wharf and Rotherhithe has been axed after estimated costs soared to £600 million.

Both Mayor Sadiq Khan and TfL have decided not to pursue the project which was budgeted at £350m.

The scrapping of the project was announced in a letter to the London Assembly, which said the bridge was “unaffordable in the short to medium term, particularly in the context of TfL’s wider financial challenges.”

Around £13 million has already been spent on the scheme.

Funds are instead to be used developing a ferry option “that is more affordable as a short to mediumterm way of providing the walking and cycling connectivity that is needed at this location.”

“This would be considerably cheaper than building a lifting bridge, and the service could be up and running more quickly,” the letter said.

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Transport for London Sorry for ‘Rape Advert’ Blunder MEDIA The regulator has been forced to apologise after approving a minicab app ad which appeared to make light of serious crime.

Transport for London signed off on an advert by new Uber competitor Kapten, which depicted a man and the words: “When you recognise your blind date… from the news ... get me out of here Kapten.”

The ad appeared on the Tube but raised a string of themselves have good adverts on safe travel so complaints on Twitter saying how it was missed I don’t it made light the idea that know. Grim.” women might encounter a TfL ordered the adds to rapist on a date and need be taken down after the to escape. TfL has said complaints were raised. it approved the poster in Siân Berry The ad was due to appear “error” and has had them for two weeks but Kapten has said it removed from the underground. contacted its advertising agent to ask Siân Berry, the Green Party London for it to be scrapped.

Assembly member, was one of the TfL admitted the advert did not meet people who tweeted about the advert the requirements and should not have and said Mayor Sadiq Khan needed to be asked how it slipped through the net. been given the stamp of approval.

The regulator said: “This “It literally jumps at you with advertisement was approved in error offensiveness and there are supposed and we apologise for any offence it has to be checks,” Berry tweeted. “TfL

O N LY PAY A S YOU DRIVE ROUND THE COMMON, NOT WHEN YOU PARK

caused. We are working to ensure that it doesn’t happen again.

“The advertisement does not meet the requirements of our advertising policy and is being removed from across our transport network. Kapten have also said they will not use this poster in any future campaign.”

Mariusz Zabrocki, London general manager for Kapten, also apologised He said: “We received the first complaints on Friday and we started taking down this ad on the same day. TfL contacted us on Monday and we decided together to take it down everywhere in the TfL network immediately.”

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Plans for a £15 airport access charge misunderstand the rules around metered fares and are unacceptable

PAUL BRENNAN

TOP RANK

HEATHROW HAS ITS HEAD IN THE CLOUDS

H

eathrow has released its consultation on its expansion plan and outlined what measures it is looking at introducing to offset the negatives a third runway will bring with it in order to gain development consent.

The whole consultation runs into thousands of pages – The novel War and Peace runs to 1,250 pages by comparison. The section on its intentions for taxi and private hire trades runs to 444 pages alone. I’ve been poring through the consultation, alongside the LTDA Heathrow reps, and there are some worrying aspects to this consultation, , some of which we have already highlighted, as well as some possible opportunities.

Now, I’m sure some of you will be thinking, “I don’t work Heathrow, so it has nothing to do with me,” but unfortunately this could affect everyone.

Anyone who was pushing a cab around London in 2010, when an ash cloud closed Heathrow for several days, will remember just how awash with cabs London was. The 1,000 cabs that would normally be servicing Heathrow flocked to London instead, looking for work alongside the 5-7,000 normal daily working fleet size in the city. This meant work was thin on the ground and everybody found getting on a rank very difficult.

Also, if you’re fortunate enough to trap a job to Heathrow, it will affect you. This is because you personally will be subject to the £15 vehicle access charge that Heathrow wants to make everybody pay as part of plans to introduce a Heathrow Ultra Low Emission Zone (HULEZ). If you usually work Paddington station and service the passengers from the Heathrow Express it will also affect you.

We’ve already discovered the consultation has contradictory statements, such as these two graphics: one (2.10) shows that taxis numbers have remained static, whilst PH numbers have rocketed. Yet graphic (2.13) seems to imply that only taxi journeys have increased? Of course, the authors have decided to lump PH under our banner to muddy the waters to suit their point.

It also seems to show that HAL is endorsing Uber drivers using their phones whilst driving through the extremely busy central terminal area (3.8.19). We’ve all seen the consequences of hailing app drivers interacting with their phones whilst on the move.

HAL is extremely keen and makes no excuses for wanting more passengers to use mass public transport rather than cars. Yet it contradicts this by working closely with Uber, a company whose subsidised fares are almost certainly driving passengers away from public transport into cars.

This is demonstrated by the high percentage of rides taken in an Uber and the 5% increase in journeys since the company’s introduction to the market in 2012.

HAL’s own figures show that taxi journeys have remained consistent, so I would argue we’re not part of the problem. As such we shouldn’t be included with PH when HAL

introduces the Heathrow Vehicle Access Charge.

HAL seems to be under the impression that we can pass on this charge to passengers. However, while that is most certainly true for private hire, which sets its own fares, it is not for us. In fact, TfL has already stated black cabs will not be able to pass this charge onto passengers. So, a typical taxi fare from Kensington could see a driver paying 30% of the fare over to HAL. This is another reason taxi drivers should not be lumped

“The trials that have been done are with Uber [only]...”

in with PH. Yet again, taxis are being punished because of the failure to keep the dividing lines, basically to ensure that differences between taxis and PH are clearly understood. We’ve seen it with the combined accident statistics being used to justify our exemption to road closures and we are seeing it again here.

So far, and contrary to claims within the consultation that HAL has been working with the trade, the only trials that have been done are with Uber and ‘We Know London’ whom it could be argued have abused their dominant position within the terminal to secure onward journeys by slandering our trade.

This trial is something that HAL wants to expand by having a central PH booking system, no doubt also earning a cut from each journey.

Very close scrutiny of these proposals is needed by the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA). I will be asking other trade orgs to join me in writing to the CAA for just such action. As you will have read in the last edition of TAXI, the orgs already met once at Taxi House to discuss a joint plan.

We will all be meeting again very shortly to continue our discussions and formulate not only a joint response to the consultation but also to recommend a response that drivers can use. u

Paul Brennan is an LTDA Executive

@TheLTDA

|||| www.ltda.co.uk

9 July 2019 |||| TAXI

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NEWS IN BRIEF

Dinner Tickets Go on Sale CHARITY

Tickets are available for the annual The Taxi Driver of the Year Charity Fund dinner and dance.

The popular fundraiser will take place at Holiday Inn Regents Park on Saturday, November 30, from 6.15pm.

Tickets are £70 per person – or £65 each for a table of 10 or more – which includes a four-course meal and half a bottle of wine per person. Money raised from the event are split between the taxi trade charities Charity chairman Russell Poluck said: “Don’t miss this annual great night out. Come along and join in, we promise a live band, great food and company.”

For an application form or to find out about sponsoring the event contact the TDYCF, 5 St Brides Avenue, Edgware, Middlesex, HA8 6BT, telephone 07850 056 765, email: info@ taxifund.co.uk or visit the website www.taxifund.com

@TheLTDA

Uber Eats Loophole Horrifies Experts HEALTH A fake takeaway business set up by a journalist was able to sell homemade burgers grilled in a garden via Uber Eats without any background or ID checks.

The reporter even dropped one of the burgers on the floor and continued to sell it, albeit to a food safety expert, during an investigation by the BBC. The probe revealed how anyone can get around strict health and safety regulations to set up their own takeaway business with the food delivery app.

Heather Hancock, the Food Standards Agency chief, was shown the footage and said she was “almost speechless with horror,” at how easy it was to get around the rules.

Reporters registered their fake business “Best Burger Corporation” on the Uber Eats website.

During the application process, the reporter was asked if he had a food hygiene rating and was able to lie by claiming he would be getting one “soon.”

He shortly received a package with instructions on how to register the business and was able to grill burgers in his garden with a basic set-up.

Food safety expert Mark McGlinn ordered his first meal from the fake restaurant to test how easy it was for food businesses to get away

with being unregulated. After his order was successfully confirmed, he told the BBC: “Order’s been taken.

That’s really shocking.”

An Uber Eats driver witnessed the burgers being grilled in the garden.

He then grabbed the delivery and transported it to Mr McGlinn without hesitation. McGlinn told the BBC: “I am astonished by what I saw. But also, very, very alarmed.

“We’re in desperate times, it seems to me if very, very large food delivery platforms can be operating in this way.”

Uber Eats said in a statement: “We are deeply concerned by this breach of our food safety policy and have taken immediate action to upgrade our sign-up requirements.

“It is unacceptable that a restaurant that did not meet our requirements was able to use the platform.”

@TheLTDA

|||| www.ltda.co.uk

9 July 2019 |||| TAXI

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WHO’S BEEN STAYING IN OUR ROOMS?

Our new home, previously The Cumberland hotel has had a rich rock past.

JIMI HENDRIX

loved this hotel, staying here often and writing whimsical poems.

In fact, his final listed address was ‘The Cumberland’. The room featured is our Jimi Hendrix suite.

DIANA ROSS

1965 saw the first Motown tour arrive in the UK with Smokey Robinson, Diana Ross and a fourteen year old Stevie Wonder. All stayed here for their London gigs.

BUDDY HOLLY

wrote an extraordinary letter here during his 1958 tour of the UK. He directly inspired the first generation of British rockers, reshaping the course of British music.

HARDROCKHOTELS.COM/LONDON

Hard Rock Taxi Magazine ad_FP 226x288_v2.indd 2

06/06/2019 13:00

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@TheLTDA

The LTDA and Camden Council teamed up to warn drivers to about the importance of switching off

THE DANGERS OF ENGINE IDLING

ANTHONY STREET

STREETS AHEAD

mation on how they can protect themselves.

Every minute, an idling car produces enough exhaust emissions to fill 150 balloons with harmful chemicals, including cyanide, NOx and PM2.5.

To conduct a short monitoring exercise, a portable pollution monitoring pack, provided by Kings College London, was placed in the vehicles of drivers at the King’s Cross and St Pancras taxi ranks upon joining the queue. The monitors measured the air pollution levels as their vehicle moved along the line. The pack was then removed, and the drivers went about their day.

The initial results showed pollution inside a ranking taxi was twice as high as compared to outside. Also, taxis ranked behind a TXe, or a taxi with its’ engine off, had lower pollution levels inside the cab, in comparison to a driver parked behind a taxi whose diesel engine was on.

We will continue to warn drivers of the damaging health impacts of engine idling, and that even taking the small step of turning off your engine can make a monumental difference.

It is a huge concern to the LTDA that our members are still exposed to very high pollution levels on a daily basis.

T

he evils of engine idling and its contribution to the pollution in London has slowly risen up the agenda in recent years and we need to do our bit. We are already leading the way in setting an example with take up of the electric cab far exceeding expectations. But by shutting off your engines when sitting on a rank for long periods, we can send out the strongest message yet that we are helping clean up London’s air.

In the run up to National Clean Air Action Day, the LTDA joined forces with Camden Council, to monitor taxi drivers’ exposure to air pollution whilst working, and to warn drivers of the dangerous health impacts of idling their engines at ranks.

As part of a series of events on Clean Air Action Day on Thursday, June 20, we took to the streets around King’s Cross.

Camden officers and LTDA representatives chatted to drivers, informing them of their high pollution exposure and handed out flyers with key infor-

Councillor Adam Harrison, Cabinet Member for a Sustainable Camden, said: “We were pleased to work with the LTDA on reducing idling on Clean Air Day. Camden’s ambition is to achieve the more stretching World Health Organisation (WHO) targets for Particulate Matter by 2030.

“These targets are much more ambitious than current government limits. Camden recognises that there is no safe exposure level and strongly believe that our approach represents the best way to protect the health of everyone who lives in, works and visits the borough.

“We can only do this by working with partners throughout the borough and beyond.”

The response from drivers was positive but it’s important to note that this issue is being taken extremely seriously and Government is planning a crackdown.

Engine idling fines could rise to £100 if you are caiught leaving your engine running for over a minute. Fines are already between £20-80, although most offences currently result in a warning, but this could all be about to change. A Government consultation into engine idling fines is expected to take place over the summer and will look at how to deal with repeat offenders. u

Anthony Street is an LTDA Executive Support Officer

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9 July 2019 |||| TAXI

13

14

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TAXI |||| 9 July 2019

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Q&A Plan Insurance Brokers’ H ead o f S ales D an i el S ev er i n C I Decommissioned Taxi Cover Back in December, TfL announced a scheme to encourage owners of diesel Black Cabs less than 15 years old to surrender their taxi vehicle licence and plate in exchange for a grant.

Once a taxi vehicle licence has been surrendered and the vehicle delicensed, it cannot be licensed in London again.

Drivers who have taken up this grant offer may like to keep their old taxi and drive it solely for social use. But some have struggled to get insured as most car insurance companies aren’t offering cover for these vehicles.

This is why we have partnered with our insurers to offer this new product and enable taxi drivers to still drive their old beloved cabs for social use, even if they have been decommissioned.

Does Taxi Insurance cover food and parcel deliveries?

Over the last decade, the food and parcel delivery industries have been revolutionised by the gig economy. Anyone who holds a valid driving licence may find this an attractive way to earn more money, taking on extra work as and when needed.

We’ve been getting enquiries recently from our taxi clients asking if their hire and reward insurance covers them to deliver parcels.

We’re also aware of several apps set to be introduced to the market that will allow taxi drivers to take bookings for carrying parcels and packages as a courier driver.

While this is certainly an appealing way for drivers to earn more money, most taxi policies won’t provide protection for this form of work.

Most Taxi Insurance Certificates will state that you are covered for the carriage of goods, packages and other miscellaneous objects, but only in connection with your occupation as a taxi driver.

Once you begin to deliver parcels for a fee to third parties organised or booked by someone else, you are no longer working in accordance with your role as a taxi driver, and subsequently are no longer covered.

For this type of work, a courier policy is needed. This form of cover is typically more expensive because of the increased liability risk presented by fulfilling multiple, time critical deliveries in a high pressure environment.

Our team and the GMB Union still await a response from TfL as to whether it is legally compliant for taxis to be used as courier vehicles as part of their licensing conditions.

In the meantime, drivers interested in delivering parcels can look into the options available, but we would suggest that they don’t start courier activities until the licensing authorities have confirmed that doing so wouldn’t breach any vehicle licensing conditions.

For more info, tweet us your questions @PlanInsurance.

Call us now on

0800 542 5946* to get your q uote.

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* Phone lines are open M onday to Friday from 9am to 5 .30pm.

The Plan Group Ltd is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) no. 307249

@TheLTDA

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9 July 2019 |||| TAXI

Cabbie Attacked

by Enraged Cyclist in London 20 years and had never seen anything like it. The cyclist was using the pedal to cause maximum damage to the cab. He then tried to wrench the window out to get at me, but I got my phone to take pictures of him, and he stopped suddenly, and went, “hello mate, is there a problem?”

The cab driver of 32 years was forced to return the cab to the garage where he had rented it several months earlier and has been left hundreds of pounds out of pocket by the attack. Mechanics said the cyclist had caused more than £800 worth of damage.

Frank reported the incident to the police and officers managed to collect fingerprints from the windscreen but say they don’t hold out much hope of catching the assailant.

Officers said that there has been significant growth in the number of incidents of cyclists attacking cars with the pedals on their bikes.

Frank said: “I’ve only just got over it now – it took a couple of days. I was nowhere near him. My passengers even phoned my governor to say that I had been driving calmly and have agreed to act as witnesses if he’s caught. I just feel angry because I didn’t do anything, and

CRIME A taxi driver was left shell-shocked after a cyclist flew into a violent rage and used his bike as a weapon to repeatedly batter his cab.

Frank Morris had picked up passengers in Vauxhall and was in Montague Street, about to turn right into George Street, when the cyclist passed him in the street before screeching to a halt.

The raging rider suddenly started bashing the bike into the new TXe before lifting it up and smashing it onto the bonnet while the stunned driver and his passengers watched in horror at 10am on Thursday, July 4.

He then tried to get at the cabbie by grabbing the partially opened window, trying to yank out the glass.

But cyclist stopped as suddenly as he had begun when the cabbie pulled out his camera phone and began snapping away.

Th 56-year-old, of Welwyn Garden City, said: “He lifted the bike in the air and smashed it on to the bonnet three times. It was a violent assault; it was pretty shocking. He was using the bike as a weapon.

“The passenger told me he had been

he has got away with it. I’ve never had anything like it in 32 years of driving a cab. I’m a careful driver and sometimes with drivers and cyclists you might have an exchange of words but nothing that has turned violent.”

The rider was about 25 years old, with fair hair and wore a white top with a rucksack. Police are investigating.

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Vehicle registration certificate, logbook or new keeper’s supplement (complete with bill of sale/ receipt) where vehicle is newly purchased prior to inspection

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Current vehicle licence (for renewal inspections)



From October 1, 2014, vehicles no longer require a tax disc to be displayed. Vehicles can be taxed online or at a post office. If a vehicle is not recorded as taxed, NSL will accept an online application/ post office receipt. (information at www.gov.co.uk/ dvla nomoretaxdisc)



Insurance certificate (not a copy) – properly affixed in the luggage compartment

VEHICLE MAKE / MODEL



Valid MoT certificate (issued 13 days or less before inspection)



If vehicle is less than one year old an MoT is not required



Taximeter installation and calibration certificate, issued within 30 days of inspection



Exemption certificate (where applicable)

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Modification approval (where applicable)

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Tool to release ramps

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Tyres – must conform to manufacturer’s specification (see table below)

TYRE SIZE

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Mercedes Vito Euro 5

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TX1 (declared speed of 130 km/h)

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TXII (declared speed of 147 km/h)

175 R 16 Q

TXII (declared speed of 147 km/h)

175 R 16 Q

TX4 (declared speed of 147 km/h)

175 R 16 Q

15

16

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TAXI |||| 9 July 2019

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APPLICATION FORM Name Address Postcode Telephone

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If Yes how many points do you have?

Please tick if you DO NOT wish to receive information from the LTDA and other related organisations in the future?  I understand that my application for membership of the Association must be approved by the Council of Management and that until this is confirmed I am not eligible to vote in relation to any form of Association matters. I agree that all benefits prior to approval of membership shall be at the discretion of the Council of Management.

Please note: We do not provide assistance for any matters that have occurred prior to you joining LTDA. Signed

Date

LTDA Basic Direct Debit Instructions Instructions to your Bank/Building Society to pay Direct Debits: Please complete parts 1 to 5 to instruct your branch to make direct payments from your account. Then return the form to the LTDA, FREEPOST, (PAM 2005), London W9 2BR

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Banks/Building Societies may not accept instructions to pay Direct Debit from some types of account.

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The Direct Debit Guarantee • This Guarantee is offered by all banks and building societies that accept instructions to pay Direct Debits.

• If there are any changes to the amount, date or frequency of your Direct Debit LTDA will notify you (10 working days) in advance of your account being debited or as otherwise agreed. If you request LTDA to collect a payment, confirmation of the amount and date will be given to you at the time of the request.

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9 July 2019 |||| TAXI

17

LETTERS BEWARE DELICENSED CABS

STAR LETTER

I

am a licensed London taxi driver of over 40 years and on March 8 I was misled and bought a taxi for £7,750, which I later found out had been delicensed. This is now going to the small claims

A WISH GRANTED

T

hanks to Matthew Skeaping and Steve Woods for having highlighted the problem of the incredibly long wait that anyone who owns a cab faces when the time to book the annual inspection comes around each year.

The question is, why can’t we just book it online? I can book everything from holidays to trains, planes, cruises, concerts and theatre seats online. I can buy my groceries online, order a take away pizza, clothes, shoes, books, satellite navigators, antiques, furniture, and plants. I can book house viewings, make an appointment with the dentist, or a doctor and even a vet.

How come in the 21st century I still need to phone to book a place for the annual inspection?

When I phoned it took a good 50 minutes for someone to finally answer. All told it was nearly an hour.

I checked the balance on my pay as you go mobile afterwards and discovered that £9 had gone AWOL. These premium phone’s lines do allow the company whom you are trying to contact a percentage of what is being paid by the customer (us).

And I did find myself wondering if the reason for not allowing us to book online could possibly be because of this “little” extra earning.

By reading Steve’s letter, we found out that there were 1,600 drivers (between us and PH) trying to get through.

Even if they get only 30% of that £9, how much are they making out of us? It is a scandal.

It’s not only about the costs, but we also waste a full hour of our time.

In any business time is money, but none more so than in ours.

It’s about time that someone told these people

court. I wanted to pass this information on as I do know the LTDA sent an email out to members warning them about buying delicensed taxis.

I want to echo the comments of that email and say that if you are buying a second-hand cab you must check with TfL that it can be licensed. There are lots

“Why can’t we just book it online?

I can book everything from holidays to trains, planes, cruises, concerts and theatre seats online...”

EASY RUN

HARD RUN

u HSBC, Canary Wharf to Re Shoreditch

u Southfields Station to Hilton Hyde Park

Do you have a gripe or praise? Contact us at 0207 121 0523 or email editor@ltda.co.uk

of de-licensed cabs being sold on eBay and elsewhere, where the seller is not advising that it cannot be licensed in London. Before you buy any second-hand cab that is not currently licensed please check with TfL that it can be licensed. Call this number to David Hunt check: 0343 222 5555 u

to just open a website and allow drivers to book online. And welcome them to the 21st century.

Name and address supplied NOTE: TfL does have a website where drivers can book and NSL an appointment online. You must first get a customer account by visiting https://tph.tfl.gov.uk/TfL/home.page. Once that is done you can visit tph.tfl.gov.uk, login to your account follow the instructions to book an NSL appointment

DUTY OF CARE

N

ow is the time (the busy season) to consider the dreaded kipper season.

New York’s cab drivers have been taking their own lives - eight at the last time of researching. We, as a trade, owe a duty of care to those of us who are embroiled in the downward spiral of debt. An electric cab and a £2,000 a month mortgage, children and partners to support. All these outgoings build up to unimaginable pressure on drivers. So, my suggestion is for the creation of a helpline of the 0800 type to deal with debt and all other problems.

Let not one driver, after studying so long and hard and achieving his/her dream, be alone.

Also, with a regulatory authority whose greed for licence fees far out stretches reasonable behaviour and whose duty of care to us is minimal (zero). I once again call on all trade bodies to at least obtain an employment QC’s opinion that we are now TfL employees and deserve, backdated till 2013, holiday pay, employee’s pension contributions and sick pay.

Do not delay; remember Pimlico Plumbers, Addison Lee, Deliveroo and Uber’s slaves, all of whom have won victories over greed.

Stuart Wilder 63120 (Author UBERGATE X)

BROKEN PROMISES

I

t is particularly galling to hear Tory MPs or mayoral candidates promising anything to the cab trade because we know that it always comes to naught. That serial teller of whoppers, the previous mayor and frontrunner in the race to be PM, Boris Johnson, told us he would get rid of pedicabs, he would sort out rising PH numbers, yet did nothing but ensure that big business got what it wanted. After all, we don’t give out bungs to political parties or MPs, so we will always be ignored.

After 40 years of voting I have never been in such a position of not having a political party to represent me. I do know that the Tory party has cost the taxi trade financially over the last 10 years. None of us, or our families, should ever vote for them again .

Adrian Card

PLEASE NO, NOT OSBORNE!

I

read a short article in the Daily Telegraph (Saturday, July 20) saying that George Osborne (you know, the editor of the Evening Standard who also earns a small fortune for advising a certain financial institution with investments in Uber ) has intimated that he would like a return to frontline politics. Apparently, he is going to target the Kensington seat where Labour only has a majority of 20. If that fails, he is going to throw his hat in the ring for the London mayor’s job. God help us all.

Dave Collins

18

www.ltda.co.uk ||||

TAXI |||| 9 July 2019

@TheLTDA

The slow growth of the charging infrastructure could be a key issue during next year’s mayoral elections

CHRIS ACKRILL

ON THE ROAD

THE CHARGE OF THE ELECTRIC WARRIOR

D

onald Trump called the London Mayor, Sadiq Khan, a “stone cold loser” when he visited these shores in May. Although Trump was referring to violent crime rather than charging points for electric cabs, Sadiq really could prove to be a loser when the mayoral elections come up next year.

While being quizzed by Conservative Assembly Member, Shaun Bailey, on the number of electric charging points for taxis, Mr Khan said there were enough charging points “as things stand.” A rather cavalier comment, if I may say so. As of May 8, there were over 200 rapid charging points. This includes 72 dedicated to taxis. London boroughs have also installed over 1,000 lamp column charging points for overnight charging. There might just be enough points right now, but there are over 2,000 electric cabs in London and that number is growing fast. Around 40 new electric cabs are being bought every week. It’s the mayor who told us to go electric and stopped us buying new diesel cabs. It’s his responsibility to provide the infrastructure. If the self-styled electric warrior doesn’t see a problem looming, he’ll be caught out later on.

There are websites showing the location of charging points, but nobody should have to consult the internet to plan their re-fuelling.

If people are currently driving around looking for points, it’s going to get worse if provision doesn’t keep up with demand. Then there’s the time spent waiting to charge up. An electric cab saves money on fuel, but not on time; and as we all know, time is money. I wouldn’t want to sit around for half an hour just to save a couple of quid. The situation isn’t so bad for the civilian car driver who doesn’t clock up the kind of miles that a taxi does. Many of us need to drive many miles before we can even start work. I burn up 70 miles just driving into central London and back, then add another 60 or 70 miles in stop-start urban traffic. The current TXe has a petrol engine back-up, but it would still need a daily charge. Forthcoming electric taxis probably won’t have a petrol back-up. I could easily run out of power on the M1 going home, or if I trap a roader late on in the day.

A few years ago we were told we’d have a choice of five new taxi models to choose from.

We still only have one. We were meant to have a new Nissan, which was said to have a better range. This model is meant to be coming out this summer, but they’ve been saying that for years. Even if it does come to market there will only be a few hundred made each year because of demand for the Nissan Leaf – so good luck getting your hands on one of those.

The cost of the vehicle is a big factor too. We don’t know how much any new cab is going to cost. The TXe is out of the price range of many drivers, and I’m surprised they’ve sold so many.

Who is buying these £60,000 cabs? Clearly

I’m as affected by many of the goings on within the M25 as those who live there. Still, I’m glad my council tax didn’t go towards Boris’s garden bridge project, which had to be abandoned by the new mayor in order to save further waste - to think Boris is likely to be our new Prime Minister in a couple of weeks.

I hear Mr Khan is planning a no-car day in London on Sunday, September 22, in order to improve air quality. London’s air quality isn’t caused by extra traffic; it’s caused by daft road re-modelling. I assume he’s not including taxis and minicabs in the ban? If he does, we’ll know that he’s a loser who has really lost it. u

“It’s the mayor who told us to go electric and stopped us buying new diesel cabs... it’s his responsibility to provide the infrastructure...” people who are working longer hours than I am.

Will the TXe continue to sell well? It’s surely dependent on the mayor’s attitude to charging.

We need confidence that he’s committed to the electric switch-over, but we’re not getting it.

It’s inevitable that the current price of charging will prove to be an introductory offer.

The Government will want to get the money back it’s losing on petrol and diesel tax. There could come a time when charging becomes as expensive as diesel but takes much longer to do.

Anyway, that’s a matter for government and whoever sails in her, to sort out in the coming years. In the meantime, the mayoral candidates need to be grilled on their plans for improving the electric charging infrastructure. The people of London can then decide.

Taxi drivers and families make up a fair chunk of the electorate. I’m unable to vote as I live well out of London, but I can’t afford to be smug as

BOOK WINNERS The winners of the competition to get a free copy of Chris’s book from “Manor House Station to Gibson Square” are James Dobbs and Martin Bonev. The closest pub to 230 Blackfriars Road is the Prince William Henry, which is at 216 Blackfriars Road. It is not the Ring, which is nearest Palestra, nor the Mad Hatter.

Visit Chris’s website here: pubcat.co

Chris Ackrill is a taxi driver and former Knowledge examiner

Have you got an opinion or a view on taking the taxi trade forward? We have been holding a series of members’ workshops over the past few months to share ideas and views in small groups.

The next one will take place on Tuesday, September 24, at 10-11.30am, in central London.

|||| www.ltda.co.uk

@TheLTDA

9 July 2019 |||| TAXI

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9 July 2019 |||| TAXI

21

The US minicab company promised to shape-up, but nothing appears to have changed

LLOYD BALDWIN

HAVE YOU SEEN THE NEW UBER?

ON POINT

A

nyone remember the all new Uber? Don’t laugh, I’m serious. Our old chum promised to get its act together to win another chance to operate in London.

But wherever I look it seems the “new” version of the company is just like the old one – rubbish.

In this edition of TAXI alone there is the first successful claim against Uber by women who have been sexually assaulted by one of the company’s drivers (p2).

The victims quite rightly claimed Uber owed them a duty of care. This could open the floodgates, as reports of this nature are too numerous to mention.

Women in the US are also suing the company over the failure to adequately warn them about fake Uber drivers operating in their town.

The BBC also revealed that virtually anyone can skirt health and safety regulations to set up a takeaway business (p10), thanks to the lack of checks made on people offering food services on Uber Eats. Sound familiar?

The company is said to be spitting it’s dummy out and pulling out of Austria because it doesn’t like having to play by the same rules as everyone else. Of course, rules are for other mugs.

Black Taxi

Every time you look online there seems to be a new motoring outrage involving a Toyota Prius and a static object such as a traffic light or an island. These objects have been in place for decades and are safely navigated by everyone but Prius drivers. Strange that!

As if you need more proof that its drivers are not to be trusted I read recently that a London Uber driver was found guilty of inciting prostitution for gain, running a brothel and money laundering.

Mario Nicolae, of Hendon, ran his illegal business from Dartford, Kent, between April 2017 and September 2018.

Prosecutor Tom Dunn said that Nicolae’s business was a “commercial enterprise.” One in which he helped sex workers set up, organised telephones and assisted in what was described as a “very sophisticated on-line advertising” campaign.

What a lovely chap. Even more worryingly, as if there aren’t enough of these crooks, plonkers and perverts on the road, I read with incredulity that our dear old regulator has decided to grant a licence to the real “new” Uber, which is the Indian company Ola. Admittedly, many of the dim-witted satnav cowboys who sign up to that app for the September launch will be the same, but with 114,000 of them smashing their way around London, it’s not like there’s a shortage.

Thanks for nothing TfL.

rentals

Title Shot for Dean

Well done to London taxi driver and super welterweight boxer, Dean Richardson, who improved his record to 10-0, with seven knockouts, after stopping Sergey Martisyan at York Hall. Richardson faced a tough test against the Russian over six rounds at the iconic boxing venue but came out on top after a difficult start. Dean is hoping for a shot at the Southern Area super welterweight title against Sean Robinson, who retained it on the same night. u

Bilker Alert

A taxi driver phoned to warn others about a bilker after being left with an unpaid fare worth almost £50. The culprit, who was described as an Arab man, 5ft 2ins tall and in his late 20s, claimed he wanted to go to Leicester Square and to the Carlton Tower Hotel, to make a drop off, racked up £47 on the meter before running off.

Lloyd Baldwin is an LTDA Executive Support Officer

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TAXI |||| 9 July 2019

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NEWS IN BRIEF

9 July 2019 |||| TAXI

London PHV busted in Sussex COURT

Tube Thefts Rocketing Thefts on the London Underground have shot up by more than 80% in the past three years.

Almost 7,000 incidents were reported to British Transport Police in 2018/19, compared with 3,730 in 2016/17.

The Piccadilly and Central lines recorded the most thefts, according to the figures, including bag thefts and pickpocketing.

Det Insp Bob Stokoe, head of theft of passenger property at BTP, said: “I don’t think we can deny that it is incredibly disappointing that the numbers have gone up, but the London Underground is still an incredibly safe environment.

“There are in excess of five million passenger journeys a day so it’s four crimes of theft for every million journeys.”

23

£44 victim surcharge and instructed to cover the A Transport for London council’s costs of £939. He licensed minicab driver also received six penalty has been fined after being points on his licence. caught illegally plying for Announcing the hire in Mid Sussex.

DfT’s cross-border Naser Bajwa was hiring forums, Head of prosecuted after being Buses and Taxis, Buses caught cross border hiring and Taxis Division, and accepting passengers Catriona Henderson who were not said: “As you are aware, pre-booked through an in September 2018, the operator in his private hire Task and Finish Group vehicle. on Taxi and Private Hire Because Bajwa accepted loitering outside bars in Church Road, Vehicle licensing report the trip it invalidated his insurance, which Burgess Hill. Bajwa was approached by recommended that Government change only covers pre-booked journeys through two women, who got into his vehicle, the law to stop taxis and PHVs carrying a licensed operator. The prosecution before they drove off. out journeys entirely outside their licensed comes as the Government has at last It was later revealed that the passengers area. In the Government’s response to the acknowledged the growing problem of had not pre-booked him through an report, we committed to look at how this cross-border hiring and set the wheels in operator and that he was acting illegally. change might work in detail, with a view motion for changes to the law.

Councillor Norman Webster, the to legislating.

The Department for Transport (DfT) cabinet member for communities, said: “These workshops aim to give local is to stage a series of taxi and private hire “Mid Sussex District Council takes authorities, taxi and PHV operators vehicle (PHV) reform workshops in June passenger safety very seriously. The laws and other interested stakeholders an and July to gauge the scale of the problem. and licensing standards that we enforce are opportunity to share their views on how Bajwa pleaded guilty to illegally plying in place to ensure that passengers are safe. that proposed change to the taxi and PHV for hire and driving without insurance “People should be aware that if they system could work.” The Government at Crawley Magistrates’ Court on June use private hire vehicles without booking response to the report was widely criticised 19. The district council’s licensing team in advance then the vehicle will not be for being lacklustre. However, it does plan received a complaint that Bajwa illegally insured if an accident occurs and the to outline it’s findings on the introduction accepted a trip on December 25. An drivers concerned risk prosecution.” of national minimum standards and investigation revealed he had been Bajwa was fined £733, ordered to pay a national enforcement powers.

TX4 10 plates to TX4 65 plates from £210 to £275 Euro 6 from £270 £275 17 plate vitos from

24

www.ltda.co.uk ||||

TAXI |||| 9 July 2019

@TheLTDA

Studying the Knowledge in the 60s wasn’t dissimilar to being called up for National Service

ALF TOWNSEND

“THE BLUE BOOK IS YOUR BIBLE”

TAXI TALK

T

he year was 1961, Christmas was fast approaching and to paraphrase an old saying, it was cold enough to freeze the whatsits off a brass monkey! So the crowd of nervous young guys, with their long hair and long sideburns, were only too happy to be herded into a bare room in this Victorian edifice – that seemed more a prison!

We waited in awe for the chief examiner and he eventually entered the room surrounded by his assistants, almost like royalty as I recall.

He was a wiry little guy in a smart suit and his grey-flecked hair was swept back tight on his head and plastered down with Brylcream. He sported a Hitler-type moustache, but the thing that impressed me was his ramrod-straight back. It was so straight and rigid, almost as if he was wearing a corset! He moved in a whippetlike way and his eyes were looking all over the class. After my recent unpleasant experience of RAF National Service, I immediately said under my breath. This guy’s just got to be ex-military, probably a long-serving colour sergeant, or even a regimental sergeant major! I could well see him on the parade ground, patiently measuring out the paces with his pace-stick!

He stopped at the desk that had been installed and his minions lined up either side of him, whilst we all looked on nervously. He was obviously enjoying every minute of being the focal point, almost like reliving his military past and maybe giving a briefing to the SAS or a crack commando unit before a daring raid! I remember thinking to myself at the time this guy likes the sound of his own voice and I’ll lay a hundred pounds to a penny that he calls us “laddie.” And I was spot on! He cast a beady eye around the room attempting to get some eye contact and said in a thin, reedy voice. “Has anyone tried this before?” Everyone looked round when a couple of the guys put their hands up rather timidly. “Well I never,” he chuckled, “I reckon you two blokes must be barking mad.”

His assistants starting chuckling, so I started chuckling – just a little too heartily. He fixed his beady eyes on me and, walking across, he shouted. “It’s not that funny laddie, because doing The Knowledge just once can drive you mad. So, if these two laddies are starting it for the second time, they must be barking mad!”

Right I thought, it’s just like National Service and the drill sergeants, keep your head down and don’t get seen!

After the initial jokey start, it was down to business and the handing out of the Blue Book, containing over 400 “runs,” or routes that crisscrossed all over London. Up piped the reedy voice again and holding a white pamphlet up in his outstretched hand, he said theatrically.

“This white pamphlet that I am a-holding for all of you to peruse is called, believe it or not, the Blue Book. Some of you may be thinking, why is it called the Blue Book when it’s white?’ Then

Nick Townsend

chuckling to himself at his own clever humour, he continued. “You may think I am so clever I will know the answer, but I don’t. It was called that by taxi-drivers many years ago and nobody knows why.”

Again, a ripple of laughter from his audience while he stood beaming and holding his thumbs in his waistcoat. “This Blue Book is your Bible,” he went on. “You need to learn every single run by heart. And you need to recite each and every one of the hundreds of runs and be able to see all the streets in your head.” He paused to make sure there was fear in all our eyes, then he continued in full flow. “As if that’s not enough, you will need to learn all the many hundreds of points of interest that you pass on every run, and be able to spot the run when the starting and finishing points are changed by your examiner during your monthly tests.”

He grinned to himself, while a murmur of disbelief came from his captive audience.

“We’re wise to all the tricks up here,” he went on. “If we were only to ask you simple points like Piccadilly or Buckingham Palace, you’d all be sitting at home on your backsides just map-reading.” He cast a beady eye on his shell-shocked audience, just to make sure his comments had been digested, before going on again. “Let me warn you gentlemen,” he said in a sombre voice. ‘If any of my examiners inform me that they think one of you is sitting on his backside map-reading at home, you’ll be in for the high jump.”

The chief examiner started gathering up his papers and looking around the room, almost as though he was looking for a face he didn’t like.

I just kept my head buried in the Blue Book.

lads,” he said standing up, “the rest is “This Blue “Right up to you. If you want to become a London taxi driver, you will need to work very hard Book is at it, day and night.” He started towards the your Bible. door followed by his entourage, and with a last You need theatrical gesture, he turned and said, “I want you all back here in 56 days, bright and early to learn and ready to answer any question about London.

Keep at it lads.” every Then he was gone, that was it, you were on single run your own. No advice about the best way to do runs or learn the points. No advice about by heart. the the length of time to spend on each run. In fact, no advice on anything remotely connected to And you the Knowledge. We had been issued with our need to “Blue Books” and been forced to listen to his monthly waffle. Now it was time to put up, or recite shut up. Many of our class of ’61 wouldn’t make each and it, the drop-out rate was around 70%. But I was every one determined, I would never give up – nor would my as-yet unborn son 30 years later! of the Mill Hill Diamond hundreds A My deepest thanks to the cabbie driving a Vito and on ComCab, who showed out to of runs me recently as I crossed Haverstock Hill by and be Pond Street. He was waiting at the red light and pointed his finger to the north and I able to nodded. He opened the door and I was in! see all the I must be honest and say that I didn’t recognise my Good Samaritan and we streets started chatting about my medical problems in your last year. He then told me he had suffered a severe heart attack and had only got his head...” bill back recently. I thanked him for his kindness and wished him well with his dodgy ticker. A real diamond geezer! u

@TheLTDA

|||| www.ltda.co.uk

9 July 2019 |||| TAXI

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New cab sales of TXes are at record levels, with 154 joining the ranks in June

THE CAB YOU DRIVE

THE MADNESS OF THE TAXI MARKET

WORD ON THE STREET

I

keep thinking the used cab market cannot get any crazier and then every single week it does.

The wilding fluctuating market may look like a textbook lesson in economics, but it’s actually an accurate detail of the roller coaster that cab prices have been riding over the past six months.

Back in December, before the proposal to reduce vehicle age limits to 12 years was first mooted, Euro VI cabs were unwanted and unloved; early ones were changing hands in the early £20,000s. After the age limit announcement, the prices shot up, in some case by 40%, fuelled by short supply and increased demand.

Euro V values were suppressed by the fear that they would only get 12 years. Oversupply and reduced demand forced these prices down dramatically. At one-point early EU Vs were only fetching £11- £13k. Then came the decommissioning scramble. Thousands of older TXIIs and early TX4s disappeared from the ranks in exchange for a £10k pay-out from the mayor. Many of these owners saw this as an opportunity to then buy a cheap EU V cab for not a lot more than the £10k (plus whatever they got for the cab on eBay) they

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“Thousands of older TXIIs and early TX4s disappeared from the ranks...”

had received for their TXII or early TX4. Very quickly this demand kicked in and prices for EUVs started to rocket, in some cases by 50%!

As some of the drivers who had decommissioned their own cabs returned to renting, demand for rental cabs, and thus rents, started to go up. This became the perfect storm, with fleets also taking the opportunity to get rid of older cabs and decommissioning hundreds of vehicles themselves. The result of this is that it’s now extremely difficult to find a cab to rent, and the few that are available are now more expensive.

It’s now coming full circle, as the shortage of

cabs for sale and rent is forcing up the price of older cabs to above that of their decommissioning value (currently at £8k). Many owners are now pulling out of the decommissioning in favour of a quick cash sale to a fleet with a waiting list of drivers.

Things have got so bad that some of the traders have resorted to hanging around outside Brewery Road and approaching drivers going into the showroom offering to beat any trade-in price for their cab against a new one; this has not happened since the 1960s.

On the new cab front sales of TXes are still at record levels, with 154 joining the ranks in June. It means we are on target to have 2,000 on street by mid-July which is just over 10% of the entire cab fleet in London. If market force economics, which have dictated second-hand cab prices over the past six months, continue to apply it will be at least a year before the supply of new cabs coming in at the top of the market catches up with, and then overtakes, the loss of cabs from the bottom of the market. This means that second-hand prices will stay at their current levels and we will finally see an end to the prices roller coaster and we will get some stability in the market again, I certainly hope so.

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|||| www.ltda.co.uk

9 July 2019 |||| TAXI

27

Cases of mistaken identity and false allegations often go unchallenged unless you are with the LTDA

CHARLOTTE COLLETT

THE STRETCHED ARM OF THE LAW

LEGALLY SPEAKING

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olice resources are becoming increasingly stretched is forcing detectives to rely more and more on “virtual evidence.”

This is evidence that can be gathered via a laptop, without anyone ever visiting a crime scene or interviewing witnesses in person. As a result, witness statements can often be emailed across to the police by a complainant. And because the officer in the case has little or no knowledge of the location, or the incident and no time to investigate further, the statement is never questioned. This is happening more and more in respect of lesser offences, most of those involving driving for example. The majority of motoring prosecutions are not defended on cost grounds and never see the inside of a courtroom which means they don’t get challenged and most drivers simply accept their inevitable punishment, even if they disagree with it or were completely innocent. Paying up is less risky and cheaper than hiring your own solicitor.

However, if you are accused and are an LTDA member, not only do you get virtually instant

access to the inhouse legal team, but evidence presented by the prosecution is always picked through in meticulous detail, and often in locus, to see how accurate, or not, it is.

In an increasing number of cases, we are now able to get the prosecution dropped, either before the matter gets to court, or at what is known as ‘half time.’ This is after the prosecution has presented its case and before the defence case is made, when, as a result of weaknesses shown during cross-examination, the magistrates agree that there is no case to answer.

One LTDA member recently had his prosecution for driving without due care and attention dropped in this way. The two main prosecution witnesses both gave evidence that our member had driven his cab on the wrong side of a traffic bollard and across the pavement, but at two different locations!

One of the witnesses had also recorded the wrong, but similar, registration number, which we were able to show belonged to a totally different cab. The magistrate accepted that there was no way he could convict the taxi driver in question based on the prosecution case alone and acquitted him at half time.

It’s easy to think that these sorts of things won’t happen to you but they increasingly do, and the only way to get real piece of mind is to ensure that you are an LTDA member.

Editors Comment:

The LTDA legal team is the best in the business and work exclusively for our members. All legal fees are totally covered by your membership, can you afford to go to work without it? If you are not a member call 0208 286 1046 to ask for information or simply fill out the application form on page... u

Charlotte Collett is an LTDA solicitor

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@TheLTDA

@TheLTDA

|||| www.ltda.co.uk

9 July 2019 |||| TAXI

29

An audacious raid on a bank in Baker Street seemed like the perfect crime…

ROBERT LORDAN

THE SHERLOCK HOLMES BANK RAID

CRUEL LONDON

L

ate one evening in September 1971, amateur radio enthusiast Robert Rowlands sat scanning through the airwaves in his Wimpole Street flat.

As the frequencies crackled in and out, he stumbled across a local broadcast; two men conversing via walkie-talkies. By the words used, Robert correctly guessed the pair were part of a gang embroiled in a bank robbery, with one of the men inside the unidentified branch and the other perched on the roof as a lookout.

Robert promptly called the local police station where his claims were treated lightly – no doubt because it was just after 11pm on a Saturday night.

The officer, however, suggested Robert record the mysterious chatter – which he did.

As the night wore on, the two men continued to crop up on the air, arguing about choking fumes and the need to press on. Disheartened by his earlier call, Robert decided to go higher up and phoned Scotland Yard, by which time it was 1am. A senior officer regarded the matter far more seriously and, although Robert insisted the signal was very close to Wimpole Street, it was decided that all banks within an eight-mile radius – 750 in total- would need to be searched. Being a weekend, and with the need to contact off duty managers, this was a very slow process.

On Sunday afternoon, police gained entry to the Baker Street branch of Lloyds (on the corner of Marylebone Road).

Upon investigation, nothing seemed untoward: the vault was secured with a time-lock and there was zero sign of a break in. The officers moved on. Little did they realise, however, that on the other side of the thick, steel door, an audacious gang were busy sifting through over 250 safe deposit boxes.

When the manager of that branch opened for business on Monday morning he was horrified by the chaos before him. Empty deposit boxes lay scattered everywhere – the missing contents of which were estimated to be around £3 million (£41 million in today’s money). A hole had been blasted through the floor and, scrawled across the wall, was some brazen graffiti: “Let’s see how Sherlock Holmes solves this one.”

It transpired that the hole led to a cramped 40ft long tunnel. The roughly hewn passage passed beneath the Chicken Inn restaurant (now Pizza Hut) and

The safe deposit boxes in Lloyds Bank, Baker Street and heist mastermind Brian Reader, [TOP, RIGHT]

emerged in a leather goods shop called Le Sac, which had seemingly been closed for refurbishment. Today, this building is occupied by an estate agent.

The owner of Le Sac was 66-year-old Benjamin Wolfe, of Dovercourt Road, East Dulwich who, using his own name, had leased the shop to the gang: Anthony Gavin, of Brownlow Road, Dalston, Thomas Gray Stephens, from Maygood Street, Islington, and Reginald Samuel Tucker, of Lee Street, Hackney. Using Wolfe’s shop as a front, the gang dug the tunnel, removing eight tonnes of rubble in the process. To break through the vault’s toughened floor, they’d used a thermal lance; a tool which would’ve been extremely dangerous to operate in such a claustrophobic environment. It was this process that led to the discussion over fumes, which Robert Rowlands had eavesdropped upon.

At the time it was claimed that the Government slapped a D-Notice on the burglary, meaning any further reporting was forbidden in the interests of national security. This has led to many conspiracy theories as to what the stolen boxes contained. One of the most popular ideas suggested the gang obtained compromising photos of Princess Margaret cavorting with infamous London gangster, John Bindon. It was also claimed that the names of the raiders was also kept out of the papers in a bid to bury the story.

Showing that fake news was not invented in modern times, later investigations showed a D-Notice was never issued. D-Notices are, in fact, not legally binding but are simply requests.

The Times newspaper was still reporting about the case over two months later.

All of those apprehended – including the store owner – were found guilty of

the raid in January 1973 and handed sentences ranging from eight to 12 years.

Gavin, Stephens, Tucker, all pleaded guilty and received were jailed for 12 years. Wolfe denied involvement but was

convicted and locked up for eight years.

It was recently reported that one of those who evaded capture was one Brian Reader. It was Reader who masterminded the more recent – and strikingly similarHatton Garden Heist.

In 2008, The Bank Job- a film inspired by the Baker Street robbery- was released, the script of which was penned by legendary creative team, Dick Clement and Ian La Frenais, the pair responsible for Porridge and Whatever Happened to the Likely Lads?

As for the loot, none of it was ever recovered. u

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@TheLTDA

@TheLTDA

|||| www.ltda.co.uk

23 July 2019 |||| TAXI

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“Homechargers Must Get Smart” TECHNOLOGY All electric car charge points installed through the official Homecharge scheme must now include smart features that help reduce costs for drivers.

Intelligent wall sockets will encourage cheaper, off-peak charging and minimise the impact of electric vehicles on the grid by reducing peak demand.

Devices backed by the Electric Vehicle Homecharge Scheme (EVHS) must be capable of being remotely accessed, The Department for Transport has announced.

The Government is keen expand to homecharging, which can reduce high peaks of electricity demands that cause grid disruptions.

Roads Minister Michael Ellis said: “The Government wants the UK to be the best place in the world to build and own an electric vehicle, with leadership and innovation helping us pave the way to a zero-emission future.

“We’re in the driving seat of the zero-emission revolution. Our new requirements for chargepoints could help keep costs down, ensuring the benefits of green transport are felt by everyone.”

Smart home chargers restrict vehicle battery charging only to period when

electricity rates are cheapest.

The AA recently surveyed motorists about electric vehicles and how to charge them and found that three in five wanted smart charging to be a requirement.

The aim is to help reduce costs for those who switch to electric vehicles but also to limit the strain the growing network of plug-in cars will put on the grid.

Steve Gooding, director of motoring research charity the RAC Foundation, said his organisation backed any move that made electric car ownership cheaper.

Since 2013, the Government has supported the installation of more than 110,000 domestic charge points through grants.

The EVHS currently offers £500 towards each home – or office – installation in a bid to encourage more motorists to switch to lowemission vehicles.

The Government announced a plan last summer to ban the sale of new petrol and diesel cars and vans by 2040.

Take up of electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles has grown one per cent since last May, making up 6.6% of the new car market, compared with 5.6% during the same month in 2018.

App-controlled Device Could Save A new home charging device has been launched that claims to save electric car drivers up to £400 per year.

The intelligent EV home charger automatically uses the cheapest electricity available and can be controlled via a smartphone.

The £400 charger itself calculates how much power is needed for the driver’s next journey and charges the car accordingly, It draws the most power at off-peak times when electricity is cheaper, according to the manufacturer, Ohme Technologies Ltd .

When the charger is used alongside a time-of-use tariff the cost of running an electric car is around 2p per mile. The average for most petrol and diesel cars is around 10p per mile.

The app gives driver the chance to target renewable energy and to limit the amount of time the battery is at full charge, extending its overall life.

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@TheLTDA

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Volunteers Say Thanks to Veterans CHARITY

Village, near Dorking in Surrey, for sandwiches, cakes and refreshments, Scores of kind-hearted volunteer the taxis travelled along the A24 to cabbies helped more than 120 veterans Worthing. enjoy a day out by the seaside.

There they enjoyed a lunch with The annual trip to Worthing the Mayor of Worthing, Councillor has been a fixture in the calendar Hazel Thorpe on Worthing Pier. The for the Taxi Charity since 1948 and Mayor, veterans, cabbies and invited its volunteers and is still as popular guests heard from guest speaker as ever.

Major (retired) Paul Raisen from the The convoy of cabbies collected the Parachute Regiment Association and veterans and their carers from their enjoyed musical entertainment, as well homes across the south east in the as having the opportunity to catch up early hours of Tuesday, June 18. with old friends, take in the sea views The annual event enables the and grab an ice cream. veterans to spend time with their The Taxi Charity offers friends and enjoy seaside favourites, international trips to Holland, fish and chips and ice cream.

Belgium and France, day trips to This year’s outing was only a week concerts or museums, transport to after many of the veterans visited attend fundraising events, as well Normandy with the charity to mark as special days out to catch up with the 75th anniversary of D Day. friends and comrades.

Graham Pike, one of the London To fund and facilitate these outings, cabbies taking part, and a Taxi the charity is wholly reliant on Charity committee member, said: generous donations from members of “Our annual Worthing trip is the public, businesses and trusts and something we look forward to all year. the amazing group of London licensed It’s a pleasure to treat these ladies and taxi drivers who offer their time and gents to a trip to the seaside as a way vehicles for free. of saying ‘thank you’ for all they’ve To find out more about the charity, done for us.” to volunteer or to donate visit the After a pit stop at South Holmwood website www.taxicharity.org.

Ban on Tyres ‘More Than Ten Years Old’ Considered GOVERNMENT A consultation which could lead to a ban on tyres more than 10 years being introduced on some larger vehicles has been launched.

Vehicles which would be affected include buses, coaches, lorries, and minibuses but minicabs and taxi are also being considered.

If the proposal is accepted the law could be introduced by early 2020.

Announcing the consultation, Road Safety Minister Michael Ellis said: “Our priority is keeping people safe on our roads, and we are taking action to reduce the number of people killed or injured.

“There is increasing evidence that age affects the safety of tyres, which is why I think older tyres should not be used on large vehicles.

“I would like to thank Frances Molloy and the Tyred campaign for their work raising this important issue – the changes we are consulting on could save lives.”

Frances Molloy has been campaigning for safer tyres since her son Michael died along with two other people in a

Michael Ellis MP

coach crash which happened as a result of a 19-year-old tyre.

She has collaborated with the Tyred campaign to push for a change in the law. The dangers of older car tyres are accelerated wear, potential tears, punctures or baldness.

Dangerous and illegal tyres can reduce grip, increase stopping distances and exaggerate several different errors.

Motorists risk a £2,500 fine and three penalty points if they drive with a worn tyre.

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@TheLTDA

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9 July 2019

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Meg gets a fright when a pony-sized dog invites himself in the house during a heatwave

“WE ARE DOG PEOPLE”

MUSHER MEG

LICENSED TO CHAT

Mr Meg certainly knew she was there, because at 3am on the first night of her stay the cat climbed onto the side of his sleeping head…… ere at Meg Towers we are a family of and did a pee-pee in his ear. He woke up with a dog lovers. We had a border collie for start took a swipe at what was on his head, and many years who was without doubt the the cat clung on leaving claw holes in Mr Meg’s most intelligent male in our house. scalp. After that episode Mr Meg vowed, “no Mr Meg loved that dog more than me. One more cats. We are dog people!” morning at breakfast while I was busy reading Which brings us to the hottest day of the year my horoscope in the newspaper Mr Meg a couple of weeks ago. Trying to cool down the asked, “shall we go away somewhere nice next house I had the casement windows at the front weekend?” I looked up and quickly replied open, along the patio doors at the back, to get “yes!” and saw that Mr Meg was speaking to a nice breeze through. Still the house was like a the dog, not me. He had found a farm in North furnace. I was pottering around in the kitchen Wales that offered dog fun activity weekends and and stepped out into the hallway holding a was planning a trip - just the two of them. laundry basket. And there was a pony The dog is now in doggy heaven, but Mr Meg stood at the bottom of the stairs. frequently comes over all nostalgic and starts a My first thought was that sentence with, “do you remember when we….” because of the intense heat Whatever sweet memory he is recalling will be a and possible dehydration I was six legged one; him and the dog. having my first ever hallucination.

Cats are not us. We once looked after a cat And then the ‘pony’ growled. I wiped the while its owner was in hospital. The cat was perspiration from my eyes and saw it was called Juicy and her owner, who was fretting a dog, a sort of husky, that was stood about leaving her for the first time ever, begged in my downstairs hall. I am five us to let her sleep on our bed. “You won’t even feet nine inches and this thing know she’s there” she promised. was close to my waist height.

H

“And there was a pony stood at the bottom of the stairs...”

I took a step back. It took a step forward and this continued until I reached my utility room and slammed the bifold door shut.

I was locked into a room the size of a cupboard with the snout of a strange and unhappy dog pressed against it on the other side.

I was trapped in there for two hours until I finally heard Mr Meg’s key in the lock and the front door opening. “WHOAH!” he shouted.

“Call the police!” The fire brigade!

Call anybody! I’ve been stuck in here for almost….” I yelled.

“No worries, I’ll call Dave and tell him Pompom’s here” said Mr Meg. I peeped out and saw Pompom on his hind legs slobbering licky kisses all over Mr Meg’s face.

“I’m fine, thanks for asking” I grumbled. My sarcasm going unnoticed.

Dave came to collect his roam free husky and gave me a telling off as he left.

“You shouldn’t leave your windows open, you know. Dogs could hurt themselves climbing in.”

I smiled sweetly but was growling inside. u

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@TheLTDA

DIARY PRIZE

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ALL 4 ONE BONUS FOR LTDA MEMBERS

ith summer finally here and heatwaves on the way it might be time to invest in some new clobber. And what better way to enjoy shopping than with a free ÂŁ150 gift card from the LTDA. Our diary spotters love to get out with goodies for members, come rain or shine. This week they caught up with Les Garland, who was delighted when our spotters surprised him with a ÂŁ150 All 4 One gift card just for having his LTDA diary on show in the windscreen of his cab.

All 4 One cards can be spent on a huge array of items in dozens of stores,

Les: “Fantastic.�

including Debenhams, Argos, River Island and Marks and Spencer.

Les said: “Fantastic. One of my mates got one of these but I never thought it would be me – thanks.�

Our spotters also caught up with Abdisalan Ali, who was over them moon to be handed a ÂŁ150 gift card, saying: “Great. That’s made my evening.â€?

Each year we give away almost ÂŁ8,000 to LTDA members, so the odds of coming up trumps are pretty good. Just make sure you have your LTDA membership diary on display and let us do the rest.

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PUZZLER

C

PRIZE CROSSWORD omplete our crossword puzzle and be in with a chance to win £50! Send your entry to: Crossword 447, Taxi, Taxi House, 11 Woodfield Road, W9 2BA before August 9. The first name out of the proverbial hat wins the cash! u

ACROSS:

DOWN:

7 Apprehend (6)

1 Desk compartment (6)

8 Sequence (6)

2 Ethereal (4)

9 Swing (4)

3 Adhesive label (7)

10 Force (8)

4 Guide (5)

11 Issue (7)

5 Seat (8)

13 Relish (5)

6 Courageous (6)

15 Rap (5)

12 Scenery (8)

17 Confidentialty (7)

14 Faculty head’s home (7)

20 Tiny amount (8)

16 Grey cloud (6)

21 At distance (4)

18 A tie (6)

22 Extinguish (3, 3)

19 God (5)

23 Call back (6)

21 Assistant (4)

PUZZLER SUDOKU Just for fun...

CROSSWORD #447

WINNER: ISSUE 445 — B Clay, Dagenham ACROSS: 7 Collie, 8 Larder, 9 Arty, 10 Vineyard, 11 Current, 13 Order, 15 Islet, 17 Flyfish, 20 Eternity, 21 Arms, 23 Placid, 24 Upbeat

Have a go at this medium level Sudoku puzzle.

Fill the grid so that every row, every column and every 3x3 box contains the numbers 1-9 just once

OVERHEARD

T

Puzzles © 2018 Puzzler Media Ltd.www.puzzler.com

DOWN: 1 Tour, 2 Player, 3 Servant, 4 Along, 5 Prayer, 6 Peerless, 12 Unsettle, 14 Playful, 16 Enrich, 18 Flabby, 19 Tilde, 22 Mean

he BBC has Master Chef. If they ever have Messed-Up Chef my wife would be the outright winner. In our case, home is where heartburn is. Her Hungarian goulash tastes liked it was made from real Hungarians.

When she cooks chicken it’s fowl play. Yesterday she served tossed salad. It was so bad, I tossed it back at her It was supposed to be Caesar salad but tasted like it was prepared by Brutus. Her fish fingers are all thumbs and her alphabet soup takes ages because she cooks one letter at a time. And she serves it the Hebrew way, so it reads from right to left. For breakfast she gives me a choice of porridge or poached egg.

The trouble is I can never tell which is which. I like my coffee weak. She serves it helpless. And as for her biscuits, she could sell her recipe to a cement company. Worst time was when we invited our neighbours over for a meal. The poor

couple didn’t know what to force down first.

They wanted wine to drown the taste, but my wife and I are tea-total. The only bottle of red in our house is the ketchup. If you knew sushi like I know sushi, you would wouldn’t recognise the way my wife serves it. I never eat her cured ham.

I’m always afraid it’ll have a relapse. She once bought a Porterhouse steak and the instructions were to cook till tender. We ended up eating it through a straw. Even then, it tasted odd. I asked if the steak had been garnished. She said “Garnished? I thought it said varnished.” My wife hates cookbooks. She actually threw one in the bin because every recipe started with “take a clean dish…” I complained so much she’s recently resorted to buying ready-made meals.

In fact, it’s now just one canned thing after another. This morning I asked what we’re having for supper. She said “I don’t know. The label fell off the can.” Despite everything I’ve said, I will always be in favour of home cooking. As long, as it’s not my home and my wife cooking. u —Brad Ashton

40

www.ltda.co.uk ||||

TAXI |||| 9 July 2019

WHO ARE UTAG? UTAG is a unified collaboration between Drivers & Supplying stakeholders of the Taxi Trade.

United Trade Action Group Ltd ‘UTAG’ has been formed to manage the legal process and action against Westminster Magistrates Court, Transport for London and Uber. We are in the process of raising funds to pay for these legal challenges to save the Licensed Taxi. On 2nd November 2018, we were granted a judicial review by Hon Justice Walker, but there is much more to do.

WE NEED EACH AND EVERY DRIVER TO CONTRIBUTE TOWARDS THE LEGAL BATTLES. YOUR SUPPORT IS ESSENTIAL.

UNITE IN THE FIGHT!

Please join the fight and donate here. It’s now or never.

www.uTAG.LONDON UTAG is a reference to United Trade Action Group Ltd

@TheLTDA

@TheLTDA

|||| www.ltda.co.uk

9 July 2019

|||| TAXI

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www.ltda.co.uk ||||

TAXI |||| 9 July 2019

@TheLTDA

CRICKLEWOOD CARRIERS CAB COMPANY LTD London’s finest, oldest establishment black cab rental and repair garage 0208 452 5461

Midland Arches, Edgware Road, London, NW2 6NJ

Are you struggling with your overhauls?

Nobody knows your black cab better than us

● ● ●

Body repair Full Body Respray Rust Repair

● ● ●

Dents Scuffs Scratches

● ● ●

Mechanical Repair Panel Beatings Fault / Non Fault Crash Repair

www.cricklewoodcarriers.co.uk

LTDA

A selection of our numerous

Distribution Points

u A1 Taxis, Melody Lane, Highbury, N5 u Abacus Accounts, Southbrook Road, Lee, SE12 u Astral Café, Regency Place, SW1 u Bubbles Car Wash, E2 u C & S Taxis, Dunbridge Street, E2 u Cabsurance, Seven Kings u Camberfield Taxi Services u Computer Cab, Mitre Way, W12 u Coney Allen, Dunbridge Street, E1 u CP Beehive Service Station, Beehive Lane, Gants Hill u Cricklewood Carriers, Cricklewood u Dial A Cab, City Road, N1 u Edgware Station Rank u Euston Station Rank u G & L Taxis, Crayford Road, N7 u Globe Transmissions, Cudworth Street, E1 u The Ham, Brentford u Heathrow Airport Canteen u Hexagon Garage, Lukin Street, E1 u Jet Garage, Clipstone Street, W1 u Knowledge Centre, Caledonian Road u KPM, Hemming Street, E1 u London City Airport Canteen u LP Motors, Dunbridge Street, E2 u Martin Cordell, E3 and Stanmore u Paddington Station Rank u Putney Bridge Taxis, The Arches, Putney Bridge Station, SW6 u Richmond Road Taxi Centre, E8 u Safewise Supermarket, Harrow u South Bank Service Station, Great Suffolk Street, SE1 u TAXI HOUSE, W9 u Taxi & Private Hire, Blackfriars Rd, SE1 u Temple Place Shelter u Tent Street Taxi Centre, E2 u Turbo Accessories, Three Colts Lane, E2 u Waterloo Station u Wimbledon Station Rank u WizAnn Knowledge School, Watts Grove, E3

Published by LTDA Taxi House 11 Woodfield Road, London W9 2BA T: 020 7286 1046 | www.ltda.co.uk @TheLTDA Managing Editor Steve Still T: 0207 121 0523 E: editor@ltda.co.uk The Massett File Richard Massett International News Wim Faber Two Fingers Al Fresco Taxi Talk Alf Townsend Overheard Brad Ashton Licensed to Chat Musher Meg Produced by Century One Publishing Ltd Alban Row,27-31 Verulam Road St Albans, Hertfordshire, AL3 4DG. T: 01727 893 894, F: 01727 893 895 E: enquiries@centuryonepublishing.uk www.centuryonepublishing.uk Advertising Sales Executive Jack Green T: 01727 739 196 E: jack@centuryonepublishing.uk Art Editor Alan Booth Advert Coordinator Caitlyn Hobbs Printed by Manson Group, St Albans

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted by any means electronic, mechanical or by photocopying without prior permission of the publishers. The views and opinions expressed in this publication may not necessarily be those of the publishers. Please note that the last day for inclusion of Classified lineage advertisements is five working days prior to publication.

No liability is accepted by the publisher should advertisements not appear in the requested issue(s). While the publisher will take every care to ensure accuracy, no liability can be accepted for loss or damage resulting from errors.

COLTS CABS LTD 020 7613 0684

●

020 7613 0630

100-102 DUNBRIDGE STREET LONDON E2 6JG

@TheLTDA

|||| www.ltda.co.uk

9 July 2019 |||| TAXI

THE BIG 40 ONE!

The membership of the LTDA is times greater than some other driver organisations!

CAUTION The LTDA legal service is the only trade scheme which defends members for ALL alleged offences (traffic, hackney or criminal), anytime, anywhere in the UK. Non members are advised to check carefully the exceptions and exclusions contained or imposed by other legal protection schemes circulating in our trade.

HERE’S WHY...

BADGESAFE SCHEME The LTDA retains experienced barristers with specialist knowledge of the London cab trade. Normally when drivers accumulate 12 points on their licence they receive an automatic 6 month ban, but in the case of LTDA members over 90% of those represented by our barristers receive a ban of just 1 month or in most cases no ban whatsoever.

EXPERTISE = SUCCESS The LTDA’s in-house lawyers are proud of their unrivalled record of court triumphs; in fact the rate of acquittals for members defended in court by the LTDA is 4 times higher than the national average. This unparalleled level of success is due entirely to the expertise acquired by the LTDA over many years of specialising in cab related legal matters.

YOUR FUTURE The LTDA remains the only trade body resolutely opposed to the computerisation of the Knowledge of London testing system.

(No to the quickie Knowledge campaign).

SICKNESS AND ACCIDENT PROTECTION When trouble strikes it’s comforting to know that you’ve got the strength of the LTDA around you. (Additional subscription payable).

LTDA HOLIDAY CLUB Many members have saved thousands of pounds by taking advantage of special offers and prices (members only).

WIN £5,000 EVERY MONTH IN THE LTDA LOTTERY 12 big prizes every year, but you have to be in it to win it (members only £5 per entry).

HEATHROW OFFICE AND REPRESENTATION Call in to the LTDA office at Heathrow, first door on the right in the canteen block. The LTDA’s representatives will give you a warm welcome. (Open to all).

WELFARE DEPARTMENT LTDA officers make home visits to members who are in severe distress or with special needs and authorise contingency payments where appropriate.

RANKS AND HIGHWAYS REPRESENTATION The LTDA has negotiated taxi access to most bus lanes and leads the way negotiating on issues that affect you, the licensed taxi driver.

GENERAL ADVICE If you are new to the trade and you don’t know your `roader’ from your `legal’, give us a call. We’re always here to help. (Tel: 020 7286 1046 - non members are welcome to call).

24 HOUR TOUT LINE Seen a tout in action? Take the details and phone them in, we will do the rest.

(Tel: 020 7266 4769).

VEHICLE MANUFACTURERS Continually representing members’ interests in disputes with vehicle manufacturers and suppliers.

AUTHORITIES AND MEDIA The LTDA is the largest and most respected driver organisation in the trade. We lead the way when negotiating with the Government, GLA, TfL, Police, Mayor’s Office, Heathrow, Rail Authorities, Local Councils and when dealing with all sections of the media.

MEDICAL ASSISTANCE Many cab drivers are discovering to their cost that their licences are at risk due to the TfL’s interpretation of the new DVLA Group 2 Medical Standards. The LTDA has successfully challenged many decisions by the TfL to revoke members’ licences on medical grounds.

FANTASTIC VALUE LTDA subscriptions have not increased for 20 years! It costs just 4 quid a week to join the trade’s biggest organisation and 3 quid of that is tax deductible!

(Payable monthly).

HEALTH AND SPORTS PROMOTION We regularly run promotions with leading health and sports companies resulting in big savings to members.

LEISURE DISCOUNTS Huge savings on weekend breaks at fine hotels and holiday centres. You will not believe these prices! (Members only).

To learn more about LTDA benefits and current joining offers

call: 020 7286 1046 or visit www.ltda.co.uk

43

44

www.ltda.co.uk ||||

TAXI |||| 9 July 2019

@TheLTDA

CLASSIFIED

ACCOUNTANTS

CABS FOR RENT

Brown’s Taxis

07957 465423

CABS TO RENT

e16-taxirentals.co.uk

(Mitcham Based) ‘03 Reg to ‘19 Reg 24-Hour AA Recovery • Spare cab available

Call Danny on

0203 673 4819

TX4s TO RENT Ascott's maintained.

Pay by cash/bank/online.

Mercs also available

or (M) 07956 463040

G&H_Eighth_366.qxp_Layout 1 11/04/2016 15:02 Page 1 CABS FORNEWRENT

G&H TAXIS FLEET RENTAL Established 1993 Est

25

years

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BEAT THE RECESSION! TX4's for HIRE Fuel-Saving LPG Taxis from £185 per week

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CALL US NOW 07946 110815 / 020 8885 1844 WEB: www.gandhtaxis.comEMAIL: gandhtaxisfleet@aol.com

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Please call

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CABS FOR RENT

TAXI STILL WAITING FOR ULEZ DECOMMISSIONING MONEY? PLATED CABS BOUGHT WITH OR WITHOUT FINANCE.

CALL: 07738 162 518

INSURANCE

GAP INSURANCE

PURCHASED A NEW TAXI? AVOID ANY POTENTIAL SHORTFALL IN YOUR FINANCE FOLLOWING A TOTAL LOSS CLAIM

0208 597 2622 CABSURANCE AUTHORISED & REGULATED BY THE FINANCIAL CONDUCT AUTHORITY

07799 113046

CENTURY ONE PUBLISHING

IS THE UK’S BRIGHTEST

AWARD-WINNING CONTRACT PUBLISHING

AND ADVERTISING SALES AGENCY. To plan your ad campaign in Taxi magazine contact:

Jack Green

t: 01727 739 196 e: jack@centuryonepublishing.uk w: www.centuryonepublishing.uk

@TheLTDA

|||| www.ltda.co.uk

9 July 2019 |||| TAXI

45

CLASSIFIED

CABS FOR RENT

DRIVER APPS

BOOK YOUR CLASSIFIED AD BOOKING DEADLINE 16TH JULY 2019

See your advertisement here TAXI is the membership magazine for the Licensed Taxi Drivers’ Association (LTDA).

It is circulated to 15,000 taxi drivers in London every fortnight.

The LTDA is the definitive voice of and for London cab drivers and is responsible for ensuring best practise in the trade, making sure its members’ voices are heard and serving members with the back up and support they need.

Get in touch To see your advertisement in the leading magazine for black cab drivers in London contact us today: Jack Green Jack@centuryonepublishing.uk 01727 739 196

46

www.ltda.co.uk ||||

TAXI |||| 9 July 2019

@TheLTDA

LINAGE ACCOUNTANTS ● CHARTERED ACCOUNTANTS specialising in the taxi trade.

Accounts and tax returns £312inc VAT. Call 0208 360 1446

AIR CONDITIONING ● MOBILE AUTO AIR conditioning service and repair for taxis, Telephone Nick on 07785900006 7 days

CABS FOR RENT ● TXIIs/TX4s, ROMFORD BASED, from £175pw, 24-hour backup, own garage, body shop, 01708 347288/07715 512263

● VNK MOTORS -TXIIs & TX4s for rent, from £170pw - £225pw.

Full back up, Caledonia Road, North London area, breakdown service, overhauls, running repairs & body work. 0207 700 1045 or 07951 661430 – Nick.

Looking for a taxi mechanic.

CABS WANTED

● ALL DE-LICENSED TXIIs/TX4s wanted. Instant decision, cash paid. We come to you. Tel: 07973 335739 or 01253 407500 ● ALL CABS WANTED, WE come to you, top prices paid, cash/ bank transfer, instant decision, finance settled, nonrunners or sell & rent back, Taxis available to rent. call 07956 317300

● GOOD, CLEAN TXIs & TXIIs wanted, top prices paid, quick viewing, North London based, Graham- 07435 562759 oldlondontaxis@yahoo.co.uk

● QUALITY De-commissioned TX4s wanted. Top prices given. Green badge driver. 07440 558127

● GOOD QUALITY de-commissioned & Euro 6 TX4s required. Top prices guaranteed. 075662 25156

● ALL CABS WANTED. WE come to you. Any condition quick decision. Instant cash paid.

07763 699767.

● DE-LICENSED TX4 CABS required. Best price paid. We collect, cash or transfer. Tony, Liverpool. 07919 401622 & John 07702 554934 ● PLATED TXII, 04/05 WANTED. To see out until retirement. Top price paid. Contact Mike 07710 861702 ● ALL LONDON TX4s wanted, Euro 4, 5, & 6. Immediate payment. Finance, Lease, and HP settled. We collect. No fuss.

07428 545400

DRIVERS WANTED ● CAB SHARE, EVERY OTHER week. Garage in Bow. Call 0208 981 2419 & ask for Darren.

PLACE YOUR LINAGE BY WEDNESDAY JULY 17TH FOR TAXI 448 UP TO 15 WORDS: £35

UP TO 25 WORDS: £45 UP TO 35 WORDS: £55

CALL JACK ON 01727 739 196

@TheLTDA

|||| www.ltda.co.uk

9 July 2019

|||| TAXI

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