Taxi #450

LTDA The newspaper of the Licensed Taxi Drivers’ Association www.ltda.co.uk @TheLTDA #450 20 August 2019

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Mayor Must Punish Uber, MP says p7

Uber Posts Its Biggest Ever Losses

“Boris, Let TfL Cap Minicab Numbers” LTDA urges the PM to keep his vow, and change the law

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TAXI |||| 20 August 2019

Mayor Must Punish Uber, MP says TRADE A Labour MP has called on the mayor to take decisive action against Uber following its latest fine.

Wes Streeting MP said that the app company’s status as a “fit and proper operator” has been called into serious doubt following the fine for two counts of permitting no insurance and failing to keep accurate records.

Uber pleaded guilty to the offences at Westminster Magistrates’ Court after two of its drivers were found without insurance during routine checks by TfL compliance officers.

The £28,000 penalty comes at an awkward time for the company, which is due to have its probationary licence considered next month.

It also emerged that a global investor rights law firm is investigating potential securities claims on behalf of shareholders of Uber. The probe results from allegations that the firm may have issued materially misleading business information to the investing public.

After exclusively revealing Uber’s fine in TAXI this month, LTDA General Secretary Steve McNamara wrote to London Mayor Sadiq Khan urging him to revoke its temporary licence.

Mr Streeting has joined the growing

Sadiq Khan

calls for the mayor to take decisive action against the company.

The chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Taxis and Labour MP for Ilford North, said: “This is just the latest example of Uber flouting the rules of the road that everyone else is expected to abide by.

“Once again Uber’s status as a “fit and proper operator” is called into serious question. The mayor and TfL must act.”

Uber rise has appeared to hit the buffers, and earlier this month it announced that it was laying 400 people from the communications

Wes Streeting MP

team to save money and streamline the business. Just three months after going public at $45 per share, Uber reported losing $5.24 billion in one quarter, and revenue of $2.87 billion, against analyst expectations of $3.05 billion (full story, P7).

The law firm Rosen is preparing a class action lawsuit to recover losses suffered by Uber investors.

When it was handed a 14-month temporary licence last year Uber said it had changed and promised “total compliance,” but this has been called into question numerous times since.

A decision on whether to relicense the company at the end of next month.

@TheLTDA

NEWS IN BRIEF

Boris may drop third runway plan Boris Johnson could abandon plans for a third runway at Heathrow Airport, Grant Shapps the new transport secretary, has said. He claimed it was unclear whether the project “stacked up” despite the project winning overwhelming backing from MPs. The Prime Minister had strongly opposed the project and vowed to lie down “in front of those bulldozers” to stop its construction when he was elected as MP for South Uxbridge and Ruislip in 2015. Mr Johnson, when serving as Foreign Secretary last year, was heavily criticised for missing the Heathrow vote while in Afghanistan.

When asked what the new Government’s position was on the £14bn runway, Mr Shapps said: “There are questions about whether the whole plan stacks up.

“This is privately funded. They’re going to need to make sure they bring in enough income to justify the billions of pounds spent on it, that’s something that we’ll be taking a really, really close look at, I certainly will as the new Transport Secretary.”

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20 August 2019 |||| TAXI

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The LTDA has written to the new PM to urge him to keep the vow he made as mayor to cap minicabs

STEVE MCNAMARA

HAVE YOU THE GUTS TO CHANGE THE LAW BOJO?

TOP TRADE STORY

B

ack in 2015 when Boris was Mayor of London, he was very vociferous in calling on the then Prime Minister, David Cameron, to give him the powers to regulate the number of private hire vehicles operating in London. His words at the time were that Parliament should “have the guts to change the law”.

Fast forward to 2019 and Boris now has the top job and with it the power to bring forward the legislation he argued so strongly in favour of. In recent months virtually no parliamentary business has been conducted as the system is totally occupied with all things Brexit. The initial weeks of Boris’s premiership will be no different, but I thought a gentle reminder of the problems the inability to cap PHV numbers caused him, and is currently causing his successor, Sadiq Khan, was in order. So, I have written to him, urging him to act now to curb the problem which is affecting efforts to clean up London’s air and causing major traffic issues across the city. A similar cap was successfully introduced in New York, which suffers from similar problems to London. This not a party political issue but it is one of utmost importance. The number of private hire vehicles has soared from 60,000 in 2011 to more than 114,000 today and growth at this rate is unsustainable and the only answer is for Boris to give TfL and the mayor the power to act.

The Rt Hon. Boris Johnson MP Leader of the Conservative Party and Prime Minister of the United Kingdom 10 Downing Street London SW1A 2AA 6 August 2019 Dear Prime Minister, On behalf of the Licensed Taxi Drivers’ Association (LTDA), I am writing to congratulate you on your appointment as Leader of the Conservative Party and Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, and express my enthusiasm for working with you again on all matters relevant to the taxi trade.

During your time as Mayor of London, you called on the government to give you the power to cap the number of Private Hire Vehicles (PHVs) due to the impact of Uber’s arrival in the capital. You said at the time that “we must be able to take action against the threat posed by the massive increase we are seeing in the number of private hire vehicles”. Since your call for legislation in 2015, the numbers have only increased further by 39.3% leading to gridlock on London’s streets.

You also rightly criticised the regulatory regime and the ability of Uber to illegally ply for hire, saying “the [Uber] app is allowing private hire vehicles to behave like black taxis: to be hailed, to ply for hire in the streets”, calling for Parliament to have “the guts to change the law.”

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.

All Change at the Top

Now as Prime Minister you have the power to introduce this legislation and fulfil the promises you made to Londoners.

In recent years, we have been proud to work closely with the Department for Transport on the issue of national taxi and private hire licensing laws. The LTDA sat on the independent Task and Finish Group on Taxi and Private Hire Licensing, which published a series of recommendations to government on the measures needed to strengthen outdated national taxi and private hire regulation. The recommendations included definitions of plying for hire and cross border hiring, as well as the power for the cities across the UK to cap the number of private hire vehicles operating on their streets.

Earlier this year, we were pleased to see the Government commit to introducing new legislation, but were extremely disappointed to see a select few recommendations carried forward, and none that would have any impact on passenger safety, the environment and congestion in London.

As Prime Minister, Theresa May ducked the issue facing the trade. We ask that you honour your previous calls on Government and bring forward a comprehensive piece of legislation when Parliament returns from Summer Recess.

Yours sincerely,

Steve McNamara General Secretary, The Licensed Taxi Drivers’ Association

Uber Predators Still at Large

I was over at City Hall last week to meet with Deputy Mayor for Transport, Heidi Alexander, and TfL Commissioner, Mike Brown. I asked for an update on a letter I wrote to Heidi back in July about repeated incidents of Uber drivers borrowing other drivers’ log-in details to carry out horrific sexual assaults against young women whilst evading accountability. I stressed that, if

Grant Shapps MP

Heidi Alexander

Uber continues to operate in any capacity, TfL must introduce biometric log-in details as a licensing condition for Uber drivers to deter opportunistic predators. The LTDA takes the safety of both drivers and passengers extremely seriously and I am eager that City Hall and TfL fully take into account the high levels of sexual offences perpetrated by Uber drivers in advance of their re-licensing decision in September.

Following the appointment of new Transport Secretary Grant Shapps MP, there has been another power shake up at the Department for Transport. Transport Minister Baroness Vere has taken over responsibility for taxis from Minister Nusrat Ghani MP, who will now be focussing on her maritime brief. Vere was previously and briefly Aviation Minister and has spent most of her political career as a Government whip, meaning she has been unable to comment freely on transport issues, including those facing the taxi trade in London.

I’m sure many of you will be wondering what this means for our relationship with the Government and its plans to reform taxi and private hire regulation, given that Nusrat worked closely with the trade and threw her weight behind our calls on Government to introduce new licensing laws. While Baroness Vere is new to the brief, I’ve been reassured by civil servants within the department that she is eager to get going and is getting up to speed on the commitments Nusrat made ahead of Parliament returning to Westminster in September. u

Steve McNamara is the LTDA’s General Secretary

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TAXI |||| 20 August 2019

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To join, call Paula today on 020 7286 1046 or email paula@ltda.co.uk Alternatively, call in at Taxi House and pick up an application form or download it from: www.ltda.co.uk POLICY CONDITIONS: Claims for Back/Depression related illnesses have a reduced benefit of £90 per week. 14 day deferment period before claim payments start. Maximum period for which weekly benefit is payable to 26 weeks. The age limit for joining Platinum is 49 years and for the Gold is 54 years. You are covered up to your 65th Birthday. (subject to terms & conditions).

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20 August 2019 |||| TAXI

Stansted Airport Driver Speeding Lie Unravels COURT A Stansted airport private hire driver and his wife have been convicted of perverting the course of justice after she falsely admitted speeding offences to stop him being disqualified.

George and Helen Kourti, of Osidge Lane, Southgate, received suspended jail times after being caught trying to cheat the system.

The pair admitted two counts of perverting the course of justice and were also ordered to pay £200 in court costs and a £115 victim surge at Basildon Crown Court on Thursday, August 1.

Police officers were alerted to two separate speed camera activations in Essex last year – one on January 9 on the M25 in Epping and another on September 24 on the A120 in Takely.

On both occasions vehicles registered to a private hire firm based at Stansted Airport was found to be speeding and the company nominated George Kourti as the driver on each occasion.

Helen Kourti then nominated

herself as the driver. She completed a speed awareness course for one offence and accepted points and a fine for the other.

Investigating officer Roy Keyes, of Essex Police’s Road Crime Team, said: “Following an investigation, we found Helen Kourti had falsely admitted being the driver of the vehicles at the time of the offences to help her husband avoid disqualification.

“Her husband had nine points on his licence and had already completed a speed awareness course before these speed activations occurred, meaning he would have been banned for a period of time.

Door Accident Killed Professor COURT A professor of genetics was killed when her bike was forced to swerve into the path of a taxi by a van driver who opened his door without looking, a coroner’s court heard.

Maria Bitner-Glindzicz [above], died from injuries sustained in the accident which took place at around 11.30am on September 19 on St John Street, Clerkenwell, London.

The 55-year-old fell under the wheels of a London taxi and died the following day in hospital.

Recording a narrative verdict, senior coroner Mary Hassell said: “She was cycling in a safe and steady manner wearing a helmet and fluorescent strap.

Her bike was in good condition.

“A van driver had parked his vehicle far from the kerb. This created a hazard and meant less space in the road.

“The van driver didn’t look before opening the driver’s door sharply.

The result was either that Professor Bitner-Glindzicz has to swerve suddenly, or that she was sideswiped.

“In either event, the opening of the door caused her to fall under the wheels of a black cab overtaking.

The 43-year-old van driver was charged with opening a car door, or causing or permitting it to be opened, so as to cause injury, an offence punishable with a maximum fine of £1,000, in April.

He died in his sleep two days before he was due to appear at Highbury Corner Magistrates’ Court.

“Their lies have made the situation even worse and both have been convicted of serious offences.

“This case highlights that if you lie on the notices that we send you, we will investigate and bring you to court.”

George Kourti, 52, received a four month prison term, suspended for 12 months, and was disqualified from driving for six months. He was ordered to complete 200 hours unpaid work.

Helen Kourti, 51, was given four months in prison, suspended for 12 months, and was ordered to complete 25 rehabilitation days.

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NEWS IN BRIEF Fare Evasion Worst on ‘Boris’ Buses Fare dodging on ‘Boris’ Buses is more than twice as high as the rest of the network as a whole. The crime left Transport for London at least £3.6 million out of pocket last year, according to analysis of the transport network.

Routemaster style buses date from the prime minister’s time London mayor and allow passengers to tap in at any of three entrances.

TfL is now trialling single-door entry, which will see customers tap in at the front door only, as on other buses.

The new system has started on the route 8 and N8 service from Bow Church to Tottenham Court Road.

If successful it will be extended to all Routemaster buses in future.

‘Boris’ Buses make up 11% of the bus network, with 1,000 of the 9,000-strong bus fleet now his design.

They have caused disproportionate 4% of lost revenue across all TfL services in 2017/18 – including Tube, Overground and other rail services.

The buses previously faced criticism when the lack of air-conditioning subjected passengers to sweltering temperatures of 30°C and higher.

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TAXI |||| 20 August 2019

@TheLTDA

Our LTDA members’ workshops are proving popular, why not put your name down and give one a try?

RICHARD MASSETT

HELP DRIVE THE TRADE FORWARD

THE MASSETT FILE

T

he next in our series of members’ workshops has been booked for 10am on September 24 at Woburn House, Tavistock Square WC1.

Everybody is invited to attend, although it is by appointment only. We particularly want to attract people who previously were not keen on attending one of the old-style branch meetings. We also want the group to reflect the current make up of our very diverse membership, in terms of race, religion and gender. To help us achieve this goal the meetings will not be held at night, in a pub, but will take place during the day in a comfortable central London venue. The previous workshops have all been well received with almost uniformly positive comments recorded in the questionnaires that have been passed around at the close of play.

The subjects discussed have been wide ranging and informative, covering such subjects as ZEC taxis, low emission zones, the mayor’s transport strategy, taxi age limits, the LTDA’s move and a discussion on the trade being obsessed with Uber, when it should concentrating on our positives rather than all the usual doom and gloom. This time, the floor will be open for any subject and hopefully this will bring out fresh ideas to drive the trade forward.

The meeting will be chaired by one of the LTDA

executives with other members of the committee present who will play a full part in the discussions. Again, it will be held in a business-like round table setting where everyone one who attends will be encouraged to have their say rather than the event being dominated by one or two people with the loudest voices. We have also previously had guests from outside the trade who have a role to play within it.

So please do attend, if you would like to, all you need to do to register your interest is to call one of our friendly receptionists on 020 7286 1046 or email info@ltda.co.uk Attendance is limited to around 20 people so that the workshops can take place in the way they are intended, with everyone being able to be fully involved. If this meeting is oversubscribed then you will be put on the reserve list to cover members who may drop out. You will also be placed at the top of the list for our next meeting.

DI Drone Reporting for Duty

The Met is to be the first force to deploy a drone to police traffic in London. It will fly over the city targeting potentially serious cases of dangerous driving, in an effort to improve safety on our roads.

The Mayor’s Vision Zero policy aims to cut the causes of road deaths, as well as to drastically reduce the number of people driving. The target is to reduce road deaths across London to nil by 2041. However, anecdotally, there is much evidence to suggest that

driving standards have been declining rapidly over recent years. I, for one, certainly seem to see many more examples of reckless driving than I used to.

As well as the drone, the use of long-range cameras is also being rolled out by police forces across the country. These can spot examples of speeding and other offences from up to a kilometre away. In parts of France drones have been utilised to catch out dangerous drivers, with many offences detected and punished almost immediately by on the spot fines.

There are, of course, the more cynical amongst us that will claim that the use of new technology is all about raising money and fleecing hard pressed drivers.

I have sympathy with that view, but over recent years, with reductions in police budgets resulting in resources being spread evermore thinly, there has been a noticeable increase in the number of chancers out there who think nothing of putting the lives of innocent third parties at risk. So, while I agree that motorists have been targeted as easy prey to raise taxes, there is also an urgent need to raise enforcement levels to deter the reckless element out there, so that we can all feel more assured when using our roads. 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

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NEWS IN BRIEF

20 August 2019 |||| TAXI

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Uber Posts Biggest Ever Losses BUSINESS

Blackwall Blocked in Tunnel Protest Extinction Rebellion activists blocked part of the Blackwall Tunnel in protest over the controversial Silvertown Tunnel plans.

Demonstrators from the environmental campaign group unfurled a banner and blocked traffic on A102 slip road and the westbound A206 during the morning rush hour on Friday, August 9, causing serious tailbacks.

The £1 billion Silvertown Tunnel project, which is to be paid for with a Blackwall toll, is scheduled to be complete in six years.

Critics say it will increase pollution and have called on Mayor Sadiq Khan to axe the plan and fix the problems at Blackwall instead.

Greenwich Council is in favour of the new tunnel but Lewisham and Hackney are opposed to it.

Uber has posted its largest ever loss which rose to more than £5 billion in the last quarter.

It is yet another disappointing result for investors since its stock market debut in May. The minicab app revealed it made a net loss of $5.24 billion in its second quarter on revenues of $3.17b, causing shares to slide more than 11%.

Shareholders had been expecting revenues of $3.3b, with the 14% rise becoming the company’s smallest quarterly increase on record.

The net loss for the three months to the end of June is a significant jump from the $1 billion the 10-year-old company lost in its maiden firstquarter results.

The company’s stock market flotation in May was one of the biggest valuations in history, at as much as $120 billion.

The float was a major a disappointment, with shares falling 7.6% on its first day of trading to a market cap of $69.7 billion.

The shares have mostly to stay below its $45 float price and were priced at $38.09 recently.

Dara Khosrowshahi, chief executive, said of the results: “We think that 2019 will be our peak investment year and we

think that 2020, 2021, you’ll see losses come down,” adding: “No doubt in my mind that the business will eventually be a break-even and profitable business.”

The company has come under fire once again in London after it was fined £29,600 when two of its drivers were found to have no insurance.

The fine has prompted calls for the company to have its licence taken away once again when its temporary one comes up for renewal again next month.

The latest results add to concerns for investors that Uber may never be

FARE ENOUGH

profitable, something the company itself has said was a possibility.

The rising losses are thought to be partly down the intense competition Uber faces in all service areas, including minicab operations and its food delivery unit.

Uber is having to pour huge amounts of money into each of these to stay ahead of rivals around the world.

Last month, Uber announced that it would cut its communications team by a third, making 400 redundancies in order to save cash.

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TAXI |||| 20 August 2019

@TheLTDA

News, view and updates for suburban drivers from in and around Greater London

STEVE HOWARD

BLURB FROM THE BURBS

SUBURBAN ROUNDUP

S

o, it starts again, the sun is out, the kids are on school holidays and everyone is scratching around for work, and all those drivers without air conditioning have been sweating, but we keep pushing on. My moan this month is about the new board game that local councils seem to have invented: Road Works Snakes and Ladders. I travel round nearly all the south west and south east suburbs and I don’t think I have ever seen so many temporary traffic lights and unattended roadworks in the middle of the day. In my area of Kingston, I’m convinced the council is trying to create a ring of road works deliberately to drive everybody out.

I understand some of the reasons, to get as much done in the school holidays, but really, it’s ridiculous!

Just one last observation, having read Keiran’s report out the new ViaVan buses (see below), something comes to mind. While we are being forced into buying new electric cabs, these new Go Buses are new diesel, is that right or fair Mr Mayor?

Sector 6 Sutton

The Go Sutton bus scheme is up and running, and it could be coming to a borough near you soon. Go Sutton is an initiative launched by the borough council, TfL and a Dutch company, ViaVan. Its aim is to reduce single car journeys within the Sutton area. It is accessed by a very easy to use app, which I must say is most efficient. I recently used the app to make five journeys within the borough and the average wait time was no more than five minutes.

Each time, I was the only passenger on a very smart, brand new Mercedes bus. The buses are both state of the art and fully wheelchair accessible. I’m told that the take up rate by the public is not very good, as the buses seem to run empty most of the time.

When you download the app, you need to register a payment card and a single journey costs £3.50. The system also allows payment

by OAP freedom passes but as of yet, not Oyster Cards. I understand this will be included later in the year.

One glaring hole in this system is that the pick-up and drop off can be 200 yards from where you are. Vulnerable passengers beware!

I spoke to the operations manager for Go Sutton and he stated that the buses operate on a first on first off policy. I cannot imagine how this works when you have a dozen passengers all going in different directions. He assures me that they will just send another bus as back up, but I have my doubts.

The other drawback would seem to be that, currently, they will not cross borough boundaries. When asked, the manager could

Sector 7

GET AROUND TOWN Enfield

1

Barnet Harrow

9

2

Haringey

Redbridge

Waltham Forest

Havering

Brent

Hillingdon

Newham

8

Barking & Dagenham

Ealing

Greenwich Hounslow

7

3 Bexley

Lewisham Richmond upon Thames Kingston upon Thames

Richmond and Twickenham Recently, we have had one or two small positive results. Firstly, a temporary feed has been authorised for Twickenham station at night. It’s sited outside No 12 Whitton Road for three cabs and in line of sight of the rank. This feed was courtesy of the Richmond Council and TfL, don’t abuse it, also we are told that the front area should be finished in October and November this year. Secondly, a new rank will be appearing in Chiswick, outside the Clayton Hotel in Power Road, in September, thanks to TfL’s perseverance. We are trying to get the permanent rank at Kew Gardens progressed.

Watch this space.

—Steve Howard

Merton

6 Sutton

1. Haringey, Enfield & Waltham Forest Declan Egar 2. Barking & Dagenham, Havering, Newham and Redbridge Andrew Kavanagh (Branch Chairman) 3. Bexley, Lewisham & Greenwich Vic Moore & Tony Ellis 4. Bromley Tony Manzi

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Sector 9

Bromley Croydon

4

5. Croydon Ronnie Ward 6. Sutton & Merton Kieran Brady 7. Hounslow, Richmond & Kingston-on-Thames Steve Howard 8. Ealing & Hillingdon Gary Scrannel 9. Brent, Harrow & Barnet Kevin Annand

not tell me if for instance, you wanted to go to Epsom, where you would be turfed out.

I’ve tried to book trips that just cross the borders, but the app simply says, “that journey is not available.”

On a slightly different tack, ViaVan has also had trouble recruiting drivers from the local bus companies. This maybe because there is no guarantee of a job when the trial ends. However, it does say that new buses will be ordered and more drivers recruited if the 12 month trial is a success and the scheme is made permanent.

One major moan from Sutton taxi drivers is that the buses use our ranks as waiting areas and can sit there for as long as 15 minutes.

For information, the journeys I undertook were… u Hackbridge station to St Helier Hospital u Rosehill to Albion Road u Sutton station to The Marsden u The Marsden to Sutton bus garage u Sutton bus garage to Worcester Road PS: Since making this report, the local drivers have been watching the frequency of the buses at the stop opposite the rank. Their have told me that eight out of 10 buses are totally empty.

—Keiran Brady

“My moan this month is about the new board game that local councils seem to have invented, “Road Works Snakes and Ladders...”

The LTDA has attended numerous meetings with TfL regarding taxi ranks. It’s great news that a new rank for two cabs has been implemented at Stanmore Orthopaedic Hospital with markings clearly showing it’s designated for taxi use. Many drivers are taking full advantage and getting some profitable work. When we get new ranks at locations, such as at a hospital, where there is a demand for London’s finest, we need to promote this and encourage drivers to use it to get it established. As an LTDA representative, I’m still trying get the North Harrow taxi rank reinstated, as the one we proposed in Station Road was rejected. There have been a lot of emails from TfL, the LTDA and Brent regarding the broken TV monitor in Brook Avenue, which acts as a feeder rank for Wembley Park station. We made progress with getting the monitor repaired but unfortunately the TV monitor has been destroyed. There will be an insurance claim to replace the monitor but the timescale for this is unknown.

The consultations for ranks in the sector are as follows…

Kilburn u To move the rank closer to the station entrance, and for Queen’s Park, to relocate the rank outside police station in Salisbury Road.

Barnet u There is a proposal to introduce a 10-metre rank for two taxis at Tesco, Ballard Lane, N3. u And another to extend the existing rank at Golders Green station by seven metres. u There is also a proposal to introduce a 10-metre rank outside the Tally Ho Pub in Ballard Lane, N12.

We will keep you updated on the results of the consultations in these pages.

—Kevin Annard and Rob Stone Just remember, be lucky and “keep those doors locked” (BKH). u

Steve Howard Suburban Branch Secretary and COM member

@TheLTDA

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20 August 2019 |||| TAXI

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TAXI |||| 20 August 2019

NEWS IN BRIEF Diesel Parking Surcharge for Older Cars Fixed Drivers of older diesel cars who want to park in the West End will now have to pay a 50% surcharge for the privilege.

The measure was brought in on a trial basis to tackle pollution but has now been made permanent.

An additional surcharge ranging from 85p to £2.45 per hour on top of normal parking fees applies under the scheme.

The most central locations attract the higher premium.

Pre-2015 diesels are being targeted because they are the heaviest polluters.

The Automobile Association (AA) says the measure is unfair and reinforces the suspicion that the move is just another way of swelling council coffers.

The confirmed earlier this year that it would be rolling out the scheme across the rest of the borough.

It is expected that journeys into central London by older and more polluting diesel vehicles could be cut by more than a quarter of a million.

@TheLTDA

Illegal e-scooters being mis-sold CRIME Shopkeepers selling e-scooters are routinely misleading customers about their use, it has emerged as groups have called for them to be legalised.

A study by LBC found that only two out of seven shops correctly told a mystery shopper that it is illegal to ride them on public roads in the UK. One shop worker even claimed that it would be okay to ride the £1,000 machines, some of which can travel up to 40mph, on the pavement as long as they were careful.

Both Hamleys and John Lewis have had to apologise after staff members appeared to give incorrect advice about the law surrounding riding the scooters.

The machines classified as Personal Light Electric Vehicles, and so are illegal to ride on the roads and pavements in the UK. If caught, riders can face a £300 fixed-penalty notice and six points on their driving licence.

Two people died after crashes involving either an e-scooter or electric skateboard last month. Also, in July a 14-year-old boy suffered a serious head injury after crashing into a bus stop in Beckenham.

London’s Walking and Cycling Commissioner, Will Norman, said: “E-scooters are currently illegal on London’s roads and pavements. And they are currently not safe – with no

restrictions on speeds, and no mandatory brakes and lights.

“It is clear that despite a recent fatality and serious collisions on London’s streets, a number of retailers are failing in their responsibility to ensure customers are aware of the law. In doing so, they are putting Londoners’ safety at risk.”

Police have continued to crackdown on people riding e-scooters, giving out warnings and in some cases confiscating the machines.

A think tank, Common Wealth, has released a paper called Away with All Cars which calls on the mayor to ban private cars from the centre of London by 230 and introduce other measures, including giving free access to public transport and e-scooters. Motoring groups have rubbished

the paper saying some people need cars, such as the disabled and elderly.

E-scooters have also been criticised for not being as environmentally friendly as they at first appear.

Traveling by scooter produces more greenhouse gas emissions per mile than traveling by bus, bicycle, moped or on foot, according to researchers at North Carolina State University.

A team discovered that while the scooters themselves were not particularly environmentally unfriendly, the materials it took to manufacture the frame, wheels and battery, as well as the companies’ efforts at the end of each day to round up the scooters, charge them and then return them to the streets, had significant impact when it came to greenhouse gas emissions.

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20 August 2019 |||| TAXI

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TAXI |||| 20 August 2019

@TheLTDA

‘Car free’ days are also earnings free for us, but TfL won’t like the bill that’s heading its way

LLOYD BALDWIN

OFF THE ROAD AGAIN!

ON POINT

T

he older I get the grumpier I am in the mornings, something I’m sure my family will attest to. It’s a known fact that men seem to be more curmudgeonly as they age but there’s no correlation between the general state of my life and the level of grouchiness; it’s the way it is. The things that get up my nose the most, apart from the Americanisation of language (fries versus chips) and my daily battles with technology, are TfL, traffic, cyclists and TfL. The latest ruse that caused the red mist to descend and the steam to fizz from my ears was the decision to have a ‘car free’ day in London next month, which is an earnings free day for us.

I understand that cars are the enemy at the moment but people are entitled to go about their day and do their work without interference from busy bodies who want to send us back to the stone age, or who think we should all be hopping on penny farthings and cycling to our destinations, whether, it’s Peckham or Ealing, or whether you are five or a 105.

Don’t get me wrong, I’m not totally opposed

to the idea of making London a leaner, greener place to live, work and play for future generations. But if TfL had any real kahunas it would stop pussyfooting around and simply ban private cars from the centre of London altogether. This would probably benefit all forms of public transport. However, I expect this would stop our regulator plugging holes in its finances by targeting the put-upon motorist, many of whom are having to fork out a small fortune to come to London for their work these days. Interestingly, I discovered recently, thanks to the joys of a plumbing issue, that many tradespeople are simply refusing to go to some areas of London because of the cost. This is likely to get even worse when the ULEZ zone is extended in 2021. The cost of which will simply be added to already extortionate bills; £55 an hour indeed!

TfL and Mayor Sadiq Khan should exclude taxis from this car free day, thus enabling people, such as the disabled and the elderly, to get around and attend the events that are scheduled to take place on Sunday, September 22.

I know Sunday is traditionally a day of rest but there are still some of us who need to make a living. None of this is considered by the powers

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that be and their dastardly schemes. It’s also a kick in the teeth for electric taxi drivers who have forked out a small fortune on a ULEZ compliant cab, only to find that they also banned for making a living.

It might be all right if you are one of those people who sits in an air-conditioned office Monday to Friday trying to make yourself look like an environmental saviour, but there are wider impacts to be considered.

The one positive from all this is that my enforced day off will give me time to enjoy my new favourite pastime, complaining. I have been told that I know longer have conversations, I simply moan, thanks to my increasing levels of grumpiness. On most days I find it difficult to leave the house anyway; hell, as they say, is other people. Restaurants are too loud; concerts are too expensive and don’t get me started on the popcorn factories masquerading as cinemas.

Anyway, on September 22, I shall hunker down at home to compose a snotty letter to TfL with a fully itemised bill for the day’s work that they owe me. They won’t like it up ‘em. u

Lloyd Baldwin is an LTDA Executive Support Officer

@TheLTDA

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20 August 2019 |||| TAXI

15

NEWS IN BRIEF

“Ban Hands Free Phones,” MPs say

Uber Fined in Colombia

GOVERNMENT Hands free use at the wheel is as bad as holding a phone and should be banned, according to ministers.

Current laws give the “misleading impression” that talking via speakerphones or Bluetooth headsets is safe, the commons transport committee warns.

Campaigners have long called for the existing legislation, which only bans use of hand-held phones while driving, to be extended and now ministers appear to be listening.

The Government is also considering increasing punishments for drivers using mobiles, as well as recruiting more traffic officers or using roadside cameras to catch offenders.

Labour MP Lilian Greenwood, chairman of the committee, said: “If mobile phone use while driving is to become as socially unacceptable as drinkdriving, much more effort needs to go into educating drivers.

“Offenders also need to know there is a credible risk of being caught, and that there are serious consequences for being caught. There is also a misleading impression that hands-free use is safe.

Any use of a phone distracts from a driver’s ability to pay full attention.”

The committee heard from experts that a driver using a phone –

INTERNATIONAL Colombia’s antitrust regulator has fined Uber more than $625,000 for obstructing an investigation into its operations in the country.

Three named executives were also fined by officials.

The fine follows a 2017 inspection of the company’s office in Bogota where regulators were seeking information about Uber’s corporate structure.

Executives were said to have provided evasive answers and instructed employees not to cooperate.

Uber said in a statement it would evaluate its legal options once notified of the fine, which can be appealed.

Since its launch in Colombia in 2013, Uber has faced stiff resistance from taxi drivers who say the company is stealing their work. The company operates in a state of legal limbo because it pays taxes but lacks approval to operate in the country.

hand-held or hands-free – is four times more likely to crash.

Dr Gemma Briggs, a senior lecturer in psychology at the Open University, told the MPs that even for around five minutes after a driver has ended a phone conversation, they are still at a significantly increased risk of a crash because they remain distracted.

The Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents has said drivers who use a phone, even via hands-free, fail to see road signs, and are more likely to ‘tailgate’ the vehicle in front and take longer to brake. The proposal will now be examined by the Department for Transport and is likely to be welcomed by road safety groups. Motoring groups

have said any such ban would have a serious impact on businesses and would be almost impossible to police.

Hand-held mobile phone use while driving was banned in 2003. In March 2017, ministers doubled the punishment for using hand-held mobile phones at the wheel from three penalty points to six – and increased fines from £100 to £200.

The number of people dying in crashes involving a driver using a mobile phone has continued to rise, the figures show.

In their report, MPs from the transport committee urged the Government to consider whether penalties should be increased further. They also warned that for the law to be effective there must be a credible threat of being caught.

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20 August 2019 |||| TAXI

Sadiq Khan

LETTERS BAN UBER NOW!

U

STAR LETTER

ber’s guilty plea to two counts of allowing a PH vehicle to be used without insurance and failing to keep records required by the 1998 Private Hire Act, is like a killer plea-bargaining for manslaughter to avoid a murder charge!

Uber was granted a 15-month probationary licence, which expires in September, granted on a commitment to a series of conditions laid down by TfL. It has failed on many counts. Does Uber think it is bigger than any licensing authority and any regulations imposed to protect members of the public? Does it believe financial clout makes everything okay?

AMAZING SERVICE

I

received confirmation that my licence had been renewed recently, which gave me a huge sense of relief.

I wanted to write in to say thanks to the LTDA for the support, especially Barney and Bob. You never know how important it is to be a member until you need the advice and support of the association.

John Wallace

CASH IS DEAD, BUT WE’RE NOT

A

fter 25 years of driving a cab, something new happened to me this week; I did two full days on the trot without taking a single penny in cash!

My income was pretty evenly split between app rides and street hails and every single street hail paid with a card. It was only when I got home that I actually realised that this was the case. The transition from cash to cashless has been a steady one. I still get the odd peak with a run of cash rides, but the trend is only going one way as more and more passengers use their cards. Even the annual middle eastern visitors are increasingly paying with cards, albeit it premium and black cards.

I did a very discrete, random survey of my card paying customers over the next few days and learned the following: the vast majority of people carry little or no cash; most of them now use more cabs as a result of our move to card acceptance, with a significant number saying they would not be in the cab if we didn’t take cards. It quickly became clear to me that without universal card acceptance we would be finished. The dinosaurs in the trade who kicked off and fought against the mandate were not only wrong, had they got their way, we would all be on a long rank somewhere waiting for a unicorn to turn up waving a wad of cash.

It’s good to see that so many of the younger and newer drivers recognise the benefits of good customer service, I am becoming more aware of cabbies jumping out to help with luggage and buggies. I am seeing more and more new electric cabs and for the first time in ages I am sensing optimism about our trade and the future which is beginning to be picked up by our customers,

17

I think we know the answer to both of those questions.

In my opinion, despite all the promises made, Uber is still not a fit and proper private hire operator for our capital city. TfL should not allow the potential loss of licensing revenue to cloud its judgement. Uber should never have been granted a licence in the first place. Its operating record thus far emphasises how wrong such a decision was. It matters not what promises are made, procedures put in place and personnel bought in; Uber has shown that it will never be “fit and proper.” Uber must never be granted a licence again. u Stuart Pessok, Ilford

“Every single street hail paid with a card...”

who no longer report miserable cabbies moaning about Uber and the traffic. We are increasingly being seen as changing, adopting and adapting and I for one think it’s great!

Lewis Wright

MAKING A PRATT OF YOURSELVES

I

t occurred to me that because our boys and girls never get out of the cab and walk around the back they are probably unaware the entrance to the Handel and Hendrix museums is accessed via Lancashire Court off Brook Street, Mayfair.

If TAXI wanted to really take the rise out of

TfL, and the local council, you could also make it part of the Easy Run/Hard Run. By doing the Handel and Hendrix to Oxford Street, 50 meters before Marble Arch. Because you can’t turn left from Park Street into Oxford Street, it’s a nightmare. It’s a shame the overpaid pratts who designed it never asked a cab driver first. Oh, at present, Pratt’s Club is at 14 Park Place, St James. Because it’s a gentleman’s club, l can’t see any of TFL’s planners being invited within to become members. It’s time the mayor stepped up and started calling out a few of these overpaid bods out.

Gary Cox

WILL HMRC STAND UP TO UBER?

A

s we know, HMRC had been looking into Uber’s tax responsibilities. I wonder if the fact that the Chancellor Sajid Javid is reported to be supporter of “disruptive technology” such as Uber, might mean HMRC looking the other way?

Adrian Card

DISABLED PEOPLE BEING LEFT BEHIND

S EASY RUN

HARD RUN

u The Vale, NW2 to Islington Boxing Club

u Colney Hatch Lane to Dorset Square Hotel

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

ince 2013 TfL have licensed between 55,000 and 80,000 new PHV vehicles (some twice). Not one, or even a tiny minority, of those vehicles is adapted or converted for the use of London’s disabled.

Why? Is it the £75m income that TfL has received that has clouded its judgement?

Conclusion: 1. In 2013 around 50% of the available taxi and PH fleets catered for the disabled (All Taxis).

2. In 2019 that figure has dropped to 20% taxi/80% PH: 80% unable to assist the disabled.

The Uber app does not appear to cater for disabled people or guide dogs. It appears to me that every PH vehicle must be wheelchair accessible by 2021. Whilst changing this, at no extra cost to taxi proprietors, our ramps should be electrically operated in all new vehicles.

Stuart Wilder, Author Ubergate X

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www.ltda.co.uk ||||

TAXI |||| 20 August 2019

@TheLTDA

The Congestion Charge may cost minicabs £200 a month but I’m down £200 a week

CHRIS ACKRILL

ON THE ROAD

C-CHARGE RACE CLAIMS ARE RUBBISH

I

laughed when I heard that a union had claimed that applying the Congestion Charge to minicab drivers is racist.

In a two-day hearing, the Independent Workers of Great Britain trade union claimed that 94% of London minicab drivers are from an ethnic minority background, while 88% of taxi drivers – who are exempt from the £11.50 daily charge – are white. The charge is therefore racist. Unsurprisingly, they lost the case.

Honestly, these lawyers make bundles taking on any half-baked case on behalf of those with deep pockets.

Those percentages are an approximation. I don’t think they’d stand up in law. What does “white” or “ethnic minority background” mean anyway?

Even the Jewish Chronicle has asked where Semitic people sit under the BAME banner. Or what about eastern Europeans, often white, but are they not a minority in the UK? Perhaps they are not perceived as being disadvantaged. Almost everyone can

claim an element of mixed race, especially if you stump up the cash for one of those slightly dubious DNA tests. I don’t know how they’re defining that one in legal terms, but I suspect no one questions it for fear of being shouted down.

The figures are based on those

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irritating ethnic monitoring forms so beloved by social workers and public sector departments. That figure of 88% white just indicates a proportion of people who responded to a vague, un-scientific, questionnaire. Not everyone would have responded accurately; either because they’re undecided, or as a “spoilt paper” protest at being asked such personal questions. Have you noticed how they ask about your sexual preferences now?

I can’t imagine my parent’s generation being asked whether they were black, white or shorthaired tabby, and whether they preferred boys, girls or both! I don’t fill those forms in anymore, they annoy me. I sometimes feel like presenting myself as a transgender Sikh; partly as a protest against intrusive questions, and partly to make myself appear something more exotic than straight, white British.

I’m not in the business of applying for jobs, so what’s all this information used for anyway? To target deals that I might be interested in, such as when you look up one item on a website and get marketing emails every day and forever afterwards? Government and public sector most likely want to keep tabs on us. It seems the more diversity is championed, the more we are being categorised more than ever. Maybe they sell the details on to Russian gangsters when they’ve finished cataloguing us?

Taxi drivers wanting to work in inner-London have to pass a long series of traumatic exams for that privilege.

They also have the option to just study for suburban sectors. Minicab drivers can

“What’s all this information used for anyway..?”

work anywhere in London on a licence that a chimpanzee could get. If they don’t want to pay the Congestion Charge, they could stay out of central London.

Of course, we’ve seen plenty of Londonlicensed minicabs operating in towns well out of London since private hire expanded to saturation point. They outnumber taxis by over four to one. They’ve become victims of their own success. It’s a luxury for them to be able to work in Soho.

They’ve had it too good for too long, and congestion has reached the point where something had to be done. They can use any car they want too, so why not use a wheelchair accessible one and save on the charge? We have no choice in the matter.

The IWGB claims that minicab drivers are losing up to £200 per month as a result of the Congestion Charge. I’ve been losing £200 a week since TfL flooded the streets with Uber.

People aren’t generally recruited to be self-employed taxi or minicab drivers.

We’re not tapped up to join MI6. Most taxi drivers in London might happen to be white, but that just reflects the people who have bothered to apply, which by all accounts is dropping by the month.

Your colour isn’t part of the application process. The union’s claim would hold some water if non-white applicants were treated any different. They’re not. I worked as a Knowledge examiner and I know. So, what if 88% of London taxi drivers are white? That’s almost the average for the British population. If the ethnic make-up of the two trades is an issue, perhaps white folks could say they’re under-represented in the private hire trade and demand some special rights. Perhaps they’d let us drive a cab without the turning circle?

The IWGB claim that 71% of the 94% “BAME” drivers (Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic - are you keeping up?) live in the most deprived areas of London. That’s probably true, but I don’t see many taxis parked on driveways on Bishop’s Avenue. I can’t afford to live in London; in a deprived area or not.

As an ex-Knowledge examiner, I know where taxi drivers live, they all live in Hornchurch. Every man-Jack one of them. Not all of Hornchurch is leafy and affluent; there are some grim places on that 165-bus route. I lived there as a teenager, but I couldn’t afford to live there now. I’m just about surviving 35 miles out. I don’t see any TfL minicabs in Bedfordshire, but they must be doing all right if they’re living in London. u

Chris Ackrill is a taxi driver and former Knowledge examiner

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@TheLTDA

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20 August 2019 |||| TAXI

21

Uber VAT Case to Fight On LAW Lawyers fighting to make Uber pay £1 billion in VAT are to press on with the case despite being refused an appeal against a ruling that ended the initial challenge.

The Good Law Project was told it could not appeal a judge’s decision not to allow an application for a costs order in its action against Uber and its VAT liability.

The order was necessary to put a limit on the project’s exposure to costs, estimated at £1m.

The judge found that a protective costs order could not be obtained in private law proceedings.

The fact that the London taxi trade contributed to the Good Law Project’s campaign also weighed heavily against the application.

The project said that it would not be able to continue without the order.

However, in a message on its website, the group said that it would now switch its strategy “to a judicial review of HMRC’s failure to raise a protective

assessment against Uber.”

“As matters stand, we have a hearing on 6 November to consider HMRC’s application that key elements of its case not be made available to the public.

“Uber will be attending and arguing that HMRC should not be able to disclose anything about its affairs to us – despite the very clear language of section 18(2)(c) of the Commissioners

of Revenue and Customs Act 2005.

“We will say that this is a case about securing public confidence in the proper administration of the tax system cannot sensibly be heard out of public eye. Let the sun shine in, we say, and let the people know why, remarkably, HMRC appears to be allowing Uber to dodge hundreds of millions of pounds of tax every year.”

The project headed by Jolyon Maugham QC [above] said it had been forced to pay Uber more than £100,000 in costs, which consumed most of the

funding it had secured from the taxi trade and other backers.

The QC said that he did not “plan to ask for further funding to pay for the judicial review.

“It is possible that that situation will need to change but we are keenly aware of the commitment we made to you, our funders, to try and chase down Uber’s VAT dodging and we do not seek to escape or avoid that commitment.”

The initial legal proceedings got underway in 2017 in order to challenge Uber’s position that the company does not make taxable supplies of transportation services.

In August 2017, HMRC declined Mr Maugham’s request to exercise its discretion under the VAT regs to allow his claim for recovery of input tax on a journey taken with Uber, even though its drivers do not issue VAT receipts.

The company claims it does not offer transport services but connects passengers and drivers, and is not liable for VAT. The European Court of Justice has ruled otherwise, saying the company does supply transport services.

The revenue announced in May that it is now investigating whether the minicab company owes more than £1bn in unpaid UK tax.

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TAXI |||| 20 August 2019

www.ltda.co.uk ||||

@TheLTDA

@TheLTDA

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20 August 2019 |||| TAXI

23

London scrappage scheme underfire

NEWS IN BRIEF

TRADE

Uber Refuses to Get Lost

A scrappage scheme designed to remove polluting cars from London’s roads will affect just one in 55 dirty cars, it is claimed.

The scheme will offer owners of older petrol and diesel cars up to £2,000 to trade them in but will have limited effect.

The incentive is said to be far too little have an impact with the cheapest electric car, the Renault Zoe [pictured], coming in at around £18,000.

Ministers have been under pressure to get polluting cars off the road and were urged to create a system of national incentives to convince motorists to go green.

However, Transport for An impact assessment London (TfL) figures suggest found that the £12.50 that the state-funded scrappage Ultra Low Emission Zone Caroline Pidgeon scheme is too small. charge introduced in April Mayor Sadiq Khan said £25 would penalise people in million would be spent on the scheme, deprived areas who would not be able funded through local business rates, to afford the more expensive electric which targets vehicle owners on low models, prompting the proposed incomes and those with disabilities. scrappage scheme.

Caroline Pidgeon, a Liberal Democrat TfL’s report into the project, which London assembly member, said: is due to be rolled out in the autumn, “What is clear is that the scheme said that between 557,500 and 669,000 will only have limited benefits. Any owners across Greater London would serious move away from diesel vehicles probably be able to make a claim. must involve a national scrappage However, it estimates only between scheme being adopted.”

12,250 and 24,500 vehicles would be

scrapped, with each owner getting from £1,000 to £2,000 off a new car.

This means as few as one in 55 eligible applicants may take advantage. The report said that the scheme could only be significantly expanded with central government backing.

A further £23 million is being handed to small businesses to allow them to buy clean new vans in London.

Ministers rejected a national scrappage scheme because of the cost and concerns that it would be hard to target those who drive in polluted areas.

The mayor, TfL said, had urged the government to provide more funding.

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Uber has refused to make any significant changes to its activities in Essex, despite being told to get out of Brentwood or apply for a fresh licence. A letter detailing the issues local drivers face due to the rising number of the app’s drivers entering the town from London was sent to the council by the Brentwood Borough Taxi Drivers’ Association (BBTDA). It prompted a council meeting in June where it was discussed whether to ban Uber from the area.

Uber drivers are not licensed

by Brentwood Borough Council but receive their licenses from Transport for London (TfL).

The BBTDA says because Brentwood “has no control” over the vehicles registered by TfL it is unable to respond to complaints, making any malpractice difficult to deal with. Taxi drivers claim the influx is causing “the erosion of localism and a local trade based upon drivers who live and work in the borough and develop strong and positive relationships with their customers.”

24

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The London Taxi Drivers’ Charity for Children

Armed police arrest minicab driver

Invitation to a fantastic day at the Royal Windsor Racecourse

CRIME

(Courtesy of the Management & Staff)

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Armed police swooped on a minicab driver suspected of drug offences in broad daylight. The arrest was caught on film which appeared online showing the officers surrounding the Transport for London licensed car in Camden on Monday, August 12.

Almost a dozen armed officers could be seen detaining the driver of a white Hyundai Ioniq while shocked passers-by looked on.

A distinctive green private hire roundel is clearly visible in the top left corner of the vehicle’s windscreen in the footage.

The Metropolitan Police confirmed the

arrest was not terrorism-related and was in fact a pre-planned operation.

A Metropolitan Police spokesperson said via Twitter: “Officers, including firearms officers, have this afternoon carried out a pre-planned operation in #Camden resulting in a man being arrested on suspicion of drugs offences.”

The man remains in custody at a south London police station.

Police also attended a serious crash involving a minicab and a taxi in Westminster at midday on Wednesday, August 14, in Parliament Street leading into Parliament Square.

The road was closed. Injuries were confirmed but not said to be life threatening or life changing.

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Changes to the MyTaxi app show that it appears to be listening to its customers for once

ALF TOWNSEND

WHAT’S IN A NAME?

TAXI TALK

A

while back I wrote a piece in my column about using the taxi apps because my old pins were a bit wobbly after my recent op. I praised GETT for its excellent service and friendly drivers and made the point that I never used MyTaxi because it operated a £10 minimum fare for most of the day – certainly at the times that I needed it.

I stated that Hampstead oldies like me were more than happy to pay six or seven quid to Sainsbury’s in Finchley Road, or on regular visits to the Royal Free Hospital, but they weren’t prepared to cough up a tenner – plus a tip – for the same journey. Again, I made the point that there were dozens of oldies locally – and probably hundreds all over London – who would consider switching to minicabs, or Uber, because of the minimum charge.

I have been writing my column in TAXI, every two weeks, for more than four decades and my remit is to entertain my readers with amusing, preferably cab related, stories. I’m not vain enough to consider my waffle is ever taken seriously, but the sudden change in the format and name of MyTaxi convinces me that following my article, someone in authority at MyTaxi – probably one who has had a lifetime in the cab trade – believed I was talking sense and dropped the ten quid minimum charge!

I switched on my mobile recently and the two taxi apps were alongside. The GETT ad was still the same with a guy with his arm raised on a yellow background. But MyTaxi ad was completely different, simply coloured red and with the print saying, FREE NOW! I thought at first that the wording showed it had dropped the minimum charge, but in effect, it’s their new name! I admire and respect them for dropping the ten pound minimum fare, whether they heeded my advice or it was just a coincidence, it’s not important, I will be using their services regularly in the future! It takes some bottle to admit you were doing something detrimental to your company!

enough. But this time around it was exactly the opposite, because I had recently had an op to remove cataracts and that my present specs were too strong! So, I walked out of there with two pair of specs worth 50 quid each, for nowt!

Next up was a dental app and a free makeover on my choppers that were still there! On top of that, I was entitled to a new NHS syrup – syrup and fig – wig!

So, it’s well worth exploring what you are entitled to –especially if you’re old and bald!

A Hampstead Helping Hand!

“I praised GETT for its excellent service and friendly drivers...”

Holly Hill, which is bang opposite Hampstead Tube Station, is a killer and is known to the local oldies as, the Hampstead Mountain – or Mount! Many of the oldies wait for a 268 bus that takes them up to Whitestone Pond, then a take pleasant walk DOWN the hills!

Anyway, a while back I was trudging slowly up Holly Hill, carrying a heavy bag of shopping and stopped for a rest about halfway up it. I

was leaning against some railings when a big, flash car pulled up and a very attractive lady, in a posh voice said, “are you alright young man?”

Right, I thought to myself, I’ve cracked it here because she must have dodgy “minces” – mince pies – eyes and she thinks I’m young!

“No, I’m fine,” I replied. She then asked me where I lived and when I replied, “just over the hill in Frognal Rise.” Then she said, “jump in and I’ll give you a lift.”

I started getting weird thoughts running through my head like, what if she accuses me of sexually assaulting her? Or worst still, what if she tried to seduce me and I can’t do it after my prostate op? By this time all the cars banged up behind her were hooting and I said to her, “thank you kindly, but I can manage.”

What a strange person I am!

Hidden Benefits for Golden Oldies

After receiving Pension Credit, thanks to the help of my advisor at the charity Age UK, in Tavistock Square, which allows me to claim housing and council tax reductions, my advisor told me to pop into my GP and ask for a “help with health costs” form.

This I did and duly sent it off to Newcastle.

Just a couple of weeks later I received a certificate – valid for one year – that enabled me to claim free optical services and free dental care. I had just received a reminder from Boots opticians that I hadn’t had an eye test for two years. So, I promptly booked one, knowing full well they would tell me that my present specs are not strong

Heathrow Collection 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.

Another collection was made at Heathrow by son Nick [above, left], on August 9.

This time around it was a collection for the maintenance of the defibrillator, plus a two hour first aid education course, which is open to all drivers on a first come, first served basis.

I might add that this course is very popular and there’s quite a waiting list! The experienced paramedics also showed the drivers how to operate the defibrillator in an emergency. All in all, yet another feather in the Heathrow cabbie’s hat. u

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@TheLTDA

Relative calm returns to the cab sales market but mystery surrounds the Merc’s low trade in prices

THE CAB YOU DRIVE

WHO SAYS THE GAME IS DEAD?

WORD ON THE STREET

if the new cab sales hold up, we will start to see an increase in the overall taxi fleet in London, halting years of steady decline.

Who says the game is dead?

T

hings are finally beginning to settle down in the world of the cab dealers and traders. I should stress that “settled down” only means that nothing has changed in the past month. There are still very few cabs for sale, very few garages have any stock and prices are still high, particularly for late low mileage Euro VI cabs.

The price of late Vito cabs was always pretty much set by the Mercedes specialist garages and dealers and those being accepted for a part exchange against a new TXe are always underwritten before the LEVC dealers give a price. Until very recently this worked well.

However, I am now hearing stories of lower than expected prices being quoted for a trade in but it’s unclear why or who is setting the price.

With the shortage of supply, I would advise any Merc owner looking at chopping it in against a new TXe to get several quotes. Don’t just source quotes from LEVC dealers, but also directly from some of the Vito specialists or to consider selling it privately.

A total of 161 new TXe cabs joined the ranks

All Change

in July. There are now around 2,150 silently plying for hire on the city streets.

If we see similar sales figures in August, and a higher number with the new ’69 plate in September, we will be at around 2,500, putting the trade possibly on target for just under 3,000, or around 15% of the fleet, by the end of the year.

In fact, it’s only these record sales that have stopped the fleet shrinking after such a large number of older cabs have been decommissioned. Now that the decommissioning scheme is reaching its end,

“I would advise any Merc owner to get several quotes...”

LEVC chairman, Carl-Peter Forster, who joined the company in February 2015, has stepped down from his post.

Before taking on the role, Forster was a senior advisor to Geely, and a member of the board of both Volvo Cars Corporation and Geely Automobile Holdings since 2013.

At the start of July, the company revealed that its turnover reached almost £80m during its latest financial year, but that it made a pre-tax loss of £96.1m.

He has held senior leadership positions at the likes of BMW, GM Europe where he was in charge of Opel and Saab operations, as well as Tata Motors where, as global group chief executive, he was also responsible for the Jaguar Land Rover business, from 2010 to 2011.

Forster is to remain with the firm in an advisory capacity. His replacement has not yet been announced by LEVC. u

@TheLTDA

|||| www.ltda.co.uk

LTDA

AGM The LTDA AGM will be held at 10am on Friday, October 4, at Woburn House in Tavistock Square, WC1 ORDER OF BUSINESS: u Auditor’s report u General Secretary’s report

20 August 2019 |||| TAXI

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“Raise fuel prices to fight pollution” ENVIRONMENT Increased fuel prices, zero VAT on electric cars and rewards for reporting idling vehicles would help fight air pollution, according to a conservative think tank.

Price increases should include an extra charge on diesel, the report by Bright Blue says. It calls for VAT to be abolished on electric cars and for citizens to be able to report idling vehicles and receive a share of fines levied.

It also proposes cutting the speed limit in all urban areas from 30mph to 20mph and giving local authorities the power to profit from pollution charging schemes to fund clean-air projects.

Studies show that most urban areas in the UK register illegal levels of nitrogen dioxide (NO2) pollution.

Britain’s particulate levels are legal but still above World Health Organisation guidelines, which Bright Blue said should be the targets adopted by the UK. Around 70% of people in the UK were concerned about the health impact of air pollution and wanted government action, a study conducted by the think tank claimed.

Thousands of people are said to die prematurely every year in the UK

Black Taxi

rentals

because of air pollution and in 2016 a committee of MPs called the problem a “public health emergency.”

Government plans to cut NO2 pollution have been declared poor by the high court on three occasions.

The Bright Blue report said the freeze on fuel duty rises, in place since 2010, should end. The freeze has saved motorists about £6bn but is estimated to have increased traffic by 4%, and therefore pollution as well.

Diesel, which produces most

NO2, should have an additional tax on top, according to the report.

Diesel cars are currently charged more vehicle excise duty than petrol cars only in their first year, but the difference should be permanent, Bright Blue said. It added that VAT should not be charged on electric cars to help restore their attractiveness after recent cuts in subsidies.

It is also recommends that citizens should be able to report idling vehicles and share the fine with authorities.

In New York City, citizens get 25% of fines levied on buses or trucks caught idling for more than a minute outside schools or three minutes elsewhere.

The fines range from $100 to $2,000 (£83 to £1,650) and Bright Blue said the policy in the UK should be expanded to include cars.

Simon Alcock from ClientEarth, the environmental law firm that defeated UK ministers in court, said: “This report is hugely welcome and shows the public want greater ambition from the government on air pollution. The government needs to make WHO guidelines legally binding by 2030, help people – especially those on low incomes – move to cleaner forms of transport and start treating air pollution in this country as the public health crisis and consumer scandal that it is.”

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31

NEWS IN BRIEF

Diesel Demand Slipping

Krav Maga-nificent Free Classes MEMBER OFFERS

threatening situations. The aim is to help drivers get out of violent or threatening Learn how to protect yourself and get fit situations without having to fight.” by taking part in the upcoming LTDA’s Hundreds of cabbies have taken the free Krav Maga classes for members. classes and have praised them as fun and Our long-running self-defence course confidence building.” has boosted the confidence to hundreds of Violent crime in London is rising and drivers by teaching them how to deal with police resources being cut, so there’s never confrontation calmly and safely. been a better time to sign up.

Ricky Manetta, who is himself a Krav Maga was created in the 1930s taxi driver, teaches the use of blocking, to protect Czech Jews from anti-Semitic grappling and wrestling style moves to fend attacks and is designed top be used in off attackers – even those wielding weapons. self-defence.

Ricky says: “The course is designed to Not only does it offer the chance to give people the confidence to deal with improve your fitness and general health,

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Some drivers have even claimed it even improved their driving and many keep coming back for more.

Ricky starts the next course at the Orwell Centre in Wapping on Monday, September 16.

It is open to any members who want to try it for the first time and even those who have completed the course before but fancy a refresh. If you are an LTDA member and can commit to an eight-week course on Monday afternoons between 1-3pm, then call Taxi House on 0207 286 1046 and ask to register.

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Diesel car residual values are on the slide as demand in the used market declines, a study has found.

Experts say the decreases could accelerate in the coming months, with almost a third of car dealers saying they have seen a reduction in demand for used diesels, while a fifth expect demand to fall even further in the next six months.

As a result, most dealers say they are now planning to buy less diesel stock, according the survey

by NextGear Capital sales.

Pricing experts at Cap HPI say that average used car values for three-years/60,000 miles models fell by 2% in June. It follows drops of 2.3% in April and 3.1% in May. Average diesel car values dropped by more than petrol ones, and while the difference in value drops are not dramatic, it is a trend that has occurred in every month of 2019.

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LTDA

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All appliances have already been pre-discounted from washing machines, fridge freezers and dishwashers etc. All prices include FREE UK delivery*.

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@TheLTDA

Exclusive member discounts on laptops, smart TVs, appliances and mobile phones Whether you are looking for a new laptop for work or a new tablet for down time, take advantage of these offers from LTDA Plus

Apple: Get up to 10% off LTDA members get preferential rates on the world’s leading tech innovator and its exquisite range of products: iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple Watch and Apple TV*.

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Get cashback on your new tech purchase Reward Mobile — save on average 26% on mobile phone deals compared to EE direct

If you are a tech-lover, LTDA Plus and MyCashbackCards have got you covered.

Get up to 7% cashback when you buy your next TV, game consoles, fitness trackers, laptops, tablets, headphones, mobile accessories and more*.

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Reward Mobile are a multi-award winning, premier partner of EE, offering members discounts on the latest mobile phones, tablets and EE Home Broadband.

As a member of Reward Mobile, you can save on average, 26% over the lifetime of your contract on the latest phones, compared to EE direct*. Which means, you can make big savings and still be part of the UK’s number one network for the past five years in a row! The EE network comes with additional benefits, such as, six months Apple Music, BT Sport and Data Gifting.

Plus, members can also extend these offers for up to five family and friends, which means the whole family can save.

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*Terms and conditions apply to all benefits. See website for details. Offers subject to change without notice. Apple - Annual purchase limits apply. Discounts are subject to availability. For the latest offers visit the Apple EPP store.

Reward Mobile - Savings compared to EE direct. Savings calculated over the lifetime of the contract. Prices correct on 01.07.19. Forest Holidays - Discount only applies to holidays taken by Thursday 3 October 2019. May not be used in conjunction with any other offer and cannot be applied retrospectively. Forest Holidays reserves the right to withdraw this offer at any time. LTDA Plus is managed and run on behalf of LTDA by Parliament Hill Ltd.

Forest Holidays are offering LTDA members 20% off on their beautiful woodland cabins if you book by Saturday 31 August 2019. Plus, when you book you can receive complimentary early check-in for breaks of ANY length at any location.

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@TheLTDA

|||| www.ltda.co.uk

20 August 2019

|||| TAXI

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The pound was worth less than a euro at the airport, so how can you travel with more in your pocket?

EMMA LUNN

CAN YOU BEAT THE FALLING POUND?

MONEY MATTERS

T

he summer holiday season is now in full swing, but travellers are faced with more expensive trips to Europe following several turbulent months for the British pound.

As recently as May, you could get €1.175 for each pound, but the rate had fallen to as low as €1.081 in the first week of August. Back in July 2015 – a year before the Brexit referendum – holidaymakers could get €1.421 for each pound.

The strength of the pound has a real impact on your spending money if you’re heading to Europe and fears of a nodeal Brexit means we could see Sterling fluctuating for several months yet.

But while you can’t control the international currency markets, or Boris Johnson’s negotiating skills, there are a number of things you can do to make sure your holiday doesn’t cost more than necessary.

Take the right plastic

A study by Defaqto found that debit cards were the most expensive way for travellers in Europe to spend. Most debit cards charge a foreign loading fee of up to 2.99% for overseas use, plus a transaction fee (for card purchases) or an ATM fee (for cash withdrawals).

However, there are a few exceptions to this. Debit cards from Cumberland Building Society, Starling Bank, Monzo, Nationwide Building Society, and Metro Bank, don’t charge extra for card purchases or ATM withdrawals in Europe.

Credit cards can be a better bet to take overseas – but you need to take the right one. Defaqto identified 21 credit cards from 14 providers, which don’t foreign transaction fees in Europe. The best ones include Halifax Clarity (which offers £20 cashback on accounts opened before 29 August) and Tandem’s credit card which offers 0.5% cashback on all purchases worldwide.

However, you should only withdraw cash on your credit card in an

emergency. Most cards have a higher interest rate for cash withdrawals, with interest accumulating from the day the money is withdrawn.

Another option worth considering is an account with app-only bank Revolut. It converts pounds to other currencies at the interbank exchange rate (the best rate possible) and doesn’t charge extra fees on overseas transactions. ATM withdrawals are free up to £200 a month – after that the fee is 2% of the amount withdrawn.

Find the cheapest foreign currency

Whatever you do, don’t wait until you’re at the airport to think about buying foreign currency. Airport foreign exchange kiosks cash in on having a captive audience and offer the worst rates.

For example, at the end of July ICE at Heathrow airport was charging £500 for €425 – making each pound worth just €0.85. On the same day, Debenhams would give you €538 for £500 if you booked your currency online and collected it in person – a rate of €1.076 for each pound. So making the right choice could see a difference of more than €100 for £500.

The best foreign exchange rates are almost always found and reserved online – with currency either collected, delivered to your door (normally for a fee), or collected at the airport.

Travel insurance

A fifth of Brits jet off abroad without travel insurance, according to RAC

“The best foreign exchange rates are almost always found and reserved online — with currency either collected, delivered to your door (normally for a fee), or collected at the airport...”

Insurance. Although this might seem like you’re saving money, it can be false economy if anything goes wrong.

Without travel cover, you won’t be protected if your trip is cancelled, your possessions are stolen, you need to see a doctor, or your airline goes bust.

A European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) entitles Brits to reciprocal state health care in EU states – so make sure yours is up to date. However, it won’t cover you for medical costs outside

Europe or any incidental costs if you have an accident.

If you’re heading to the US, bear in mind that medical costs are a lot higher. For example, Moneysupermarket found that major surgery in the US costs almost £75,000, five times the amount it would cost in Spain. A comprehensive travel insurance policy will cover these costs, alongside emergency evacuation or repatriation where necessary. u

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Mr Meg’s inability to read an invitation properly leads to a rather embarrassing situation

MUSHER MEG

WRONG TROUSERS, SHIRT AND SHOES

LICENSED TO CHAT

and bucket hat. “Because there is” came the unhelpful reply from Mr Meg, who added, “green, yellow, purple, what difference does it ell, it was another fine mess that Mr make?” We stepped into the foyer of the venue Meg got me into. It was all to do to find it canopied in gold fabric. Tables were with a pre-wedding party that his heaving with chilled champagne and freshly work colleague was throwing for his son. It was squeezed mango juice. a Sikh wedding and, apparently, it is traditional Stepping into the BALLROOM (yes, for family and friends to get together to celebrate ballroom) I took in the scene before me. the upcoming nuptials with a bit of a knees up.

The tables were laid for a sit-down This event has a special name, which I can’t meal, a feast that was obviously recall, so let’s just call it one of the cringiest already in full swing because the nights of my life. diners were enjoying their sorbet palate Mr Meg had left his invitation in a drawer cleanser course. I plastered a smile on at work, so I never got to see it. He explained my face and showed it to Mr Meg. He that it was an informal, relaxed type of evening, recognised it instantly. It was my special probably with a bit of a buffet or a BBQ smile, for use in public places, the one chucked in. that he knows means I want to choke him.

I wore a pair of cropped trousers with fringing, There were 80 people sat down to dinner a pink gingham cotton top and a pair of flat being silver served by white gloved waiters. sandals. A perfect choice for an informal drinks/ The people seated at the dining tables were buffet/BBQ do on a very hot night. in full evening dress, like they were at the The red carpet outside the venue was the first Ambassador’s Ball of Balls. My thoughts were clue that Mr Meg had got it spectacularly wrong. firmly on Mr Meg’s balls - and the not at all fun “Why is there a red carpet?” I demanded of my plans I had for them when we got home. husband who was dressed in his Huckleberry With impeccable manners and no criticism Finn outfit of shorts, a checked shirt, sandals of our lateness the head waiter asked for Mr

W

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

Meg’s name and led us to our place at the table.

I still can’t believe my eyes – there was only one name card and it read “Mr Meg.” His seat was among other work colleagues, and none of them were with their significant other. It was bloomin’ obvious that I had not been invited.To make matters worse the charming head waiter acted as if the mistake was his. He whistled up a seat for me and laid some cutlery and with a small gesture of his hand requested the other diners nearby to scoot along in their chairs to make space for me.

It got more terrible. The bar was free, there was an amazing band and after dancing till late, a buffet was served and they had arranged complimentary taxis home for everyone.

Everyone was so hospitable and gracious. Not one person asked why we were dressed like Wurzel Gummidge and Aunt Sally, instead of in the required black tie attire.

And just to top the evening off the ladies’ loo attendant was in uniform, and yes, it was black trousers and a pink cotton top. #CRINGESOMEMORE u

36

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Police Taser Road Rage Suspect ROADS A man has been Tasered by police in central London during a road rage incident involving a minicab and which led to a woman being crushed between two cars.

Metropolitan Police officers took the man down after attending the incident, just yards from Buckingham Palace, after a woman was attacked during a confrontation.

Horrific footage posted online shows the victim stooped over while she was wedged between a black Mercedes and Range Rover Evoque.

A man is seen gesturing angrily and stamping his feet before someone jumps into the light-blue Range Rover and reverses to free the woman, who crumples to the ground before witnesses rush to her aid.

A Met spokesman said: “Officers are investigating an allegation that a Range Rover was deliberately driven at the woman, trapping her against a Mercedes car. This Mercedes was then in collision with a stationary bus.

“A 23-year-old man, the suspected driver of the Range Rover, was arrested at the scene on suspicion of affray; a Taser was discharged by officers during the arrest.” The arrested man was later also charged with grievous bodily harm and driving while disqualified.

The confrontation started at 8.15pm on Sunday, August 11.

The woman was taken to hospital by ambulance and a second man also

STAY IN THE KNOW 15 year reminder

complained of feeling unwell and was also taken to hospital. It is not clear whether he was injured in the fight.

Other pictures of the scene showed the black Mercedes positioned sideways across the carriageway, next to the bus.

Any witnesses, anyone with dashcam footage, or anyone with any information is asked to call police on 101 or contact via Twitter @MetCC. Please quote CAD 6953/11Aug. To give information anonymously contact Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 or online at crimestoppers-uk.org.

@TheLTDA

The London taxi 15 year age limit refers to the cab’s ‘birthday’ (in the log book) not its plate date.

For example: A cab passed when it is 14 years and 11 months old WILL be granted a further 12 months of life.

Cabs may be booked in for testing in the normal way when the plate has 28 days or less to run.

The cab can then work up to the test date. If the plates are taken off with more than 28 days to run, both the plates and the paper licence must be surrendered to one of the six NSL inspection centres in and around London.

The ‘unplated’ cab must then not be worked, and at least one week should be allowed before attempting to book the next NSL test, to allow the computerised booking system to recognise that the plates have been registered.

Lost/stolen identifier If your identifier is lost or stolen

you must notify LTPH immediately (0343 222 4444 / tph.enquiries @tfl.gov.uk) You may then continue working. A letter of confirmation will be sent out to you by Transport for London, prior to a replacement identifier being processed.

Shop a tout

Anyone who sees touting or any other form of illegal cab-related activity is urged to contact TfL with the details.

Take down the registration number and make a note of the date, time and location where incident took place.

Type “cab enforcement” into your internet search engine and follow the links to the ‘report illegal activity’ section of the TfL website.

DVLA reminder

The photo card part of the driving licence lasts for 10 years and must renewed after that period. The licence becomes invalid if it is not renewed with a current picture.

HALVEY ENGINEERING TX2 & TX4 ENGINE SPECIALIST

SERVING THE TAXI TRADE FOR THE PAST 28 YEARS RECON TX2 ENGINE - supply & fit £1,795 RECON TX4 ENGINE - supply & fit £2,100 with 1 year guarantee BRAND NEW out of the crate TX4 engine supply & fit £3,499 * PLUS VAT

CALL TODAY: OR EMAIL:

0208 312 2224 halveyengineeringltd@hotmail.com

Based in the Woolwich area

@TheLTDA

|||| www.ltda.co.uk

20 August 2019

Join Gett

The leading taxi app in London!

0% Peak Premiums

Commission* in your first month!

Over 3,000 corporate accounts!

24/7 Customer Care

What are you waiting for?

Sign up today at: u.gett.com/app or pop into the Gett Driver Office (162 Farringdon Road) *Only if you're a new Gett Driver or have been inactive for 12 months.

|||| TAXI

37

38

www.ltda.co.uk ||||

TAXI |||| 20 August 2019

@TheLTDA

The world’s leading Taxi drivers deserve the best insurance partner.

London Taxi drivers have been voted the world’s leading taxi drivers by a survey of 2600 world travellers carried out by hotels.com

Visit Us:

On site at Ascotts

Quotax Insurance Services

Call Us: 0208 691 9691

Blackhorse Road

Mon to Fri: 09:00 – 17:00

London

Sat & Sun: Closed

SE8 5HY

www.quotax.net

To see how much you could save call

020 8127 8419 www.quotax.net

Quotax_LTDA_226x288_28-01-19.indd 1

28/01/2019 22:31

@TheLTDA

|||| www.ltda.co.uk

20 August 2019

|||| TAXI

39

PUZZLER

C

PRIZE CROSSWORD omplete our crossword puzzle and be in with a chance to win £50! Send your entry to: Crossword 449, Taxi, Taxi House, 11 Woodfield Road, W9 2BA before September 24. The first name out of the proverbial hat wins the cash! u

ACROSS: 7 The black death (7, 6) 8 Impede (8) 9 Pant (4)

DOWN: 1 Chinese currency (4) 2 Sturdy (6) 3 Cosmic explosion (3, 4) 4 Physical exercise (5)

10 Immediate (7)

5 Tent user (6)

12 Candid (5)

6 Trophy match (3. 5)

14 Banded quartz-like mineral (5) 16 Fabric (7) 19 Thin (4)

11 Irritating (8)

17 Plot (6) 18 Bed on a ship (5)

22 Amusement (13)

21 Number (4)

SUDOKU Just for fun...

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

WINNER: ISSUE 448 — Sharon Lee, Enfield

15 Interfere (6)

20 Phone receiver (8)

PUZZLER

CROSSWORD #450

13 Earth (7)

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

ACROSS:

DOWN:

7 Elixir, 8 Sultry, 9 Dyke,

1 Clay, 2 Expert witness, 3 Probate,

10 Big stick, 11 Agitate, 13 Onion,

4 Usage, 5 Platinum blond,

15 Again, 16 Mermaid, 19 On and off,

6 Broccoli, 12 Gigantic, 14 Welfare,

19 Lath, 21 Tinsel, 22 Render

17 Could, 20 Tree

OVERHEARD

O

ur British climate is great. It’s just the weather that spoils it. A typical year would be 1963 when the ice cometh and stayeth till the end of March. The roads were so slippery, drivers took their cars out just for a spin. It was so cold the cuckoo in my clock flew south for the winter. The hands-on Big Ben were wearing mittens. Hitchhikers were holding up pictures of their thumbs. Street muggers were putting their hands in other people’s pockets just to keep warm. Bank robbers were wearing two pairs of stockings over their face. Farmers milking cows got ready made ice cream.

Playboy magazine stopped publishing because no woman would take her clothes off. The temperature made me appreciate my wife’s cooking. The heartburn kept me warm.

But it wasn’t all bad. The good thing about the big freeze was you could go to the beach anytime and be sure of a parking space. Even worse than the ice, was the rain. It’s said, “into each life a little rain must fall.” But why does it always happen when I’ve left my brolly at home? England’s had so much rain I’m surprised it hasn’t shrunk. All daylightsaving time’s done is given us an extra hour

of rain. Especially at holiday time. Whenever I go for a paddle it starts to piddle. Almost every year we’re plagued with floods. You can tell when they’re coming. The animals in Whipsnade start lining up two by two.

My son lives in Yorkshire where the floods are so bad, every house is fitted with an anchor. In his area, most of the living rooms had a shallow and deep end. His next door neighbour’s a musician who escaped through a window and floated down the road on his double bass. He was accompanied by his wife on the piano. This year summer took so long arriving I thought it was coming by British Rail. Thanks to global warming, it’s already up by one and a half degrees. Another one and a half and we’d have enough for a singing group. It was so hot it almost thawed out my wife. The top temperature so far was in late June when it reached 34 degrees.

I hadn’t sweated that much since I got my last income tax demand. I installed an air conditioner to keep me cool. And it did, until I got the electric bill. Now when I get too hot, I read the Labour or Conservative party manifestos. They always leave me cold.

There’s a new book out now urging us to save the rain forest by buying less things made of paper. I’ve decided to do my bit, by not buying the book. u —Brad Ashton

40

www.ltda.co.uk ||||

TAXI |||| 20 August 2019

@TheLTDA

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

@TheLTDA

|||| www.ltda.co.uk

20 August 2019

|||| TAXI

41

42

www.ltda.co.uk ||||

TAXI |||| 20 August 2019

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.

@TheLTDA

The Taxi Centre Part of J+J Taxis

Now just 10 minutes from City Airport

For all your rental needs Vito’s , TX4’s and TX2’s Available now!

All your running Repairs/Servicing Overhauls & Breakdowns. Crash Repairs with free courtesy Cab on all non fault. Now available to service in the Essex areas, Suburb drivers welcome.

Unit 2 Barking Business Centre, Thames rd, Essex, IG11OJP T: 0208 507 3330 E: j.jTaxis@hotmail.com

@TheLTDA

|||| www.ltda.co.uk

20 August 2019 |||| TAXI

43

ARTWORK FOR YOUR APPROVAL 44

www.ltda.co.uk ||||

TAXI |||| 20 August 2019

Century One Publishing Ltd. Alban Row, 27-31 Verulam Road, St. Albans, AL3 4DG T. 01727 893 894 F. 01727 893 895 www.centuryonepublishing.ltd.uk

CLASSIFIED

ACCOUNTANTS

Please note that the image below is not necessarily actual size. The final press ready version will be emailed to you for your records and future use on approval of artwork.

Tax Returns • Qualified Accountants specialising in the taxi trade • Yearly accounts and tax returns • Online submission to Inland Revenue • Based in Kingston Upon Thames

CABS FOR RENT

Brown’s Taxis

07957 465423

CABS TO RENT

e16-taxirentals.co.uk

(Mitcham Based) From £216 From +VAT

£199

53 plate to 19 plate

24-Hour AA Recovery • Spare cab available • Electric Cabs Available

Call Danny on

0203 673 4819

Tel: 0208 5499 541 8A Endeavour House 2 Cambridge Road Kingston Upon Thames, KT1 3JU

@TheLTDA

TX4s TO RENT Ascott's maintained.

Pay by cash/bank/online.

Mercs also available

or (M) 07956 463040

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

G&H TAXIS FLEET RENTAL Established 1993 Est

25

years

518 KING STREET, OFF BRUCE GROVE, TOTTENHAM N17 8AW

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

OVERHAULS SERVICING BODYWORK PAY IN AT ANY BARCLAYS BANK 24 HOUR RAC BACKUP

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

CABS FOR RENT

CABS FOR SALE

Should you require any amendments to the artwork above please indicate them clearly on this page and return this form by email or fax (in the first instance) within 2 working days. Failure to return this form will signal acceptance.

You will receive a single round of amends and a further proof to sign off for print. If further changes are required this may incurr an additional production charge of £20 for each additional proof sent.

MAGAZINE: LTDA Taxi ISSUE: 231 SIZE: Sixteenth page

Thinking of selling your TX4?

NAME:

WE WANT YOUR USED CAB

SIGNATURE: Inflated prices on certain TX4 models* Get your valuation at www.levc.com/valuemytaxi or call LEVC Brewery Road today on 0203 912 6214

ARTWORK CHARGE: n/a SECTION: Classified

Want the best price? - Cash Waiting

Any Condition (no de-registered vehicles)

Ring 078 8937 8639

DESIGNER: Sarah Astington

DATE:

EMAIL: copy@centuryonepublishing.ltd.uk

APPROVED FOR PRINT

*Terms and conditions apply, please see levc.com for full details

CABS FOR RENT

PHONE: 01727 739 189

TAXI

AD FREE

TX4 & NEW TX4 EURO 6’S FOR RENT LOOKING TO SAVE MONEY? cabs also wanted to buy with or without finance

CALL: 07738 162 518

INSURANCE AMENDS TO BE MADE

Please tick one box thank you

CENTURY ONE PUBLISHING

GAP INSURANCE

PURCHASED A NEW TAXI? AVOID ANY POTENTIAL SHORTFALL

IS THE UK’S BRIGHTEST

AWARD-WINNING CONTRACT PUBLISHING

AND ADVERTISING SALES AGENCY.

IN YOUR FINANCE FOLLOWING A TOTAL LOSS CLAIM

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

Jack Green To plan your ad campaign in Taxi magazine contact:

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

@TheLTDA

|||| www.ltda.co.uk

20 August 2019 |||| TAXI

45

CLASSIFIED

SERVICES & REPAIRS

DRIVER APPS

BOOK YOUR CLASSIFIED AD BOOKING DEADLINE 27TH AUGUST 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 |||| 20 August 2019

@TheLTDA

LINAGE ● TX4s/TXEs EAST LONDON/ Essex Based From £200pw. 24hr Back-up. Own garage/bodyshop. ● CHARTERED ACCOUNTANTS 077155 12263 & 01708 347288 specialising in the taxi trade.

Accounts and tax returns £312inc ● TX4S FOR HIRE, NO ADS, FULL VAT. Call 0208 360 1446 backup, RAC cover, 07980 288333

ACCOUNTANTS

AIR CONDITIONING ● MOBILE AUTO AIR conditioning service and repair for taxis, Telephone Nick on 07785 900006 7 days

CABS FOR RENT ● VNK MOTORS -TXIIs & TX4s for rent, from £185pw - £245pw.

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. ● ALL VITO’S TO RENT. Starting from £220pw. 07956 211478

● IMMACULATE 64 PLATE TX4s to rent, £240 per week. Barking based garage, call Jamie 07970 722751

CABS WANTED ● CABS URGENTLY WANTED, Any condition, cash same day, sell and rent back. Call Roy 07305 160361 ● GOOD QUALITY de-commissioned & Euro 6 TX4s required. Top prices guaranteed.

075662 25156 ● 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. Any condition quick decision. Instant cash paid. 07763 699767. ● ALL CABS WANTED, WE come to you, top prices paid, cash/ bank transfer, instant decision, finance settled, nonrunners or sell & rent back, Taxi’s 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 ● DE-COMMISSIONED CABS wanted. Top prices paid. Cash or transfer. We collect. John 07702 554934 & Tony 07919 401622 ● ALL LONDON TX4s WANTED, Euro 4, 5, & 6. Immediate payment. Finance, Lease, and HP settled. We collect. No fuss.

07428 545400

CABS FOR SALE ● 2010 60 PLATE VITO & 2010 10 plate for sale. £8,900 each.

07956 354671 ● 2015/15 TX4 ELEGANCE, Finished in black. 131,000 miles with full service history. 1 owner from new, 12 months plate, Excellent condition. £24,995.

07811 777888 ● MERCEDES VITO TAXI 113 CDi, Black, 2012/62 192,000 miles. 1 previous owner. Plate til November, new MOT. Just serviced, lovely bodywork, ready for work. £15,000 07811 777888 ● 2011/60 TX4 BRONZE, Finished in Black, 1 owner/driver from new. 230,000 miles. Plate til February, new MOT, £12,000.

07811 777888

PLACE YOUR LINAGE BY WEDNESDAY AUGUST 28TH FOR TAXI 451 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

20 August 2019

|||| TAXI

47

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