@TheLTDA LETTERS: p07 #460 ... - Taxi …HEATHROW Controversial plans to expand Heathrow have been...

28,000

The newspaper of the Licensed

Taxi Drivers’ Association

www.ltda.co.uk @TheLTDA

#46028 January 2020

LTDA

LETTERS: p07ELECTRIC CAB DEMAND SOARING

Appeal Dealt Hammer Blow by Devastating Letters

Uber Safety Complaints Exposed

p5

2 TAXI |||| 28 January 2020 www.ltda.co.uk |||| @TheLTDA

HEATHROW

Controversial plans to expand Heathrow have been set back at least three years following a dispute by the airport and the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA).

The completion of the extra runway may not now happen until 2029, despite being promised for 2026.

The plans, which have caused fury in the taxi trade for including damaging proposals to charge £15 to drop-off and set down, are still not guaranteed.

Transport Secretary Grant Shapps has said that they still might not be financially viable and could yet be abandoned.

But Heathrow Airport Limited says that, following a ruling by the CAA on development costs, the additional runway won’t be ready until sometime between early 2028 and late 2029.

To deliver the controversial third runway by 2026, Heathrow outlined a need to spend £2.9bn (at 2014 prices) ahead of planning permission even being granted.

But the CAA described the 2026 target as an “aggressive schedule,” adding that planning permission not granted, airport charges and passenger fares could rise because of the expenditure.

Paul Smith, of the CAA, said: “We believe that more runway capacity at

Heathrow will benefit air passengers and cargo owners. Its timely delivery is required to prevent future consumers experiencing higher airfares, reduced choice and lower service quality.

“The sooner a new runway comes into operation, the sooner these benefits can be realised.

“However, we have also been clear that timeliness is not the only factor that is important to consumers. Passengers cannot be expected to bear the risk of Heathrow Airport Limited spending too much in the early phases of development, should planning permission not be granted.”

Heathrow responded by saying: “The CAA has delayed the project timetable by at least 12 months.

“We now expect to complete the third runway between early 2028 and late 2029.”.

The Heathrow spokesperson added:

“We will now review the detail to ensure it will unlock the initial £1.5-2bn of private investment over the next two years at no cost to the taxpayer.”

Willie Walsh, the chief executive of IAG – parent company of British Airways, said: “We need a fresh look at the environmental viability and total cost of expanding Heathrow.

“The airport has a history of spending recklessly to gold-plate projects and paying guaranteed dividends to shareholders while minimising the environmental significance of expansion.”

John Stewart, chair of the anti-Heathrow expansion group, Hacan, said: “This continuing battle between Heathrow and the CAA is in nobody’s interest.

“The government needs to step in to sort out this on-going battle about costs”

Heathrow did not appear Queen’s Speech setting out the new Government’s plans.

The prime minister, whose constituency is next to the airport, has long opposed a third runway and once said he would lie down in front of diggers to stop it going ahead.

The Conservative manifesto said of the third runway plan: “It is for Heathrow to demonstrate that it can meet its air quality and noise obligations.”

Runway Faces Three Year Delay“Palace Jihadist” Denies Terror Plot A former Uber driver and alleged jihadist told an undercover police officer he was free to attack one million unbelievers if he was fighting for “the pleasure of Allah”, a court heard.

Mohiussunnath Chowdhury was unwittingly recorded stressing the importance of an “ambush”, claiming “they shouldn’t know what’s hit them, “ Woolwich Crown Court jurors were told.

They also heard he felt “so much peace” before slashing police with a sword outside Buckingham Palace because he was “guaranteed paradise.”

Prosecutors allege Chowdhury plotted to kill members of the public at tourist attractions including London’s Madame Tussauds and the Gay Pride parade last year.

He is said to have bragged about deceiving a jury which cleared him over the sword attack.

Two unarmed officers suffered injuries while disarming Chowdhury near Buckingham Palace in August 2017. He claimed at trial that he wanted to be killed by police and had no intention of hurting anyone but himself.

He denies engaging in conduct in preparation of terrorist acts, collecting information likely to be useful to a person committing or preparing an act of terrorism, and disseminating terrorist publications.

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TOP TRADE STORY

We have now learned the full reasons for Uber’s most recent licence refusal and coincidentally, also saw Uber’s farcical and insulting

attempts to whitewash its appalling safety record hit a new low. It’s “Tech for Safety Summit”, hosted in Westminster, was nothing but a sham, and Londoners won’t be fooled by this transparent ploy. In the spirit of open-mindedness, I asked if I could attend to hear what they had to say but was told it was full up – despite there then being empty seats at the event! Clearly, Uber is not interested in having a proper discussion about safety.

Instead, LTDA members turned out in force outside the event to tell Uber and attendees what they thought of their safety record. There’s a reason we bang on about it and given how Uber has failed at every turn to reform how it operates, it’s worth reminding everyone why they were refused a licence.

Insurance failings include allowing drivers to operate without checking the start dates of policies, or with forged, tampered with and fake policies.

Allowing drivers and vehicles to operate with fraudulent or faked driver and vehicle PH licences.

Failing to prevent a Phishing scam which rips off customers. TfL says this “HIGHLIGHTS THE EASE WITH WHICH FRAUDSTERS APPEAR TO BE ABLE TO MANIPULATE THE UBER APP”

The company (Cognizant) called in by TfL to review Uber’s systems found serious weaknesses. Uber rather than rectifying the weaknesses argued that Cognizant were wrong!

In a six-month period between Dec 2018 and May 2019, Uber received 27,799 safety related complaints and a total of 597,881 complaints, Uber says this is an acceptable level. Uber’s Chief Legal Officer claimed at the ‘summit’ that they had fixed the issue and verified that all their drivers in London are who they say they are, but how can Londoners trust them given their record?

If Uber truly cared about passenger safety, it would have addressed one of the real issues of the day: cross border hiring. Instead, this didn’t warrant a mention in speeches by either the aforementioned Chief Legal

Officer, or disappointingly, Transport Minister George Freeman MP who also spoke at the event. At the end of the day, Uber is not a fit and proper operator, has no right to preach about safety, and doesn’t have a leg to stand on. London deserves better.

More Focus Required I was delighted to attend the Annual General Meeting of the APPG on Taxis in the Houses of Parliament in mid-January. It was great to be able to welcome new MPs from the 2019 intake to the defence of the trade, as well as reconnecting with long-time supporters. Chair of the APPG, Wes Streeting MP, rightly called for the key focus of the next year to be persuading Government to finally deliver the primary legislation that has been long-promised, while the group will also seek an extension to the plug-in taxi grant to support those cabbies wishing to make the switch.

Holocaust Memorial Day I also attended the Holocaust Memorial Day event at

28 January 2020 |||| TAXI 3@TheLTDA |||| www.ltda.co.uk

Uber maybe going out of its way to pretend it cares about safety, but the facts speak for themselves

‘SAFETY SUMMIT’ SHAM FOOLED NOBODY STEVE MCNAMARA

City Hall, this is always a deeply moving event and it was a privilege to be able to attend and represent our trade. u

Steve McNamara is the LTDA’s General Secretary

[email protected]

01727 739 196

Jack Green

Get in touchTo see your advertisement in the leading magazine for black cab drivers in London contact us today:

See your advertisement hereTAXI is the membership magazine for theLicensed Taxi Drivers’ Association (LTDA). Itis circulated to 15,000 taxi drivers in Londonevery 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.


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TRADE

Devastating new information about Uber’s licence reveals nearly 28,000 safety complaints and its vulnerability to a global phishing scam were part of the reason for the refusal.

Letters sent by Transport for London to Uber reveal why it refused its license to operate contain explosive allegations around the company’s conduct in the capital.

It throws the company’s attempt to appeal the decision in November into serious jeopardy.

The newly-released letters outline a string of failings which left passengers and other road users in danger:u A global phishing scam, involving

manipulation of GPS signals to create fictitious journeys for which passengers are charged;

u The use of fake insurance certificates, and Uber’s failure to check start and end dates for insurance;

u Drivers with fraudulent private hire licences using the app to transport passengers;

u Unlicensed vehicles used to transport passengers;

u Drivers fraudulently replacing account profile pictures with photos of a different individual, to allow

others to pick up passengers using their log-in details;

u Drivers using online videos which demonstrated how to fake their locations at airports, to allow drivers to jump queues or find out destinations before beginning trips.It confirms that Uber received

27,799 safety-related complaints between December 1, 2018, and May 31, 2019.

It follows attempts by the company to whitewash its image by staging a safety conference in London this year.

LTDA General Secretary Steve McNamara said: “This letter shows Uber’s disgraceful conduct was worse than we could have imagined. Time

and again this unscrupulous company has failed to protect passengers.

“Uber has let unlicensed and uninsured drivers with fake certificates onto our streets, allowed fraudsters to charge innocent Londoners for fictitious journeys, and let drivers fake their own locations. TfL highlighted the enormous number of instances in which drivers had manipulated the app, causing huge risks to public safety. “It is damning that in just one six-month period last year, there were nearly 28,000 safety related complaints on the Uber app. This shows a pattern of failure and incompetence from Uber. It is vital for the safety of Londoners that the courts keep Uber

off the streets.”On November 25, 2019, TfL rejected

Uber’s application for a new operator’s licence in the capital.

TfL had said it had identified a pattern of failures by the company and its drivers including several breaches that placed passengers and their safety at risk.

Despite addressing some of these issues, TfL did not have confidence that similar issues will not reoccur in the future. This led it to conclude that the company is not fit and proper at this time.

Company CEO Dara Khosrowshahi was furious about the decision which he claimed was “wrong.”

28,000 Uber Safety Complaints Laid Bare

An Uber driver who conned blind singer by using her phone to give himself a £20 tip and five-star rating has been convicted of fraud.

Cornel Mihai tricked Victoria Oruwari, 39, who has performed at the likes of the Royal Opera House and BBC’s All Together, into handing over her phone.

He 32-year-old, from Barking, was convicted of fraud by false representation at Croydon Magistrates’ Court and will be sentenced on February 4.

Ms Oruwari was forced to order a BMW Uber when London Bridge Station cancelled its trains travelling to East Croydon at around 10pm on June 29.

Mihai, a father of two, told Ms

Oruwari he could not end the trip on his app and asked if he could do so on hers.

She said: “I thought it was a little odd, but there was nothing in his behaviour to make me think I wasn’t safe.

“I did not think anything fishy was going on, but I was handing him a lot of trust because of the information on the phone.”

Ms Oruwari, who has been blind since she was six-years-old, only became aware of the fare hike once she was home.

The soprano singer said: “It has reiterated the fact I am vulnerable and more susceptible to crime and being taken advantage of, but to lead a full life I have to trust people.”

Mihai denied the charge, but magistrate Pat Heslop said “We accept the evidence of the complainant, who gave a credible account of the events.

“Nothing has been suggested as to how this happened otherwise and we find it difficult to accept Mr Mihai wouldn’t have known Ms Oruwari had issues with her sight.”

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Uber driver cheated blind singer of £20 Court

Fraudster Cornel Mihai


THE MASSETT FILE

T fL has announced that it will give us access to some of the bus lanes that the trade asked to be include in. The routes going

ahead are Shorter Street; Byward Street; Tunnel Avenue, Greenwich; Greenwich Bus Pilot Way; and Terminus Place.

In the case of Shorter Street, it is hoped that the revision will be in place by March. Tunnel Avenue is a Greenwich bus lane, where the council has accepted TfL’s request to amend access. Hopefully this can be implemented by February, along with the bus pilot-way, which will enable taxis to leave the O2 after events without getting caught up with all the traffic leaving the car parks. Byward Street/Great Tower Street is the bus gate into the city, which is a City of London measure where TfL has sought the agreement of the City. Terminus Place, this should have re-opened when the Victoria station rank reverted to the forecourt. The situation has been that it is a Westminster Road and the City council has been insisting on a full safety audit because of concerns over pedestrian safety. TfL has now agreed to carry out the audit through its LUL subsidiary. TfL has also supported extending the operational hours of the Piccadilly bus lane to 24hrs. Again, this

is a Westminster road and the City council is currently considering the request. A request to include Taxis in the London Road bus lane north of Elephant and Castle was rejected due to lack of capacity at St George’s Circus.

Usually, bus lanes issues are initially raised with TfL at the Cab Ranks Committee. They get passed up the chain at TfL and are then resolved at the senior trade reps’ meetings. I understand that TfL has also written to all the boroughs requesting that they review any bus lanes that do not currently provide access to taxis. It has also urged them to take a positive view on the implementation of new ranks. There are several other outstanding bus lane issues that we are looking to take forward, but it is not a simple process and there may be insurmountable obstacles in the way in some cases.

I wonder how this news will sit with the doom and gloom merchants on social media who want everyone to believe the authorities are all out to get rid of us. They will of no doubt pointed to Bank Junction and Tottenham Court Road to press their narrative, but even those issues are not dead. In particular, we are in dialogue with the City over the future of Bank Junction. I am not trying to say that the trade is not facing some serious issues and some of them may be impossible to win but negative comments on Twitter don’t get us anywhere.

People on social media need to be a lot more careful about what they say. Do they really think that hurling vile abuse at individuals in positions of power helps the trade? They seem to think that there are no consequences for the things that they say, but in the real-world certain people do take offence and sometimes turn against the trade. It is little wonder that they are then not so helpful as they might have been. I recently met a senior local authority politician, who seemed to be very aware of taxi driver comments on social media, and insisted that we do something about social media and what he termed as “those ridiculous demonstrations.” So please think before you hit the button. u

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

TfL has urged councils to look favourably on bus lane and taxi rank requests which should be good news

NEW BUS LANE ACCESS GRANTED RICHARD MASSETT

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

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Valid MoT certi�cate (issued 13 days or less before inspection)

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

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TECHNOLOGY

Passenger requests for greener taxis has leapt 12 times, according to taxi app FREE NOW.

The company formerly known as mytaxi says the number of customers specifically requesting ZEC cabs has risen by a dozen since it launched the eco only option in December 2016.

There are now 500% more zero emission capable vehicles vailable on the app compared to this time last year.

FREE NOW, has also responded to the Government’s consultation on introducing green number plates for zero emission capable vehicles.

It wants the Government to introduce green number plates for zero emission capable vehicles.

Vandana Prashar, Head of Operations at FREE NOW said: “We are keen to show that black cab drivers are leading the way when it comes to making the switch to zero emission capable vehicles - and changing the zero emission capable cab’s number plates to green is another great way to raise awareness of the concerted efforts that are being made to improve air quality across the country.

“You will have seen more of the

iconic electric cabs on London’s streets over the last year and we are pleased that there are now five times the number of eco drivers on our app. The cab trade has been working hard to make London’s air cleaner and we have also seen a positive response from passengers - with 12 times the amount of requests for the eco taxis through the app.

“We are working with cab drivers to understand the pain points of

switching to electric vehicles - they are providing valuable insight that will help all car drivers that are going to make the switch in the next few years.”

FREE NOW operates in 100 cities across Europe, with 14 million passengers and more than 100,000 drivers.

In the UK, the app is available in London, Manchester, Nottingham, Edinburgh, Brighton, Reading, Oxford, Derby and Leicester.

Electric Cab Demand Soaring NEWS IN BRIEF

Wireless Charging Trials to BeginA wireless technology trial that could revolutionise the way electric taxis are charged is about to get underway in Nottingham.

Ten Nissan and LEVC electric taxis in Nottingham will be fitted with wireless charging hardware for six months to trial taxi rank based charging.

The project, which is supported by £3.4 million of Government investment, could provide an alternative to plugs and chargepoints, meaning multiple taxis could recharge at once and clutter would be removed from the streets. Drivers to charge up more easily and reducing clutter on our streets.

The project, a collaboration between organisations including Cenex, Sprint Power, Shell, Parking Energy, Nottingham City Council, Transport for London and Coventry University could speed up charging and help reduce congestion in city centres. Nottingham City Council will own the vehicles and provide them to drivers rent free. If successful, this technology could also be rolled out more broadly for public use.

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ANTHONY STREET

STREETS AHEAD

T housands of drivers have taken advantage of the mayor’s delicensing scheme since it launched in December 2018, but some

drivers are missing out on a £1,000 top up.TfL has been contacting drivers who accessed

the scheme, to help them switch from a diesel cab to electric, to say that they are entitled to an extra £1,000, but some have failed to respond and could miss out.

Following adjustments and analysis, TfL has calculated it is able to send out 32 more top-up letters for applicants who were originally given £9,000 and are now entitled to £10,000.

These are applicants that originally applied in the first week of March. TfL has emailed all these applicants but have only had one payment form returned so far. I am sure no-one wants to turn down £1,000! If you saw the email but thought it was a scam, it’s not. And if you think it could be you, but you haven’t seen an email, try checking your junk box or get in touch with TfL.

If you have yet to take advantage of the fund you can still apply. I’m told that drivers can still get £8,000 from the scheme.

Charge-point CharliesI have received a few calls from drivers pointing

out that some of the charge-points are not working. However, Chargemaster has pointed out that part of the problem is that some drivers appear to be using the emergency stop button to stop charging the cab, thereby causing the machine to malfunction.

An engineer has had to attend several charge-points to reset them and get them working again at -u 49 Southwark Street – This unit had a red cross

as the emergency stop button had been pressed. He reset the unit, tested and all back in comms.

u 48 Southwark Street – This unit also had the

The scheme is still open, and some drivers are missing out on an extra £1,000

DON’T MISS OUT ON DELICENSING TOP UP

emergency stop button pressed and was reset and tested and all OK.

u 103 Southwark Street – This unit had dropped out of comms as it had tripped at the feeder pillar, all reset and tested and all working Please avoid hitting the button to stop the charge.

That said, any drivers that find a charge-point that is not working are asked to take a photo, make note of the location and serial number and email me at [email protected] and I will try to get it fixed.

PCNSNo one likes to see a dreaded PCN flop on their mat – but it is one of the biggest issues we currently have to deal with. We get dozens of calls from drivers caught out over-ranking in Harrow Road for access to Paddington station. There is a camera trained on the area. You will get a ticket and they are almost impossible to challenge, so avoid stopping there. Victoria station and Victoria Palace Theatre are also blackspots to avoid where large swathes of drivers are being caught over-ranking. u

Anthony Street is an LTDA Executive Support Officer

“If you saw the email but thought it was a scam, it’s not”

Drivers queuing to access Victoria station

[email protected]

01727 739 196

Jack Green

Get in touchTo see your advertisement in the leading magazine for black cab drivers in London contact us today:

See your advertisement hereTAXI is the membership magazine for theLicensed Taxi Drivers’ Association (LTDA). Itis circulated to 15,000 taxi drivers in Londonevery 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.


ENTERTAINMENT

Hundreds of children were once again treated to one of the year’s biggest parties thanks to a host of kind-hearted volunteers.

Almost 600 people enjoyed the colourful and boisterous extravaganza at the Grosvenor Hotel organised by the London Taxi Drivers’ Charity for Children.

The Mad Hatter’s Tea Party has been staged every year for 48 years and is supported by an incredible array of helpers from the taxi trade, the London Fire brigade, Barking & Dagenham and Westminster Volunteer Police Cadets and many more.

Bradley Winfield, Chairman of the London Taxi Drivers’ Charity for Children said: “The London Taxi Drivers’ Charity for Children’s Mad Hatters Tea Party is such a special day for everyone involved. The charity is always overwhelmed by the generosity of those who support this party with donations of their money, their time or their services. It is a real privilege to be part of this annual event and to see so many deserving children, their parents, guardians or carers, enjoying this magical afternoon.”

The excited guests were welcomed to the event by a colourful parade of costumed characters, including the Furry

Tail Folk and Pearly Kings and Queens.Entertainment included live music from

Britain’s Got Talent’s Donchez Dacres, tribute acts Elvis Shmelvis and Ray “Elton” Johnson, Dance 21, beat-boxer Dana McKeon, Action Amanda (who’s passion is to keep children healthy and happy)

and the Crystal Palace Cheerleaders. The children also enjoyed meeting characters including Elsa and Anna from Frozen, Alice in Wonderland, Cinderella, The Little Mermaid, the Queens Park Rangers football mascots, and characters from Star Wars.

The charity arranges days out in the UK,

for special needs and disadvantaged children and provides funding to support children who need recreational, technology and mobility equipment.

Anyone interested in finding out more, donating or volunteering should visit the website at www.ltcfc.org.uk.

Children Enjoy “Magical” Charity Bash

Veteran’s Art Oils Charity’s Wheels CHARITY

D Day Veteran Bill Gladden is helping to support the work of the Taxi Charity through his lifelong love of painting.

Bill Gladden, from Welling in Kent, donates funds he raises from his commissions to the charity to help it continue to ferry his fellow veterans to remembrance events in the UK and around Europe.

The 96-year-old travels to Normandy and Holland every year with the Taxi Charity for Military Veterans.

This trip, amongst many others, is provided without charge to the veterans, and to cover the costs the charity is reliant on donations or grants.

Bill developed what was to be a lifelong love of painting as a child. He said: “I have always loved painting, my favourite subjects are horses and dogs, but I will happily paint anything that I am asked to.”

Bill was in the 6th Airborne, Armoured Recce Regiment and landed in Ranville on D Day in landing Zone N – he was 20 years old.

He was wounded and initially thought he had lost his foot. The medical team managed to save

his foot and he spent the next three years in hospital, having numerous operations before being pensioned out of the army in 1947.

Bill continued: “I work from photographs and ask that anyone who commissions me, donates what they feel is appropriate to the Taxi Charity for Military Veterans, so that veterans can continue to enjoy the various trips and excursions that we are invited to throughout the year.”

Bill loves receiving pictures from the many volunteer London taxi drivers who give up so much of their time to support the charity, his friends and charity supporters.

To find out more about the work of the Taxi Charity, make a donation or volunteer visit the website www.taxicharity.org 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 Wednesday, April 22,

2020, at 10-11.30am, in Woburn House.

LTDA


*Business users only. Finance illustration refers to Personal Contract Purchase. 7.3% APR Representative; figures based on TX Vista at £57,099 OTR (OTR figure is net of OLEV Plug in Taxi Grant which is up to £7,500 and is subject to European Whole Vehicle Type Approval and European Commission state aid notification) with a customer deposit of £3,750, followed by 60 monthly payments of £791.09 (equivalent weekly payments of £182.56 – it is not possible to pay by week, balance is paid monthly via direct debit) plus an optional final payment of £19,258 and £10 Purchase Fee. Based upon an annual contracted mileage of 30,000. You have the option at the end of the agreement to 1. return the vehicle and not pay the optional final payment. If the vehicle has exceeded the maximum agreed mileage a charge per excess mile will apply. In this example, 6p plus VAT per excess mile. If the vehicle is in good condition (fair wear and tear accepted) and has not exceeded the maximum agreed mileage you will have nothing further to pay. 2. Pay the optional final payment and keep the vehicle. Or 3. Part exchange the vehicle subject to settlement of your existing finance agreement; new finance agreements are subject to status. All prices inclusive of VAT. Two, three or four year plans are also available. Finance is provided by Black Horse Taxi Finance a trading style of Black Horse Ltd, St William House, Tresillian Terrace, Cardiff CF10 5BH. Credit is subject to status and is only available to UK residents aged 18 and over. All prices and promotions are valid for vehicles ordered and delivered before 31 March 2020.

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ON POINT

T here’s been a massive surge in the number of private parking tickets being sent out in recent years - with

6.8million issued in the past year alone. This is down to the growth in the use of private parking firms, who are ruthless and care not one bit for you, the reasons why you might have unwittingly been caught out, or the hardship you might endure thanks to their overzealous, aggressive and greedy behaviour. What’s worse, is that the companies that employ these ruthless bullies aren’t interested either and often claim that they are powerless to help. Their response is the same Pontius Pilate’s, to wash their hands of these issues, despite the fact the firm is operating on their land by consent.

A recent case brought home to me the hopelessness of these situations. One of our members was recently caught out at BP garage where he had the temerity to buy fuel but overstayed his welcome while dealing with an issue with his young child. In the

course of his visit, the driver’s young son, who has autism, became extremely upset and our member had to spend a long time calming him down. This meant he stayed past the 30-minute allowance in a disabled parking bay.

Our member knew nothing about the penalty he attracted until the fine flopped on his mat. Thinking that the company concerned would listen to his case and see sense, especially as he was a paying customer, he decided to write to them to explain what happened. Sadly, he was misguided in every way. Neither BP nor the parking company cared one iota about him and his son.

After getting a knock back he contacted

the LTDA and I took up the case on his behalf and the heartless, unfeeling response I have had is beyond belief.

Despite the fact there is huge BP sign hanging over

the garage in Stoke Newington Road,

the oil giant gave me the brush off, claiming that the issue was the responsibility of a third party, which runs the garage,

but “thank you for raising the

issue with them.” Essentially, they

weren’t interested.I wrote back to express my

frustration, to say that I thought for British Petroleum to state that it has no control over the companies that they partner with is at best disingenuous, and that I would urge drivers to avoid that garage in the future, if not BP

altogether. I will leave it up to you to consider what you think best.

The upshot of this, is that it’s completely pointless complaining to these people, everything is split up into franchises and nobody can be bothered or wants to take responsibility for their actions.

You have to be extremely careful out there and double check all the signs anywhere that you stop.

If you don’t want to pay up, the one chink of light is that the number of people successfully appealing their parking tickets is on the rise, according to new figures.

According to the official Parking on Private Land Appeals body, there were 89,609 appeals in the past year, up 33% on 2018, with drivers winning 40% of the time, meaning 32,012 tickets were cancelled.

It is a gamble though, but if you feel you have strong case it can be worth it. Just make sure you provide as much information and evidence as possible to help your case. u

Lloyd Baldwin is an LTDA Executive Support Officer

Greedy parking �rms picking the pockets of customers but will anybody hear your appeal for clemency?

BP’S NOT SO SLICK PUBLIC RELATIONSLLOYD BALDWIN

30-minute allowance in

listen to his case and see sense, especially as he was

BP sign hanging over the garage in Stoke

Newington Road,

issue with them.” Essentially, they

weren’t interested.


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“Unfortunately, the local greengrocer is no longer the local councillor “

PAUL BRENNAN

TOP RANK

So how was 2019 for you in the cab? I know I had many more good days than bad, and it seems

that it was the same for most drivers I’ve spoken to. Of course, that doesn’t mean that everything is rosy in the cab trade. No doubt as you read this in what I always believe is historically the real kipper season i.e. last two weeks of January and first two weeks of February, I will forgive you for calling me all sorts of names and telling me to shove my work level opinions where the sun doesn’t shine.

There is no doubt in my mind that the number one issue for our trade currently is the shocking number of road closures or restrictions being implemented or considered. Unfortunately, the local greengrocer is no longer the local councillor and town halls have become overrun with councillors and officials with their own vested interests or an ideology that in their narrow mindset supersedes that of residents, businesses and well just about anyone else. We are just seeing some small signs of the worm turning, but it’s not quick enough and those with vested interests are well and truly imbedded in position.

Hopefully, in other areas this coming year will see life and work levels for the average cabby continue to improve. At least the constant ‘to Brexit or not to Brexit’ debate looks to have finally been resolved, which should mean the reluctance of big business to do any deals without knowing what, when, where and how we will depart the block will hopefully subside. The outrageous behaviour of some of our MPs in delaying what the public voted for has had an impact on many UK businesses, the trade included, not just because deals haven’t been done, but because other parliamentary business has not been conducted.

The LTDA has worked extremely hard to get the powers that be to recognise that current taxi and private hire legislation is no longer fit for purpose and, quite frankly, hasn’t been for a long time. We’ve helped form an All Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) on Taxis to fight our corner in the ‘gas works’ and along with the APPG we were involved

with the Task and Finish Group on Taxi and private hire vehicle licensing set up by the Department for Transport (DfT) and independently chaired by Professor Mohammed Abdel-Haq.

The Task & Finish group suggested and published 34 recommendations that government should introduce in the interest of public safety. Last year, the Conservative government changed its mind from “we won’t be introducing any legislation” to “actually we will be,” then once again having no mention of it in the Queen’s speech just before Christmas. That doesn’t mean it’s not going to happen, and we will now continue to do all we can to make sure that it does. Q&S When discussing my articles with drivers they often ask two things:1) When will I do more Q&As with people and companies connected to the trade?2) Can I bring back the Did You Know? section at the end. Well as far as number one goes, yes, and I’ve lined up John Heath from Dynamo, which is the company bringing the electric Nissan taxi to the streets of the UK, and also Anand Nandha who is the head of compliance at Transport for London. So, if you have a question you would like me to put to either of these gentlemen send them to [email protected] using the subject line Q&A. The dozen or so most popular questions received will be put to them and printed in taxi.

And as far as number 2? Well you may be aware that we are now seeing new taxi drivers on the streets of London with badge numbers that begin with 80***. Now, you might be thinking, how can we only be at 80,000 when we’ve been around for over 350 years? Well ‘did you know’ the driver with badge number 1 was James Michael Howe. ‘Jimmy’ entered the trade in 1884, driving horse-drawn carriages around

London. In 1903, Jimmy became the first London cabbie to pick up passengers in a petrol-powered cab, a French-built Prunel and that was when the current run of badge’s began, when taxis became fuel powered. A more in-depth account of London’s No1 badge driver can be found on the Londonist website, follow this link https://londonist.com/london/history/london-s-first-taxi-driver-james- michael-howe

I realise as I write this we are now at the end of January, it may even be that its early February when you are reading it, but as I missed writing something for the first edition of taxi in 2020, I would like to take this opportunity to wish you all a happy, healthy and prosperous year. u

Paul Brennan, LTDA Executive

Business has improved but the new year always provides a challenge especially with yet more road closures

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LETTERSTHE KINDNESS OF MUSTAPHA

I wanted to email you personally with a recommendation for one of your London cabbies, Mustapha Bell. To cut a long story short,

I left my mobile phone in an Uber in December, while travelling from Heathrow with my young daughter. After realising I left the phone on the back seat, I was struggling to get in touch with the Uber driver through the platform and was not sure I would ever see my phone again, even though I knew where it was!

Now, this is where Mustapha comes in. Mustapha picked my daughter and I up from

the hotel I was staying in for one night, Marriott Maida Vale to Hyde Park, and I mentioned my lost phone and the dilemma that I was leaving for Bristol that same afternoon and to my overwhelming surprise, Mustapha suggested he would ring my phone and continue to do so until the Uber driver picked up. Bearing in mind he was working all day and I would likely not see

him again, so why put yourself out? It was as I was departing London, my hotel took a call from Mustapha who informed me he managed to speak to the Uber driver and had got his number for me to call and arrange a pickup. It does not end there. Mustapha was so helpful, he then even offered to coordinate the pickup and deliver the phone to me personally, which was well above his call of duty, outstanding! This short story has instilled a new pride into black cabbies over Uber. Black cabs are typically more expensive in my experience, but what you get is so much better and worth the additional pound. If you are reading this Mustapha; thank you once again. Best wishes for 2020. u

David Greenwood, Head of Retail & Consumer, Leisure & Hospitality Practice MENA

STAR LETTER

EASY RUNu Shakespeare’s Globe

to Business Design Centre

HARD RUNu Highgate Golf Club

to Blakemore Hotel

Do you have a gripe or praise? Contact us at 0207 121 0523 or email [email protected]

MY HOSPITAL EMERGENCYI hope through the pages of TAXI I can record

my heartfelt thanks to Ben the driver who took me from Aldwych, where I had fallen and hit my

head, to accident and emergency at St Thomas’ hospital on Friday, January 3. Ben was so kind and reassuring and took my arm into the hospital and stayed until he knew I was safe. I am sure he is a person who does kind things without needing thanks, but I needed to thank him regardless and send him every good wish.

Hilary Lane

STOP BROOMING JOBSAs a cab driver for over 30 years, I fully

understand why another driver would swerve away from drunks, groups of rowdy

youths, and people who generally appear a bit dodgy. However, why does a driver sitting on the point on Debenhams rank in Oxford Street at 2pm, who’s invested in a TXE, broom off a polite respectable 20-year-old couple wanting to go to Winter Wonderland? Okay, it was only a £6.80 job but what would you expect off of Debenhams rank in December, “Kempton Park?” If they can’t get a black cab off the rank, what are their options? They’ll be pretty annoyed and unlikely to start searching their phone for a black cab app. Even if they do, one way or another the driver who gets the job off an app will effectively be buying back street work, but more likely they’ll turn to the one

they’ve all heard about, “Uber.” Come on, wake up mate! Your badge number started with a 6, so you’re no butter boy; come February you’ll be riding around with rest of us for the best part of an hour looking for any job going anywhere. Stop upsetting our punters and giving our work away to the opposition.

Geoff Crane

TOUCHED BY CABBIE’S GENEROSITY

I was reminded recently how kind and generous people can be. I had injured my knee while out running and having received treatment from

the wonderful people at St Thomas’s Hospital and I was discharged shortly after midnight. The hospital contact could not get anybody to me for over two hours, so I set off on foot to find a taxi rank. I don’t live in London and had gone out with no money, cards or any means of paying, all of which were in my hotel room. As I hobbled down the road, a London taxi driver who had recently finished his shift saw me, and pulled over. I explained that I would need to ask him to wait at my hotel so I could fetch my wallet from the room. When we got there, he refused to take a fare. So, this wonderful man had, when off duty, taken me to my hotel for free. I was too wrapped up in my own problems to take his details but I hope that the driver who took me from St Thomas’s to Travelodge Farringdon, before heading for his

home in Rainham, Essex, will read this and know that his generosity has touched me deeply. I have made a donation to the Taxi Drivers’ Charity for Children as a small gesture of appreciation, and I wish him and his family a peaceful and happy 2020.

Toby Harding

UNSEEN ACTS OF GENEROSITYThank you to the driver who picked me up

near the junction of Wyndham Road and Camberwell New Road on Tuesday, January,

around 6.15 pm. I was struggling to walk and was very shaken up after threatening behaviour by two members of the public towards me. The driver took me to Oval Station and refused payment. I know this is one of probably many unseen acts of kindness by cab drivers in London – thank you from Eileen, a very grateful member of the public.

Eileen Ollieuz, Headteacher, Highshores School, SE5

CHEATS STILL PROSPERING Just spotted this in front of me on A40, POB

into London. Look closely at the Reg No - still cheating the system. Disgusting!

G Hinchcliffe

“Stop upsetting our punters and giving our work away to the opposition”


The scandal of private hire drivers buying test results shows that TfL went to sleep on the job

TFL MUST BRING IT’S A-GAME TO 2020CHRIS ACKRILL

ON THE ROAD

One of the big scandals of 2019 was the fake English language tests for private hire drivers. English

proficiency was rightly being tested by Transport for London at designated centres. Test certificates could also be obtained through equivalent qualifications gained at private colleges. Journalists investigating this weak spot found they could simply pay a sum of money and be awarded a certificate without sitting a test. A BBC journalist paid £500 to buy a qualification. When the resulting television expose was aired TfL had questions to answer. Officials thanked the journos for all their good work and promised to investigate the matter. Would there be a Christmas knock on the door for minicab drivers who had bought certificates from a Mickey Mouse college?

TfL appeared to act decisively, but the issue should have been at the top of the agenda from the outset. Transport for London is the gatekeeper of taxi and

private hire legislation. The regulator has the responsibility to those working within the trade, and to passengers, to ensure everything is above board. It shouldn’t be left to the media to investigate suspicious practices. TfL said it was “deeply concerned” and “will support the relevant authorities with any wider investigations into these organisations.” I thought TfL was the relevant authority: they are the authority who issue taxi and private hire

licences, and it involves itself in everything imaginable that happens on London’s streets; including closing roads at will and telling us how to conduct our business. If TfL is the police, who is policing the police? I’m not sure where the mayor is on this issue either. This is happening on his watch, in his city. Where is the geezer?

TfL refused Uber a new licence towards the end of the year. I don’t know whether the ban will hold this time, but TfL is evidently aware of suspicious goings-on in the murky world of private hire. Since minicab licensing rocketed with the coming of Uber there have been insurance scandals, serious customer data breaches, and a huge crime rate amongst drivers that Uber wanted to keep quiet. There are many people driving minicabs who aren’t who they say they are. Those in the know in private hire circles can put you in touch with a tame doctor who can provide a guaranteed trouble-free medical without having access to your medical records. When I renewed my taxi licence I had to make an appointment with an optician, but I understand that even this isn’t necessary in the weird and frightening world of private hire. Private colleges should have been scrutinised along with all the other possible loopholes in minicab licensing.

Has the insurance matter been resolved? Are Uber drivers telling their insurance companies that they are working in areas they are not licensed for? Wolverhampton and Brighton come up a lot in discussions on cross border hiring: would a Wolverhampton-

licensed driver working in Brighton be adequately insured? Don’t ask TfL,

that’s for another body to work out. Cross-border hiring will surely continue to be a talking point this year,

but our licensing authority will

wring their hands and hope it all blows over. In fairness, the

Government needs to get involved here, tighten legislation

and create a national database.

Taxi complaints are handled directly by TfL. Complaints are taken seriously, though not as seriously as they were under the Public Carriage Office when the police ran the show. Private hire complaints are handled in-house by individual operators. We only get to hear of incidents if they are serious enough to interest the media. Uber never took complaints seriously and that’s part of the reason why it was denied a new London licence, and why it is sure to go through another very long and expensive court appeal.

TfL drags its feet looking at complaints but moves like greased lightning to bank the licence money from around 113,000 minicab drivers (outnumbering by at least five times the number of taxi licences). When I worked as a Knowledge examiner a couple of my colleagues would photograph suspicious activity by out of town minicab drivers and report it. The camera footage would be sent upstairs, but we’d rarely hear back. They were undoubtedly too busy selling licences to act on evidence of illegal activity that was handed to them on a plate. The fact is, handling complaints doesn’t bring in any money, issuing licences does. I’ll be hoping for a lot more from our licensing authority this year.

Website: pubcat.co u

Chris Ackrill is a taxi driver and former Knowledge examiner

p3

p2

“TfL Will Never Stop Licence Scam”

The newspaper of the Licensed Taxi Drivers’ Association

@TheLTDA#45612 November 2019

LTDA

BUMP: pxxHED1 HED2

BBC EXPOSES PHV FRAUD

“TfL refused Uber a new licence towards the end of the year. I don’t know whether the ban will hold this time, but TfL is evidently aware of suspicious goings – on in the murky world of private hire. Since minicab licensing rocketed with the coming of Uber...“


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Two hundred thousand people in the UK are trapped paying rates of interest of 5% & above as a result of ‘inactive’ or ‘zombie’ banks refusing to offer them new deals. Homeowners who happened to have mortgages with Northern Rock or Bradford & Bingley when they were nationalised in 2009 have become trapped paying high ‘standard variable rates’ or ‘SVRs’ of interest, as a result of the nationalisation and subsequent change in policy of these banks. When they encouraged customers to sign up with them, these lenders appeared to promise that they would be able to transfer onto new deals when their initial fi xed-rate period ended. But, in the wake of the fi nancial crash in 2008, Northern Rock and Bradford & Bingley (by then in public ownership) ceased to offer new mortgages in the market. At the same time, strict new lending criteria were introduced, which meant

that lots of people could no longer afford to switch lenders. When Mortgage Prisoners’ fi xed-rate period ended, they were stuck paying high SVRs, in some cases for as long as 12 years. In other cases, people’s mortgages have been sold on to hedge funds who have ratcheted up the rates they charge at a time when most other home owners are enjoying unprecedentedly low rates. A group of affected Mortgage Prisoners has instructed Harcus Parker, a commercial litigation law fi rm based in London, to investigate possible claims on its behalf. A website has been set up where affected people can fi nd out more information and join the claim: www.mortgageprisoners.com. The group will say that Northern Rock, Bradford & Bingley and the other inactive lenders who have bought these mortgages, should be required to treat them fairly, and not to set their interest rates at a punitively high level.Harcus Parker estimate that some

affected borrowers will be able to reclaim over £30,000 from their lenders. In some cases borrowers also took out Northern Rock ‘Together Mortgages’ which offered an additional unsecured loan on top of a mortgage. These products punished borrowers who repaid their mortgage by charging, in some cases, up to 15% interest on the unsecured loan. The group believe a large amount of this interest can be reclaimed. In some cases this will also amount to over £30,000. Damon Parker, Founding Partner of Harcus Parker, said: “Many of our clients have told us that, before they joined the group, they thought that they were alone. Many have felt ashamed about being in fi nancial hardship and of the impact it has had on their families. We believe lenders should be required to act responsibly and fairly to customers. We hope that by bringing these claims we can end the unfair treatment of mortgage prisoners.”

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TRADE

Uber’s boss held private talks with London’s outgoing transport chief ahead of the looming licensing tussle.

Dara Khosrowshahi met Mike Brown, Transport for London (TfL) commissioner while the way to the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland.

The meeting was not publicly disclosed but is believed to have been leaked by a whistle-blower.

It came around two months after Uber was banned by the regulators for the second time after a series of safety failings were uncovered.

TfL confirmed that the company’s systems had enabled unauthorised drivers to upload their photographs to other Uber driver accounts - a failing that affected at least 14,000 trips.

Confirming the meeting took place, a TfL spokesperson: “The CEO of Uber met with the TfL commissioner while he was in europe for a number of meetings.”

Uber was furious about the ban and appealed the decision, with a hearing expected in the first half of this year.

At the time of the announcement, TfL said it had “identified a pattern of failures by the company including

several breaches that placed passengers and their safety at risk,”

“Despite addressing some of these issues, TfL does not have confidence that similar issues will not reoccur in the future, which has led it to conclude that the company is not fit and proper at this time.”

The content of the discussion between Mr Brown and Mr Khosrowshahi was unclear, although the fact that the meeting provoked criticism as, Uber’s continued operation in London is the subject of court proceedings.

The two men met twice during the course of Uber’s previous London ban, according to reports at the time.

An Uber spokesperson did not comment directly on the meeting but said: “We are appealing TfL’s decision.

“Safety is our top priority which is why we have robust systems and processes in place.

“We are working closely with TfL to address their concerns and requests, as we have since 2017.

“When it comes to safety on our platform our work is never done and

we will keep listening, learning and improving.”

The original ban on Uber was overturned by the courts in June 2018, when it was handed a temporary 15-month licence.

It was made subject to more than a dozen conditions including the appointment of three independent directors to the board of Uber London Limited (ULL) and a requirement for the company to produce an independently verified assurance report to TfL every six months.

The presiding magistrate highlighted Uber’s refusal to accept blame for shortcomings in conducting criminal record checks on drivers and delays to informing regulators about data breaches as reasons for continuing concerns about its oversight.

Uber then won a further two-month licence before November’s ban was announced.

It has also emerged that regulators in Birmingham are considering delaying a decision on handing the company a new licence until the outcome of its London appeal was clear.

Mr Brown is due to leave his role at Transport for London in May and lead the restoration of the Houses of Parliament.

Uber Boss Holds Talks With TfL

Mike Brown Dara Khosrowshahi

L O N D O N N O R T H

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COURT

A former Uber driver turned gig economy campaigner has been cleared of ‘assaulting’ the ears of police officers with a megaphone. James Farrar had gone on trial for the alleged assault of two officers who said his chanting through the loudhailer in support of workers’ rights hurt their ears.

Farrar, now the chair of the private hire branch of the Independent Worker’s Union of Great Britain, was leading a protest on March 4 in Parliament Square when Sgt James Lewis and PC Ann Spinks were subjected to “battery” by the sound of his amplified voice, a jury at Southwark crown court heard.

Farrar was using the loud hailer at a protest a decision to levy the Congestion Charge on minicab drivers and not taxi drivers.

But there was no evidence the 51-year-old had committed a crime, Judge Philip Bartle QC said.

PC Ann Spinks told Mr Farrar’s trial she was left with ringing in her ear “like a fire alarm going off” after a megaphone was purposely aimed at her.

Farrar said the legal action against him was “a corrupt and crude

attempt... to break our union”.He claimed he was only arrested and

charged with the crime of assaulting an emergency worker a month later after he had made a formal complaint about the policing of the protest.

The alleged assault occurred when police tried to clear protesting Uber drivers away from flatbed trucks they had brought in to remove their parked minicabs.

Farrar had wanted his members to be able to drive on to the square and

complained to police that they were being treated differently to black-cab drivers, who were also protesting that day.

He said it was because “the demonstrators came from black and minority ethnic backgrounds.”

Woods told the jury that amid “pushing and shoving” between police officers and protesters Farrar had used the megaphone close to the left ears of both Spinks and Lewis in a way that was “reckless” and

“caused them injury albeit slight and transitory”.

He said the loud noise had exacerbated an ear infection Lewis was suffering from and Spinks said “there was disruption to her hearing”. He conceded the jurors might be surprised to hear the problems “cleared up after a short period of time” given the allegation Farrar had committed an assault.

“They weren’t beaten but the prosecution says the defendant was reckless in his use of the loud-hailer so close to the head and left ears of both of the police officers,” Woods said.

The jury also heard that minicab drivers were using whistles, air horns and vuvuzelas and the protest was as a loud as a rock concert or Premier League football match.

Woods said Farrar had not been arrested on the day of the protest “because it might have exacerbated the situation.”

Farrar was one of two complainants in the employment tribunal which ruled that Uber drivers should be treated as employees with rights, such as holiday and sick pay. The latest appeal against the ruling is still to be heard.

Union leader cleared of ear battery

Police said megaphone “chanting” hurt their ears

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NEWS IN BRIEF

ENVIRONMENT

EV charger funding has been doubled to £10 million by the Government in a bid to encourage people to make the switch.

It is the second time the Government has doubled its EV infrastructure funding allowance.

Last August, £2.5m was allocated to the installation of EV chargers in residential areas, matching a £2.5m pledge made in 2017.

The focus will be on urban areas and the latest cash injection will go towards installing an additional 3,600 street side chargers across the UK.

It could also fund the development of a publicly accessible charger monitoring platform that would show whether individual facilities are in use or out of order.

The Department of Transport says such a system “could then be used by developers and incorporated into sat-navs and route-mapping apps.”

The Government claims to have supported the installation of more than 24,000 public charging points to date, including 2400 rapid chargers, as part of its Road to Zero emissions strategy.

A shortage of charging points is one of the key reasons many people are said to put off going electric, with ‘range anxiety’ often highlighted.

There has also been a wave of criticism

from automotive industry leaders and experts about the slow roll-out of EV infrastructure in the UK.

Jaguar Land Rover UK boss Rawdon Glover has been a strong critic of Government failings.

He has said: “I’d like to see a faster roll-out of infrastructure in terms of scale, of course, especially in light of the Government’s stated Road to Zero ambitions, but I also think there need to be steps to make what we have today more usable.”

Recently, DfT minister of state George

Freeman claimed the only way the Government can meet its goal of stopping sales of petrol and diesel cars by 2040 is through investment in infrastructure and promotion of EVs.

He said: “By 2024, I’d like to more than double the number of rapid charge points to over 5,000. That would give even more people across the country the chance to drive electric vehicles, and we need to think about a balance between following where the uptake [of electric cars] is and reassuring tomorrow’s purchasers that we’re building for them.”

Funding Boost for EV Charging Transport Sexual Harassment RisingCRIME

More than half of women say they have been the victims of sexual harassment on public transport in London, according to a new survey.

The most common offence was being deliberately pressed up against by a stranger, experienced by 37% of women and 12% of men.

The survey found 39% of Londoners were subjected to unwanted sexual behaviour on trains and buses — 55% of women and 21% of men.

Tens of thousands of incidents on buses and the Tube go unreported, the YouGov study suggests

Around 12% of women saw a flasher expose their genitals, while 8% had complete strangers request sexual favours.

Only 2% of respondents had reported an incident despite campaigns encouraging passengers to report unwanted sexual behaviour.

TfL said the number of reported sex offences across the network was “low”, with one incident for every two million journeys, but incidents were “underreported”.

It recorded 285 sex offences on the underground and 161 on buses between July and September last year.

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What better way to kick off the New Year than with a free £150 gift card?Our spotters love nothing more than hopping around London looking

for LTDA diaries – so make sure you have yours in the windscreen.This week they caught up with Peter Russell, who was delighted when

our spotters surprised him with a £150 All 4 One gift card just for having his diary on the dashboard.

All 4 One cards can be spent on a huge array of items in dozens of stores, including Debenhams, Argos, River Island and Marks and Spencer.

Peter said: “Brilliant – thanks very much. What stroke of luck to start off the New Year.”A short while later our spotters managed to catch up with Abdel Shaykhon , who was pleased as punch when he was handed a £150 gift card simply for having his diary on display.Abdel said: “That’s great, thanks a lot. That’s made my day. ”Each year we give away almost £8,000 to LTDA members, so the odds of coming up trumps are pretty good. Just make sure you have your LTDA membership diary on display and let us do the rest.

DIARY WATCH

ALL 4 ONE BONUS FOR LTDA MEMBERS

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Insurance certi�cate (not a copy) – properly a�xed in the luggage compartment

Valid MoT certi�cate (issued 13 days or less before inspection)

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

Taximeter installation and calibration certi�cate, issued within 30 days of inspection

Exemption certi�cate (where applicable) Modi�cation approval (where applicable) Tool to release ramps Tyres – must conform to manufacturer’s

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NEWS IN BRIEF

HEALTH With the increasing number of assaults against frontline workers, there’s never been a better time to sign up to our free Krav Maga classes for members. Even a cursory look at the news shows a shocking number incidents involving delivery drivers and cab drivers.

With police often too busy and understaffed to help, it could be time to meet Ricky Manetta and learn the art of self-defence.

Ricky, who is himself a taxi driver, teaches the use of blocking, grappling and wrestling style moves to fend off attackers – even from those wielding weapons.

They can also help you get fit and lose some of those extra pounds you gained over the Christmas period.

Ricky says: “The course is designed to give people confidence to deal with threatening situations. The aim is to help drivers get out of violent or threatening situations without having to fight.”

Hundreds of cabbies have taken the classes and have praised them as fun and confidence building.

Krav Maga was created in the 30s to protect Czech Jews from anti-Semitic attacks. It is purely about self-defence and improving your health.

It gives drivers piece of mind to deal with situations, which can help stop them spiralling out of control, or ending with serious injury. Not only does it offer the chance to improve your fitness and general health, but your state of mind as well.

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

He starts the next course at

the Orwell Centre in Wapping on Monday, February 24.

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 might want 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.

Join the Krav Maga-nificent Army Heathrow Gets Anti Drone TechA hi tech system designed to stop drones from grounding flights is to be installed at Heathrow.

Bosses are desperate to avoid the chaos which shut down Gatwick in 2018 when a drone was flown near its runways.

It also follows incidents and threats by eco-activists to shut down airport operations using the devices.

The manufacturer, Operational Solutions, confirmed they had supplied a “bespoke” system “to protect the UK’s busiest airfield” but said details were top secret.

It “works by detecting and tracking drones in surrounding airspace and alerting airports of unauthorised drone use quickly and efficiently,” the firm said.

It follows the introduction of laws last year banning unauthorised drones from being flown within Flight Restriction Zones, which extend for 5,000 metres (3.1 miles) from airport boundaries, with the threat of five years imprisonment.

Last January, Heathrow was forced to stop departing flights after an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) sighting. Then last month, a British Airways passenger told police she spotted a drone flying at 30,000ft as her plane came in to land at the airport.

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ENVIRONMENT Work ripping up the Stoke Newington gyratory and revamping the high street could begin in the autumn.

The changes which include introducing a protected cycle space and new pedestrian crossings were supported by 59% of respondents to a consultation, according to TfL.

Currently, roads in the area do not work as well as they could for people walking and cycling, with high levels of traffic, a lack of pedestrian crossings and rat-running in residential streets, the regulator claimed.

Penny Rees, TfL’s Head of Healthy Streets Investment and Delivery, said: “Our plans to transform Stoke Newington gyratory will make a big difference to people living in and visiting the area, reducing danger to people walking and cycling and enabling everyone to make the most of the high street. We very much value all of the feedback we’ve received on our plans and look forward to starting construction next year.”

The revamp aims to increase the number of people walking and cycling and improve access to buses while reducing reliance on cars, through:• Building a protected northbound cycle lane on Stoke Newington High

Street, creating a dedicated space for people to cycle u Installing three new pedestrian crossings, making streets in the area easier and safer to cross u Creating a new southbound bus and cycle lane along Stoke Newington High Street, providing better access to high street shops u Adding traffic filters to the junctions of Tyssen, Hollar and Batley Roads at their junction with the high street, which will reduce rat-running through residential streets u Introducing two-way traffic operation along Rectory, Manse and Evering Roads u Creating three new ‘pocket parks’,

which could host new seating areas, trees, local community gardens, entertainment and cycle parking spaces u Introducing further traffic calming measures, including a new 20mph speed limit, raised junctions and crossings and restricted vehicle access on some side roads

Construction work is expected to start in 2020 and will last for approximately 18 months.

Construction on a number of major new cycleways is either under way or set to begin this year. Work on Cycleway 4 between Tower Bridge and Greenwich began in June, whilst work on Cycleway 9 between Brentford and Olympia will start later this year.

Residents Back Stoke Newington Revamp NEWS IN BRIEFBoris Bus Backdoor BanTRANSPORT

Passengers will be banned from boarding through the middle and rear doors of the £355,000 Boris buses to prevent fare-dodging.

Customers will have to enter the bus via the front-door after a trial on route 8 saw Oyster card readers at the middle and back doors switched off.

The trial is said to have halved fare-dodging, which costs Transport for London £3.6 million a year, double that on routes with front-door boarding.

The updated Routemasters were introduced by former London mayor Boris Johnson in a bid to hark back to the iconic buses of the 60s and 70s.

It was hoped that three door entry would reduce the time buses spend at bus stops. The trial found restricting boarding made little difference.

It is the latest blow to the reputation of the buses, which are built in Northern Ireland, which have previously been criticised after failing air-conditioning and windows that don’t open caused passengers to overheat in the summer.

Passengers with mobility issues and parents with prams will still be able to board via the rear doors.

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TAXI TALK

I’ve always been a staunch advocate of learning basic first aid training ever since I saw a paramedic behind a screen doing CPR on a guy lying on the

pavement. He was pumping his chest and the guy suddenly re-gained consciousness. Every cabbie I’ve spoken to can always tell a story about one of their passengers collapsing with a possible cardiac arrest. So, when I read in TAXI that the LTDA had teamed up with Abbey First Aid Solutions, (AFAS) to run basic life support courses at Taxi House, I got permission as a retired member, to book an appointment. The guy who runs the show is Paul Tippett, a London cabbie based in Essex. I found to him to be very professional with a wicked sense of humour. When one of the wags shouted out a funny remark he replied with an even funnier remark!

After the introduction, he got five of us to lay on the floor and another five to turn us over into the recovery position, making sure their airways are not blocked. This entails placing the arm nearest to you to the side, bending the opposite leg, placing their hand against their cheek and holding it there. You then gently roll the casualty towards you! Then he placed five dummies on the floor and five of us had to bend the head back and check for breathing for 10 seconds. Give 30 chest compressions then give two rescue breaths. The rate of compressions, (CPR) is a massive 100-120 per minute, and the chest should be compressed by between 5-6cms.

We then moved on to someone learning how to help someone who is choking. You place your arms around the casualty from the rear and bend them forward, administer up to five sharp blows between the shoulder blades with the flat of your hand. Then place your arms around the casualty, form one hand into a fist and place on the upper abdomen just below the rib cage. Pull sharply inwards and upwards. Last but not least, Paul brought over an artificial defibrillator, (AED) and pulling out another dummy, he showed us how to operate it. It gives out electric shocks and basically jump-starts the heart!

The time whizzed by and at the end Paul handed out

the certificates for completing the course. I thoroughly recommend attending a future one because the time may come when you have to assist a passenger – or one of your loved ones. I asked any of the chaps if they were heading home north bound, but most of them were working. Then up came John Simons who said he’d run me to Hampstead. John told me he was originally from St. Pancras and now lived in Essex and he was running me home because he was a fan of mine and had read all my articles since he got his bill. I was quite touched by his generosity and I can’t thank him enough!

Split Waterman RIP I was saddened to hear that one of my heroes from the 50s had passed away in Spain aged 96. I appreciate that the majority of my readers would probably not even heard of him. Nevertheless, I believe his fascinating story is well worth telling!

Squire Francis Waterman – or Split to his many thousands of fans, many of them being women because of his Errol Flynn looks - was the undisputed star of motorbike speedway during the decade after the war. He learned his racing prowess while serving in the army in Italy. He fell in a race once and split his racing leathers down the back, his mates nicknamed him Split Arse, soon to be called for the rest of his life as just Split.

He was snapped up by Wembley Lions after the war and captained them to two British Championships. Then in 1950, he was transferred to Harringey Racers for £3,500, a record fee in those days! That’s when my little gang started watching him at every meeting because he really was very exciting and daring. You need to remember that the motorbikes in the races didn’t have any brakes and the winners were those who could whizz fearlessly around the bends at a very fast speed, throwing showers of cinders over their rivals. After winning the London Riders’ Championship, his team honours were National League Champions, National Trophy winners, British Speedway Cup winners, London Cup and Coronation Cup winners! He was also runner-up in two world championships and also won 30 international caps for England against Australia! Sadly, the Harringey Stadium closed in 1954

and Split went to West Ham Hammers for a season then returned to the Wembley Lions. But he seemed to be losing interest in the Speedway Racing and in the 1960s he got involved with the notorious Kray twins. His car was stopped at Newhaven with his fiancée driving it and gold bullion worth £10,000 was found hidden in the chassis. The police then searched her home and found a stack of guns! Split was charged with gold smuggling and firearms offences. He got four years in gaol and his fiancée got six months. They married at the end of his sentence and moved to Spain where they spent nearly 10, happy years. They’ll never be another ‘Split’ Waterman

Three Score Years and Ten The life expectancy in The UK not too long ago was 70. But thanks to the NHS and their wonderful doctors and nurses, it is creeping up to another decade. Incidentally, they recently celebrated three score years and 10 since their founding by Aneurin Bevan, the Labour health minister in the late 40s! Japan tops the world league for life expectancy, at 87, with the UK lying 14th, with 79.2 for men and 82.9 for women. In a couple of months, god willing, I hope to be celebrating FOUR score years and five! Not bad for an old geezer who puffs his pipe too much and drinks too much rum and coke! u

ALF TOWNSEND

Alf gets to grips with a dummy while learning to save lives on the LTDA’s popular �rst aid course

THE REAL FOURTH EMERGENCY SERVICE


blow up the microwave, burn the bottom out of my favourite saucepan and decorate the kitchen ceiling with blueberries. And as he worked it sounded like the London Philharmonic Orchestra was warming up in my 12-foot square kitchen. There were bangs, crashes, wallops and the sound of breaking glass and china.

My breakfast finally appeared on a tray that was covered in a sort of greasy soot. Cornflakes floating in orange juice accompanied by two bourbon biscuits. And still no tea.

Next, I asked him to help me to the bathroom so I could wash my face and brush my teeth. A brainless task that just required his muscles and a gentle steer.

Once in there he tried to be helpful and loaded my toothbrush, but with Immac not toothpaste. When I tasted it, foaming at the mouth, I turned to him and shouted, “what have you done?” He chose that moment to bring close the cloth (the very one that I know he uses on his athlete’s foot when it flares up) to wash my face. I am determined to get well soon so Mr Meg’s caring skills (or kills as I fondly call them) won’t be needed for long.

And still no sign of tea…. u

LICENSED TO CHAT

My New Year’s Day was spent in hospital having a surgery, which needed a two-week recuperation period. Under

doctor’s orders I am not allowed to drive for a fortnight, so I won’t be sitting uncomfortably, glancing at the fearful faces of my passengers through the rear-view mirror, in London traffic jams any time soon. Farewell Piccadilly, Goodbye Leicester Square as the song says…for now.

Being marooned on the sofa with Mr Meg as my nurse is not the cure for a worry-free recovery. The man is willing, but not able.

Here are the chats we have had this morning so far and it is only 7.20am.Me: “Can I have a cup of tea?”Him: “What? Like right now? I just made you one.”Me: “That was at 10 o’clock last night.”Him (tuts): “OK, OK. In a minute.”Me, (teeth chattering with the cold): “Is the heating on?”Him “It’s roasting in here”Me: “What does the thermostat say?

Him: “I haven’t got me glasses but it’s soooo hot in here. In fact, I think I’ll open a window….”Me “I am cold because I am not moving much, and I am not dressed.” Unlike you. You are dressed like a lumberjack and wearing a fur lined hat with earflaps indoors.”Him: “Shall I get you a hat?”Me: “No. Just turn up the heating.”Him: “I have a foil blanket in the shed. Like the ones the marathon runners use. Shall I fetch that?”Me: “Oh yes, do. Go get the foil blanket and stuff it where the sun doesn’t shine, but before that, turn the sodding heating up or I’ll *&^%$£ing kill you!!!”

Mr Meg is a man with has many skills, but none of them can be applied in a kitchen. I have cooked every meal he/we have eaten for three decades.

So, day one of my recuperation and breakfast was a Craig Revell Horwood style D I S A S TE R. My order was for porridge with milk, a sprinkling of blueberries and a drizzle of honey. Nutritious and most importantly, super simple to make.

Mr Meg rolled up his sleeves and told me he was going to “sort” breakfast. What he did was

Meg is stuck indoors after an operation, with hapless Mr Meg as her carer; what can go wrong?

PLEASE DON’T CARRY ON DOCTORINGMUSHER MEG

“Go get the foil blanket and stu� it where the sun doesn’t shine”

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SAM HOUSTON

Controversial Heathrow expansion plans loom large this year but there is also some positive news

CABBIES DEMAND HAL MEETING

PLANE SPEAKING

T he proposed expansion at Heathrow is going to be one of the biggest issues of the year. The trade has requested an urgent meeting with the Blue

Skies team which preside over the consultation for this huge project.

Some of the intentions set out in the ‘master plan’ are a direct and unnecessary threat to the way licensed taxis operate at Heathrow. This includes the proposal to charge up to £15 every time we pick up or set down at the airport, and the controversy surrounding the backfilling plans.

It is still all to play for, and the expansion is by no means set in stone. Boris, you may remember, was dead against it at one stage and no one is quite sure what he thinks about it now, but Transport Secretary Grant Shapps has said it is still possible the project may be scrapped.

Shapps said it was unclear whether the project “stacks up” financially and with the cost of HS2 doubling, the Government will have to wield the axe somewhere.

One thing is for sure, taxi drivers already invest vast personal sums in the future of the trade and its relationship with both London and the airport and will continue to do so and this must be taken into account.

Huge strides have been made in the efficiency of our business in the last few years in the face of strong

and frequently unfair competition. It was perhaps understandable four or five years ago for executives with a background outside transport to be seduced by fantasy efficiency savings touted by Silicon Valley, but the reality is clear now.

To those of us in the know, it has always been obvious that no-one has reinvented the wheel. The best quality and most efficient way to move people and luggage, whether in central London or at Heathrow airport, is in a taxi. The sooner our partners realise that the happier their customers will be.

I will keep you posted about further developments as and when they emerge.

Heathrow O ceOn a more positive note, the new Heathrow LTDA office opening hours have proved popular with drivers at the airport. To catch more of the early drivers, we have decided to make the times one hour earlier. So, as of Monday, January 27, the office will be open 9am to 2pm Monday, Wednesday and Friday.

LTDA reps in the office have been trained to assist with the usual PCN, bill, licence and DBS issues, along with stuff that’s more specific to the airport, such as disputes and disciplinaries, so give it a try. We also have Met price lists, no smoking signs and receipt books, and much more, but

no record books, which have yet to be reprinted. Even if you don’t have specific issue, you are welcome to

come in for a cup of tea and a chat.

Work, work, workThroughput was again higher in December 2019 than the previous year. In fact, 2019 was the highest for several years, although the proportion of rides with at least one ‘local’ journey has risen.

There are no figures available for the percentage of rides that end without a job ‘off’ the airport.

Certainly, in terms of waiting times many drivers in the park will not have felt any improvement with waits over three hours the norm and four hours not uncommon, especially now we are in the kipper season. Of course, there are some drivers who are now unable to even get a tag to work the airport as new tags were suspended in June last year. This situation puts the trade in an invidious position. Some drivers at the airport agree with the suspension but overall there is no way this is good for the trade, but that is a discussion for another time. u


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C omplete our crossword puzzle and be in with a chance to win £50! Send your entry to: Crossword 460, Taxi, Taxi House, 11 Woodfield Road, W9 2BA before February 28. The first name out of the proverbial hat wins the cash! u

DOWN:1 Worthless (2, 4)

2 Colour (4)

3 Enchant (7)

4 Tasty (5)

5 Prehistoric age (5, 3)

6 Spasm (6)

12 Uninvited (8)

14 Cravat (7)

16 Reparation (6)

18 Entreat (6)

19 Blanket (5)

21 Reckless (4)

ACROSS:7 Well mannered (6)

8 Area of a city (6)

9 Friar (4)

10 Impending (8)

11 Addition (7)

13 Wake up (5)

15 Brownish cat (5)

17 Confederate (7)

20 No chance (4, 4)

21 Indian king (4)

22 Stick (6)

23 Cover (6)

PUZZLER

PRIZE CROSSWORD

PUZZLER

SUDOKU

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

Just for fun...

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

ACROSS: 6 Scion, 7 Adaptive, 10 Diarist, 11 Bouncer, 12 Shih-Tzu, 13 Blasted, 14 Millionaire, 19 Antique, 21 Hearten, 23 Airhead, 25 Attract, 26 Baby talk, 27 Excel

DOWN: 1 Titanium, 2 Anoint, 3 Pasteurise, 4 Garb, 5 Avocet, 6 Sadism, 8 Tsunami, 9 Prude, 13 Benchmarks, 15 Liquefy, 16 Entrance, 17 Radar, 18 Instil, 20 Tartar, 22 Anthem, 24 Dead

WINNER: ISSUE 458 — Sean Curtis

THEATRE REVIEW

As far as stage musicals go, 42nd Street is one of the biggest. Three years ago it was produced at the Theatre Royal,

Drury Lane - London’s largest stage - with a cast of 48 singers and dancers. The miracle is that this diminutive venue which only seats 120 has managed to produce a smaller version using just 13 performers without losing any of the show’s momentum or charm. 42nd Street, set in the 1930s deep depression era, is about a dedicated Broadway producer, Julian Marsh, struggling to get a new musical called Pretty Lady ready for production and, at the same time, desperate to keep his sole millionaire backer onside with the money. His big problem is that the backer insists his girlfriend, Dorothy Brock, a jaded, past her prime diva, plays the lead role. She holds up rehearsals with her inconsiderate demands and her clandestine meetings with the man she really loves. Fortunately for Julian the solution arrives in the form of Peggy Sawyer, a naïve but accomplished hoofer with a fabulous voice,

who manages to finagle her way into the show’s chorus line and, as they do in musicals, fall in love with the head male dancer. Inevitably the diva gets disabled with a broken ankle just 36 hours before Pretty Lady’s opening night and, guess who saves the day by taking over as its star? Yes, it’s our heroine Peggy, who in just a day and a half, learns six songs and

nine intricate dance routines and manages to keep the rest of the cast out

of the dole queue. Not the most original of plots,

I’ll agree. But that’s inconsequential,

because it’s the fantastic dancing, fabulous costumes and most memorable songs by Harry Warren and Al Dubin that

carry the show. I noticed at least 80%

of the audience toe-tapping to the rhythms

of such songs as Lullaby of Broadway, Keep Young And

Beautiful, Shuffle Off To Buffalo, We’re In The Money, I Only Have Eyes For You, You’re Getting To Be A Habit With Me and, of course, the show’s title song, 42nd Street. All the cast were good, but the really outstanding performances came from Alex Wadham as Julian Marsh, Tamsin Dowsett as Dorothy Brock and Kate-Anne Fenton, Even Craig Revel Horwood would have given them a 10. u

–Brad Ashton

CROSSWORD #460

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Tom PoulsonI joined the LTDA when I first got my badge and it turned out to be the best thing I ever did. Due to an unfortunate set of circumstances I ended up getting my licence revoked by TfL. I turned to John Luckhurst, one of the LTDA’s legal eagles, for assistance. John went to great lengths to prepare a detailed appeal against TfL’s decision and briefed a brilliant barrister to represent me in court. The appeal was successful and saved my livelihood. LTDA subscriptions are only four quid a week, which is less than a pint, and three pounds can be claimed against tax. I can’t believe that every cabbie in town is not a member.

Paul BaxterI was filled with confidence the very first time I contacted the LTDA’s legal team and as it turned out, I certainly wasn’t disappointed. They did a great job in sorting out my problem with TfL. They’ve got to be the best in the business!

“FOUR times more likely than the NATIONAL average to get an acquittal”

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A selection of our numerous Distribution Points

u A1 Taxis, Melody Lane, Highbury, N5u Abacus Accounts, Southbrook Road,

Lee, SE12u Astral Café, Regency Place, SW1u Bubbles Car Wash, E2u C & S Taxis, Dunbridge Street, E2u Cabsurance, Seven Kingsu Camber�eld Taxi Servicesu Computer Cab, Mitre Way, W12u Coney Allen, Dunbridge Street, E1u CP Beehive Service Station,

Beehive Lane, Gants Hillu Cricklewood Carriers, Cricklewoodu Dial A Cab, City Road, N1u Edgware Station Ranku Euston Station Ranku G & L Taxis, Crayford Road, N7u Globe Transmissions,

Cudworth Street, E1u The Ham, Brentfordu Heathrow Airport Canteenu Hexagon Garage, Lukin Street, E1u Jet Garage, Clipstone Street, W1u Knowledge Centre, Caledonian Roadu KPM, Hemming Street, E1u London City Airport Canteenu LP Motors, Dunbridge Street, E2u Martin Cordell, E3 and Stanmoreu Paddington Station Ranku Putney Bridge Taxis, The Arches,

Putney Bridge Station, SW6u Richmond Road Taxi Centre, E8u Safewise Supermarket, Harrowu South Bank Service Station,

Great Su�olk Street, SE1u TAXI HOUSE, W9u Taxi & Private Hire, Blackfriars Rd, SE1u Temple Place Shelteru Tent Street Taxi Centre, E2u Turbo Accessories, Three Colts Lane, E2u Waterloo Stationu Wimbledon Station Ranku WizAnn Knowledge School,

Watts Grove, E3

LTDAPublished by LTDATaxi House 11 Wood�eld Road,London W9 2BAT: 020 7286 1046 | www.ltda.co.uk

@TheLTDA

Managing EditorSteve Still T: 0207 121 0523E: [email protected] Massett File Richard MassettInternational News Wim FaberTwo Fingers Al FrescoTaxi Talk Alf TownsendOverheard Brad AshtonLicensed to Chat Musher Meg

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