WE WON! · 1 day ago · hearing we had won and reading the Judgement, it was very clear that TFL...

FEATURE: PAGE 22 & 23 TAXI QUIZZES AUTHOR OF NEW LONDON CABBIE’S QUIZ BOOK!

The newspaper of the Licensed

Taxi Drivers’ Association

www.ltda.co.uk @TheLTDA

#47328 July 2020

LTDA TEAM REFLECT ON HIGH COURT JUDGEMENT Pages 5-12

DEALING WITH DEBT Page 15

The newspaper of the Licensed Taxi Drivers’ Association

www.ltda.co.uk9th February 2021#485

WE WE WON!WON!Will our High Court win protect taxi access across London?

STEVE KENTON SHARES TALES FROM THE CAB Pages 16-17

DEALING WITH DEBT Page 15

STEVE KENTON SHARES TALES FROM THE CAB Pages 16-17

LTDA TEAM REFLECT ON HIGH COURT JUDGEMENT Pages 5-12

@TheLTDAwww.ltda.co.uk

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@TheLTDA www.ltda.co.uk

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Contents & News

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Inside...09:02:213 | News

5 | Steve McNamara 6 | Richard Massett 8 | Anthony Street 11 | Paul Brennan 12 | Lloyd Baldwin 15 | Emma Lunn 16 | Steve Kenton 18 | Rob Lordan 20 | Al Fresco 22 | Cab you Drive

23 | Joe the TXE 24 | Chris Ackrill 27 | Puzzler

29 | Taxi Charity

30 | Musher Meg Puzzler answers

FAIRFUELUK CONDEMN ANY FUEL DUTY RISE A rumoured rise in Fuel Duty being considered as part of the Chancellor’s upcoming Budget on 3rd March to plug the gap in the Government’s finances left by COVID-19, has been condemned by FairFuelUK and Conservative MPs Robert Halfon and Craig Mackinlay. In a statement FairFuelUK said “it would be a massive political folly to listen to the ill-informed well financed greens to virtue signal a needless hike in fuel duty. Worse still, it would betray the voters who gave his party an 80 seat majority…” They also argue it would hit those with the lowest incomes the hardest and damage the foundations of economic recovery.

RARE WW2 LONDON TAXI TO BE SOLD AT AUCTION A 1938 Morris Super Six 'G2SW' Taxi, one of only three believed to survive is due to be auctioned at the next H&H Classics Live Auction online on March 24th. The taxi, expected to sell for £23,000 - £27,000, would have operated throughout the Second World War in London. It was first registered in October 1938 and decommissioned ‘off-rank’ in 1956, when the Public Carriage Office deemed that all pre-war taxis were no longer fit for service.

Morris-Commercial began building London Taxis to comply with Metropolitan Police regulations in 1929. The G2SW Super Six was introduced in 1938, and is unusual in being one of only two models of London taxi to have a six-cylinder engine; its predecessor, the Morris-Commercial G2S 'Junior-Six’ being the other. During the Second World War, many are believed to have been requisitioned for work with the Auxiliary Fire Service.

CLIPPER AUTOMOTIVE UPDATEHere at TAXI, for a while now we have been following Clipper Automotive and their innovative work to convert cabs by replacing diesel engines with electric motors and batteries. Dr. Alexander Howard and Janosch Oppermann, the brains behind the operation, are committed to creating an affordable fully electric option for cab drivers, whilst retaining the iconic shape and helping to clean up London’s air. They have been working hard over the last few months to improve their Prototype Cab, a retrofitted TXII, in which the diesel engine was replaced with a 80kWh electric motor. Now operating from premises in Hackney, they have started work on their next cab – the Clipper Cab – which is a TX4 with a bigger range. The team have also been looking for investors to help grow the business and have just closed their first successful investment round.

Clipper are looking for taxi drivers or owners potentially interested in being one of their customers. If you are interested, you can email [email protected] or sign up for updates on their website https://www.clipper.cab/home-3

You’ve probably heard of the LTDA Lottery. What you probably don’t know is that since it started in 1986, there have been over 360 winners. That’s over £1,800,000 million paid out in prize money.

LOTTO WINNER!Congratulations Mr John Collins!January’s winner was John Collins, a LTDA member for over 30 years who has been doing the lottery since it began. John said upon receiving his cheque for five grand, “the pandemic has been a very difficult time and this unexpected windfall will come in very handy! It will also help me pay a PCN, which I tried to appeal and lost so now owe £130, so it couldn’t have come at a better time!”

LTDA LOTTERYThe first prize in our lottery is £5000 - every month! But you won’t win it if you’re not in it.Tickets cost £5 each per month. And even if you don’t win, you’ll know that proceeds from the lottery contribute towards LTDA trade promotion campaigns.

To be in on it, call 020 7286 1046 and ask about the LTDA Lottery.


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General Secretary | Steve McNamara

A Triumph for Unity

Steve’s comment

January was a month of highs and lows for the cab trade. We had the great news that our High Court challenge had been successful and that the Mayor and TfL’s Streetspace Plan and the Bishopsgate Order were unlawful, but at the same time this never-ending lockdown dragged on and London was once again a ghost town, with very few fares to go around for those cabbies still out working. But life or at least the strange half-life we are all living goes on, and I know I’ve said it before but surely the end is in sight?

Trade unityThe High Court Judgement that has rightly dominated, not just the trade, but London and national news is above all a victory for trade unity. For the 35 years I have held a badge, the biggest problem has never been minicabs, Uber, PCO, TfL or anything else, it’s been a lack of unity. We are a collection of 20,000+ self-employed, very much individuals, so achieving a consensus was always going to be a problem. However, some revelled in the disharmony and actively sought and promoted the in-fighting, which held us back for so long. Their uncharacteristic silence on social media following the Court announcement said it all, they couldn’t admit they were wrong or even congratulate the LTDA and UTAG, so they hid away and pretended it hadn’t happened.

I will leave it to others in this publication to detail the significance of the Judgement and what happens next, other than to say that I hope we can now build on this unity to ensure the next few months bring more good news for the trade.

“For the 35 years I have held a badge, the biggest problem has never been minicabs, Uber, PCO, TfL or anything else, it’s been a lack of unity.”

on Taxis held its Annual General Meeting (AGM). A number of MPs from different political parties joined the meeting to re-elect officers and agree the focus for the year ahead. Chair, Wes Streeting MP for Ilford North was re-elected, along with Daniel Zeichner MP for Cambridge as Vice-Chair, and a number of other officers. The APPG MPs have all been very supportive of the trade in recent months pushing the Government for more support and answers on our behalf. They are now keen to do more and help the trade recover once lockdown ends. Former Transport Minister, Sir John Hayes MP also attended and is keen to work with the group to put pressure on the Government to introduce a much-needed update of Taxi and PHV legislation, which is something he made progress on during his time at the Department for Transport, but that this Government has so far not prioritised.

SEISS grant updateMany of you will be wondering when you can expect the next round of Self-Employment Income Support grants to be paid. The fourth round is supposed to cover the period from February to April, and I know that many members, who claimed the third grant in November, which seems like a lifetime ago, will be in desperate need of some income after a long wait. The bad news is that the Government will apparently now not announce

the details of the fourth payment, until next month’s Budget on 3rd March. However, the good news is that some commentators think that this delay means that the Treasury are reviewing

the eligibility criteria and requirements for self-employed people applying for the grant. This could mean that some taxi drivers who have been excluded through no fault of their own and had no support since last March, will be able to claim. We will keep members updated, as we know more.

Vaccination priorityFinally, it was reported last week that taxi drivers in New York, will now be made eligible for the Covid-19 vaccine. The LTDA and others are pushing for the same to be done here as taxi drivers are key transport workers, who can’t work from home. In a trade meeting last week, we were told TfL is also now pushing for this with the Government. A decision on the next priority groups for the vaccine is expected soon. n LTDA

Always call our legal team With so many members not working the cab or doing other jobs, we had anticipated our in-house legal team being quieter than usual and not having as many cases or members to defend. In fact, the opposite is actually true.

The one constant problem that never changes is members agreeing to be interviewed by the Police without our lawyers being there. I want to take the opportunity to remind you please do NOT ever agree to be interviewed by the Police without first speaking to our expert in-house lawyers, that’s what they are here for!

One of our members endured more than six months of anxiety and worry over a possible prosecution, which could have been totally avoided if he had followed this advice.

He was working as a delivery driver for one of the big supermarkets, when his van was struck, whilst stopped, by a motorcyclist who unfortunately was very badly injured. As so often happens, several eyewitnesses gave conflicting reports, and the police arrested our member at the scene, and he was subsequently interviewed. He eventually contacted us after being released and we were immediately playing catch up. We secured timed CCTV from nearby shops and crucially the data from the delivery van tracking software, which proved it had been stationary and the engine turned off when it was struck by the bike. Had he called us when he was arrested it could have been resolved much earlier and with a fraction of the stress.

APPG on TaxisIn other news, last week, the All-Party Parliamentary Group


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Chairman | Richard Massett

The Massett file

“It was just a matter of waiting for the right scheme to present itself, where we felt we could win and hopefully set an important precedent.”

Well and Truly Quashed

Our recent High Court win in the Judicial Review the LTDA funded jointly with UTAG, and the Judge’s decision to quash the Streetspace Plan, guidance and A10 Bishopsgate Order, was hugely significant. What many might not know is that this was the result of discussions and work dating back to well before the Mayor’s Streetspace Plan was announced, as part of our efforts to secure taxi access across London and fight schemes, which do not give taxis the right to go where buses go.

BeginningsI first attended a trade meeting to discuss shared concerns about such schemes in Summer 2019, which now feels like a lifetime ago. This was specifically to discuss the Beech Street scheme in the City of London. We agreed to take legal advice on whether we might be able to successfully challenge such schemes through the courts and so met with David Matthias QC. After leaving a positive meeting, the trade reps discussed what to do next on the pavement outside his office. The LTDA, UTAG and LCDC agreed to fund a legal opinion from Mr Matthias and his team, who would look at the relevant law around taxis being excluded.

It was great to have the trade united behind this, but sadly the LCDC chose to drop out the next day. The LTDA and UTAG decided to press ahead together. The legal opinion we jointly commissioned found these kinds of schemes were in fact challengeable. It was just a matter of waiting for the right scheme to present itself, where we felt we could win and hopefully set an important precedent.

Right place at the right timeIt did not take long for a scheme to come to the fore that we desperately needed to challenge, in the shape of TfL’s Streetspace Plan and Bishopsgate Order. Streetspace was originally reported in the media as a plan to create

bus-only corridors and remove general traffic from great swathes of Central London including a number of key bridges and important thoroughfares. This would have been devasting for our trade, if taxis were to be treated as general traffic and excluded, although this was not clear from the reports and TfL were giving nothing away.

Thankfully, I understand Westminster City Council informed TfL that it did not want its roads included in the plans and when London Bridge reopened following the works, taxis were permitted to use it again. However, TfL then informed the trade, very belatedly, that it was going ahead with the closure of Bishopsgate and Gracechurch Street to all traffic except buses and cycles.

Gathering evidence The LTDA and UTAG agreed to jointly challenge the Scheme and split all costs equally, knowing that if the case were lost, we would be liable for TfL’s costs, as well as our own, which would amount to hundreds of thousands of pounds. Initially, we were all kept busy feeding in information to help make our case.

For my part, I organised a before and after journey time survey using the LTDA’s GPS equipped Smart car to demonstrate to the Court the increased fares and journey times that our passengers would have

to endure due to the scheme. I then organised and produced a time-consuming technical report and a video demonstrating the impact on disabled people. Our video showed a wheelchair user taking a taxi at London Bridge to go to 135 Bishopsgate. He was shown disembarking from the cab in Liverpool St and then having to wheel himself, in pouring rain, the rest of the way to his destination.

I also recruited a well-known transport professional with an extensive CV, to act as a witness on our behalf. His testimony was so hard hitting that TfL tried in vain to have it ruled inadmissible.

Meanwhile, Karen Procter of UCG and Lee DaCosta of Cabvision were gathering other evidence, including securing statements from disabled taxi users.

After various hearings, we eventually secured permission for a judicial review of both the Streetspace Plan and the

Bishopsgate Order, to be heard in the High Court, which is a very significant hurdle to clear. The lawyers were able to secure it on five of the six grounds we proposed. As is the norm these days, it was a remote hearing before High Court Judge Mrs Justice Lang DBE which lasted several days, followed by an agonising wait for the verdict. I had been very impressed by some of the questions Mrs Justice Lang had asked TfL’s barrister, but had no idea which way the verdict would go.

QuashedThe wait was worth it. What a judgement it was, with the Judge ruling in our favour on four of the five grounds. Even on the one we did not win, the Judge commented that had we presented the case slightly differently, we may have won on that as well. The Judge also went on to refuse an appeal on the grounds that on the evidence presented TfL had very little chance of changing the decision. However, TfL has the statutory entitlement to approach the Court of Appeal within 21 days for permission to appeal and we understand they are doing so. At the time of writing this article, we are well into that 21-day period and awaiting further news.

If the Court of Appeal refuses them permission to appeal the High Court Judge’s orders will come into effect within 21 days, meaning that the Streetspace Plan, guidance issued to the Boroughs, and traffic orders for the scheme in Bishopsgate and Gracechurch Street will be quashed, well and truly quashed, and cease to apply. n LTDA


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Executive | Anthony Street

Streets ahead

I have recently been writing about the work the LTDA does day-in-day-out on behalf of our members, and the benefits of LTDA membership. One of the things I haven’t talked about that much is the work we do to fight for the trade and ensure taxi drivers have the access and support they need to continue providing a world class service.

Join the fightTaking the fight to the Mayor and TfL on the ridiculous, badly thought out Streetspace Plan and Bishopsgate bus gates, which were threatening the ability of our members to provide an economic and effective door-to-door service, is a great example of this. Everyone at the LTDA and across the trade has been delighted with the Judge’s decision, which was in turn a massive kick in the teeth for TfL.

What our Judicial Review and the Judgement has shown is that taxis do have a special

status in law, yet the Mayor and TfL

had totally disregarded

this and failed to recognise the key role

taxis play within

the public transport

network. This verdict will hopefully enable us to challenge any similar schemes that fail to give taxis access and account for this special status.

You will be aware that legal proceedings like this are very costly and require a lot of time and investment. This would not have been possible if it weren’t for LTDA members, so a big thank you to all of you for your continued support. I hope this is just the start of the positive things we can achieve together for the trade in 2021. If you aren’t already a member, this is just one of the many reasons to join the LTDA!

Who Has Your Back at a Real Cost of Just Over £3.00 per Week? Part 3

We fought for the trade over Bishopsgate, and we will fight for you!

Protect your licenceTotting up points on your driving licence can be a huge problem for taxi drivers, putting your ability to earn a living at risk. As part of our Badgesafe service – one of the many benefits of LTDA membership – the LTDA legal team can help you.

We recently had a driver with nine points on his licence, who received a Notice of Intended Prosecution (NIP) for dangerous driving and was potentially looking at being banned from driving. One of our in-house solicitors worked with him to contest this on hardship terms given that he needed his driving licence to earn a living. With assistance from our expert legal team, the member avoided prosecution and retained his driving licence. He got the help he needed at no cost to him, beyond his monthly LTDA subscription, which works out at a real cost of just £3 per week after deductions. He was extremely relieved and able to return to work. Where else can you get a solicitor to represent you that will cost you less than a latte?

Another LTDA member was recently prosecuted for the offence of failing to notify the Police of driver information. If convicted, he would have received a mandatory six points. Unfortunately, the driver already had six points, putting his driving licence at risk. He told us that he had returned the completed NIP form, but the Police had no record of this. One of the LTDA solicitors took on his case and eventually it went to the Magistrates’ Court, where the member was represented by one of our experienced legal team, with the Magistrate returning a "Not Guilty" verdict after just ten minutes deliberation. I am told this is a very short amount of time so the Magistrate must have been very convinced by our member’s defence. The driver therefore avoided the six points and was over the moon with the result, which had been preying heavily on his mind in the months leading up to the trial.

To have the reassurance of knowing our legal team have got your back and access the full range of benefits of LTDA membership, make sure your monthly subscription is up to date, or apply to join today at www.ltda.co.uk. n LTDA

Media reactionThe reaction to the case has been fantastic, with an outpouring of support for our trade. It also confirmed what many of us already knew – that the way these schemes were designed and introduced created more serious problems than they solved. The significance of the Judgement has been much debated. It remains to be seen what will happen with TfL’s appeal and what comes next, but it is unlikely they or the London Boroughs will be able to push through further schemes that fail to account for the vital role of licensed taxis, any time soon.

The Judgement was widely reported in the national press including The Times, Daily Telegraph, Daily Express, Daily Mail, City AM, even the Evening Standard, who usually don’t cover anything to do with us. Steve McNamara was also asked to take part in a number of radio and TV interviews to discuss it, including Talk Radio, LBC and ITV London. In case you didn’t catch them, you can find them all on the LTDA website here: https://www.ltda.co.uk/media-centre/campaigns/ltda-utag-joint-legal-challenge/

London Assembly We also sent the Judgement to London Assembly Members, who have since grilled the Mayor on this at Mayor’s Question Time and in letters to the Mayor and Deputy Mayor asking for answers on what they plan to do to fix their mistakes. We are encouraging them to keep the pressure up, particularly pointing out how the Mayor and TfL’s decision to appeal is a complete and utter waste of money, which is unlikely to succeed.

Conservative Mayoral Candidate Shaun Bailey AM has also been calling for an apology and compensation for taxi drivers.

The Mayor was also forced to talk about the Judgement during his recent radio appearance for Speak to Sadiq on LBC.


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Executive | Paul Brennan

A Long-Awaited Victory

Top rank

In my last article, I said that I hoped the Judge had heard the same evidence as I had in our recent judicial review, which saw UTAG and the LTDA take on the Mayor of London and TfL over Streetspace and Bishopsgate. Thankfully, it would appear the Judge, Mrs Justice Lang DBE, did hear what I heard, and then some!

The landmark judgement handed down a few weeks ago now, was hugely important for the trade and its effects have already been felt across London from Enfield to Croydon. Many boroughs are rethinking traffic schemes and even Camden, postponing the Tottenham Court Road switch over due to “administrative issues”, which had been planned for 31st January.

I did not realise how gratifying it would be to have Justice Lang agree with points I’ve been making in this newspaper for so long. I am sure there will be many of you who, like me, were starting to wonder if perhaps we were wrong in believing what we did, that maybe it was us who were mad and not as we believed, the rest of the world. this Judgement proves us right.

Words of thanksI am mindful that every other page in this publication will be mentioning the case, but I hope you will indulge me a little more. This victory is just so much more than we could have hoped for. If the sheer volume of correspondence we have received over the last couple of weeks is anything to go by, with calls, texts and emails from members and drivers, saying thank you and well done, then it seems you all agree that this is a huge win for us all!

My role in this case was relatively small, so whilst I appreciate and accept the thanks coming our way, LTDA Chairman, Richard Massett must take the biggest round of applause. Richard took on the demanding role of gathering evidence requested by the legal team to support their arguments. Of course, he did delegate some of the more dangerous roles to the likes of Anthony Street and myself. If you were one of the many cabbies that hooted or stared with disbelief at two crazy people running across London Bridge and other nearby highways with a tape measure, now you know why. I would also like to offer special thanks to Karen Procter, who carried out a similar role to Richard on UTAG’s behalf. Between them, they helped ensure we were able to win so convincingly.

There are many others, who will quite rightfully take some of the credit, but there is another group, who will quite possibly fly under the radar and that’s LTDA members. We were only able to make this challenge because you remain so faithful to us, despite the difficult times we are in with the pandemic and certain factions in the trade throwing mud our way and labelling members “stupid” or “sheep”. You stick by us and together we are stronger. So LTDA members, I THANK YOU. Your continued support means, as well as being able to offer you all our services, we can also fight for the future of the trade and hold decision makers to account. Highlights There are so many points I could pick out from the Judgement and I’m sure you will have seen many already, whether on social media, in our member emails or in the colossus that is Mrs Justice Lang’s Judgement (for the brave few who read the whole thing). You will have a few favourites of your own, but I have highlighted some quotes that stood out to me, beyond the headline grabbers (see image).

Appeals and arroganceI’m not surprised that TfL and the Mayor are seeking permission to appeal again. Their arrogance appears endless. For them, the plan was only ever their way and worse still, it seems with an at any cost attitude. Why else would they spend more money on top of the hundreds of thousands this has already cost them trying to appeal? I wrote previously that this mentality would be their

“I did not realise how gratifying it would be to have Mrs Justice Lang agree with points I’ve been making in this newspaper for so long.”

“The Equality Impact Assessment did not meet the required

standard of a rigorous and conscientious assessment

conducted with an open mind…Most worryingly of all,

it read as if its purpose was to justify the decision already

taken.” “The proposals in the plan and the g

uidance to implement

‘radical changes’ and a ‘lasting transformation’ of London

streets by suppressing all motorised traffic except buses

went far beyond what was necessary in response to the

pandemic.”

“The stated justification for the restrictions on vehicle

access, namely, that after lockdown there would be a major

increase in pedestrians and cyclists…was not evidence

based. In fact, it was already clear by the time the A10

[Bishopsgate] order was made, that many people were

responding to the pandemic by staying at home, especially

office workers.”

“The flaws identified were symptomatic of an ill-considered

response which sought to take advantage of the pandemic.”

“The stated justification for the restrictions on vehicle

access, namely, that after lockdown because of limited

public transport capacity there would be a major increase

in pedestrians and cyclists…was not evidence based. It was

mere conjecture which was not a rational basis upon which

to transform London's roads…There was no evidence to

indicate that the predicted fivefold increase in the number

of pedestrians and ten-fold increase in number of cyclists in

central London occurred.”

“You stick by us and together we are stronger. So LTDA members, I THANK YOU.”

undoing and the Judge’s ruling makes that pretty clear. She found that their approach was not rooted in evidence, could not be justified by the pandemic and was therefore not rational – making it unlawful. Essentially, their decision making was backwards, biased, and resulted in bad decisions. Those responsible need to go, TfL, and more importantly Londoners, can't afford for them not to. n LTDA


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On point

I know this subject has been covered by others in this edition of TAXI, but I must start by talking about our win on Bishopsgate. What a great day for the trade and finally some good news, after a terrible year! I must admit, I was feeling nervous about the outcome and did not sleep at all well the night before, because even though I knew we had a strong case, the Courts haven’t always been kind to us. But after hearing we had won and reading the Judgement, it was very clear that TFL took a battering in Court and it was a resounding victory.

Winning the argument After the outcome became public, the fun really began. It’s hard to argue against such a clear and detailed Judgement, but that didn’t stop some trying and failing miserably. A particular highlight for me was Steve McNamara interview on Talk Radio with the fantastic Ian Collins (for those who do not know Ian Collins has always supported us and is a regular cab user). Steve was interviewed alongside the Co-Founder of STOP KILLING CYCLISTS, someone known for his strong views on the cab trade, who did not take the news of the Judgement well at all. He was adamant the Judge had made the wrong decision but struggled

Defending the Trade’s Honour

“It’s hard to argue against such a clear and detailed Judgement but that didn’t stop some trying and failing miserably.”

Moorfields Eye HospitalIn the first lockdown early last year, I received a report from a member, who informed me that when patients at Moorfields Eye Hospital were asking the reception staff how they could get a taxi home, they were offering to call them a minicab. I called the Hospital and was assured that this was not the case. But, after receiving another call about this happening recently, I wrote to Moorfields reminding them about the cab rank outside, which usually has at least one cab ranked up, and asking that at the very least they act fairly and offer patients both options. I also pointed out that given the current situation with Covid-19, they should really be encouraging people to use purpose-built licensed taxis with a fixed partition and space for social distancing, as the safer choice, particularly for elderly people or those who may have just had surgery. I am awaiting a reply, but it is something you may want to keep an eye on if you rank up there regularly.

to explain why and didn’t seem to understand Mrs Justice Lang’s findings, particularly the points around accessibility, which Steve highlighted. Instead, he chose to make the same argument as TfL, that it is “only a few hundred metres” of Bishopsgate that aren’t accessible – a pretty long way if you can’t walk and rely on cabs to provide a door-to-door service! Mr McCarthy also absurdly described the Judgement as a “whimsical decision”. I don’t think there is anything funny about such a damning verdict, do you?

Steve’s opponent spouted all sorts of statistics that didn’t add up and at one point even resorted to quoting the dictionary definition of public transport – which clearly applies to licensed taxis, as the Judge confirmed in her ruling. Eventually, Steve suggested Mr McCarthy pop along to the High Court to tell the Judge she was wrong. He retaliated by calling us the “enemy of London” and “an absolute disaster”. Ian Collins helpfully pointed out that many people would disagree with that statement and view us as part of the “fabric or DNA of London”. For those who have not seen it, it is on the LTDA website and it’s well worth a watch. I’m sure you will agree Steve won hands down.

MisrepresentationAs some members might be aware, I am responsible within this Association for complaining to any media outlets which misrepresent our industry, particularly where they fail to acknowledge the difference between licensed taxis and minicabs.

These complaints generally stem from a journalist reporting on something a minicab driver has done and describing the car as a “taxi” and the driver as a “taxi driver”.

In my letters of complaint, I explain in no uncertain terms the differences between taxis and minicabs and accuse them of lazy journalism and being unprofessional. The latest example was a recent BBC report on how a lady heading for hospital treatment was being transported to her appointment perched on the front of a cargo bike. To be perfectly frank it looked dangerous to me, and I would obviously rather she was safely in the back of one of our cabs, but it was her choice of transport, so fair enough. The problem was the headline that accompanied the story. The woman was reported as describing travelling on the cargo bike as, “feeling safer than a bus or an Uber” and the headline read 'A ride that feels safer than a bus or a taxi’.

After speaking with my next door neighbour who works in media advertising, I know it’s all about the headline and that many people don’t even read any further, so something like this could have a real impact on our reputation and give people the wrong impression. With this in mind, I immediately went on the BBC

website and complained. As we all know, there is a world of difference between an Uber private hire vehicle and a licensed taxi. You could argue that this choice of headline leaves the BBC open to accusations of favouritism for a multinational company, with a questionable track record on everything from safety to their tax affairs. After complaining on 8th January, I received an email on 16th apologising for the delay in responding to my complaint and stating that they have had a high volume of emails to deal with lately. With journalism like this, I can’t imagine why? I will report on their reply when I receive it. n LTDA

Executive S.O. | Lloyd Baldwin

MINICAB

S ARE NO

T TAXIS


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This edition, Emma provides some guidance and signposting to support drivers in proactively tackling debts by communicating with organisations.

Dealing with Debt Proactively

Money matters

The past 12 months have been tough on many people’s finances. Tak-ing time off work be-cause you have coronavirus or because you need to self-isolate can play havoc with your money situation.

Debt charity StepChange estimates that 1.2 million people have severe debt issues due to coronavirus, with a further 3 million at risk of falling into this category.

How you should tackle your debts depends on what kind of debt it is…

Columnist | Emma Lunn

Council taxYou might qualify for a council tax reduction if your income has dropped, you’ve lost your job or if you have started claiming benefits recently.

Your local authority will be able to tell you about any help you’re entitled to.

MortgageMortgage lenders are obliged to give struggling borrowers mortgage payment holidays of up to six months. You can request a mortgage holiday up until 31 March 2021. In general, payment holidays are given in three-month blocks. Interest still accrues on your mortgage during a payment holiday – you’ll pay this extra interest later on when your payments re-start.

If you are still struggling with payments after six months’ of payment holidays, you lender has to offer you ‘tailored support’ – this might be partial payments or extending your mortgage term to lower your monthly payment.

The Financial Conduct Authority has proposed that no homes are repossessed until April at the earliest.

Credit cards and loansYou should normally deal with ‘priority debts’ such as your mortgage or rent, council tax, and any court fines before tackling credit card debt or personal loans.

If you’re struggling to pay your credit card or loan, you can ask for up to six months’ payment deferral. As with mortgages, you need to make a request for a payment deferral before 31 March.

You can also ask your credit card or loan company for other help such as reducing the interest you pay or allowing you to pay a small amount or nothing for a fixed amount of time.

Consumer financeUnder FCA proposals, from 31 January car finance firms will be able to terminate finance agreements and repossess vehicles where the borrower is behind on payments.

However, car finance companies must consider the impact on customers if their vehicle is repossessed – so you may be able to negotiate.

The same goes for other types of consumer credit. For example, if you bought a household appliance on hire purchase.

In some cases, it might be in your best interests for a consumer credit agreement to be terminated early, as this could stop you falling further into debt or owing more than an asset is worth.

Getting helpIf you’re told to self-isolate by NHS Test and Trace or the NHS Covid-19 app, you may be entitled to a payment of £500 through the Test and Trace Support Payment scheme.

This scheme is run by local authorities, so you’ll need to contact your local council to see if you are eligible – you’ll generally need to be on a low income and unable to work at home.

You should seek free debt advice if you are struggling with debts or making payments. A debt counsellor will be able to help you make a budget, get help with priority debts, and apply for any benefits you’re entitled to. n TAXI

RentIf you’re struggling to pay your rent, you should talk to your landlord. Landlords can also apply for mortgage payment holidays and many will pass these payment breaks onto their tenants.

If your income has reduced or you have lost your job, you might be entitled to benefits to help with housing costs.

You can still move to a new house during lockdown – this might be a good option if you can find somewhere cheaper to rent.


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Columnist | Steve Kenton

Amidst a pandemic where we often find ourselves doom-scrolling through news pages, TAXI decided to give our resident ‘man in black’ a double page spread to entertain mem-bers with some amusing and uplifting ‘Kenton-cabbing’ recollections…

A Compendium of Comic & Curious Kenton Cabbing!

A man in black

So, after being a taxi driver, both suburban and all London for 30 years, I do have the odd tale to tell. Some of these beggar belief, but rest assured – they happened. When recounting some of these, I've had to use some artistic license where conversation is concerned, as I cannot remember every word verbatim…

particular reason for this. I got onto the motorway and noticed that my passenger was very quiet, however I didn't think anything of it. I then received a message from the circuit asking me where I was, I informed them that I was on the M1 POB (passenger on board). Control then responded by saying "No you’re not", to which I replied, "Oh yes I am". This of course then descended in to pantomime farce for a few seconds, I then eventually looked behind me and lo-and-behold there was no passenger, there was however a lovely pair of crutches, mocking me by their very being. I responded again to control after they repeated "Oh no you're not" with a rather sheepish "Oh no, I'm not". The guy on control had a sense of humour and then said "Oh yes you are"

crapped myself". Thank heavens he then burst out laughing. He did of course take the proverbial out of me all the way to his destination and at journey's end he made damn sure that I knocked a substantial sum off of the meter before clearing the job down. On the upside he did shake my hand and offered me his glasses.

The kindness of menSo, this is one of those rare occasions where I ended up with a lump in my throat... and it wasn't phlegm. A few years back, one of my grandchildren had to undergo a second bout of open-heart surgery, he is in fact awaiting a third operation, however the current health crisis has put paid to that for the time being. Anyway, without going into too much detail, I am absolutely awful where hospitals and waiting rooms are concerned, my little man was undergoing ten hours of open-heart surgery, and I was restless and pacing – which wasn’t helping anybody, so I decided to go to work – my grandson's parents were very supportive of this, assuring me that they would call me when my little man was out of surgery.

Around 10pm-ish I picked up

a middle eastern gentleman in Edgware Road. He wanted to go to a turning just off of Fulham Road. A few moments after he entered the cab, I received a phone call – I put the phone on hands free and was informed that my grandson was out of surgery and doing ok and that I could make my way back to Great Ormond Street Hospital anytime that I liked. This was not a conversation that I would have ordinarily had in the taxi, much less with a passenger, however my customer heard most of the conversation and asked me if everything was ok. I was very sparing in what I told him as I don't really like talking to my customers about personal issues. The subject then shifted, and after a time, he asked me how much I expected to earn in an evening, I told him a figure as it was of no consequence to me.

Upon reaching his destination my passenger asked me, “Would do something for me?” I said, "sure”. He replied, "Would you please finish work now and go and see your grandson, also would you please buy him a present from me?" I said "yes" but what followed took me by surprise… He then produced four £50

before chuckling very loudly… I was now approximately five or six miles along the motorway. Control got back in touch with the passenger and informed them that I would be with them in around ten minutes. I reached the original pick-up point after turning back up the motorway at the first opportunity and there was the passenger, leaning against the scaffolding again (somewhat less comfortably due to him no longer having any aids to stand). He opened the door and got in the taxi, he asked me what the foxtrot he thought that I was doing and enquired how I missed the fact that he hadn't actually got into the cab and that the cab door had swung shut after he had put is crutches in, he also asked me if I was a (football) referee, because most of those bastards (his words) were blind too.

I had absolutely nowhere to go with this and just burst out laughing and said, "I thought I had a bloody ghost in the cab, I nearly

The ghost of St AlbansSo, many a moon ago I was on the books of a well-known radio circuit. This was back in the 90's when I had long hair and was two stone lighter. Around 4.30am, a job came out on the circuit to go from St Albans to an address near Fleet Street. The weather was particularly bad that morning and was blowing a gale. After a bit of a hairy drive up to St Albans, I reached my passenger, who was on crutches, leaning against some scaffolding. I greeted him through my open window, he acknowledged me, then opened the back door. A few seconds later the door closed with an unremarkable thud, and off I went.

I decided to use the M1 rather than the A5 – there was no


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A Compendium of Comic & Curious Kenton Cabbing!

notes and placed them in my hand. I genuinely protested this, because I didn't want or need the money, however he insisted. A conversation between he and I took place, which will always remain private and we hugged before going our separate ways. I did in fact do as I was asked, and finished work. I then went to see my grandson and I did buy him a lovely present the next day, from a very kind gentleman. The rest of the money went to Great Ormond Street Hospital, I just couldn't keep it. Incidentally, this was on the back of our wonderful industry assisting in the raising of funds to help my grandson with some specialised equipment to help aid his recovery... Ok, you can all dry your eyes now, you over-sensitive lot.

Failing the ‘eye-averting challenge’ – twice in 20 minutes.One of my more amusing ones was ‘the stripper’– not because a young lady stripped off in the taxi but because of what followed almost immediately… It was around the turn of the century (no not Queen Victoria's era you mad fools), the time was around 11pm, I cannot remember where I picked up this thirty-something lady up from, but she wanted to go to Fabric nightclub in Charterhouse Street.

At the start of the journey, she asked if I minded her changing her top (she was in a business suit), to which I replied, "Not at all, just please be discreet." I do remember her huffing after the request, however what went through my mind was the fact that she trusted me enough to actually do that... and that I had hoped the boys in blue didn’t pass us. Off came the jacket, then the top and quite unexpectedly, her bra

came off. At that point, I vividly remember saying to her that it may be more appropriate to sit behind me and change otherwise I can see everything when I look in the rear-view mirror. She then retorted "Well I don't mind, if you don’t." Far be it from me to argue with a lady and more importantly, a customer.

Now I will be totally honest, despite getting an eyeful I remained completely professional (stop laughing, I know what you are thinking – there's a first), Nevertheless, I got her to her destination safely. As she was paying me, she said "Hope you enjoyed the show" to which I replied, "Well it beats watching Match of the Day" to which she tutted, I then went on my way, but no, this isn’t the end of the story. I then, almost immediately got a job on Comcab. The pick-up was near Broadgate and the destination was somewhere in Wanstead (a rarity nowadays). The customer got in my taxi and off we went, as I was travelling along Bethnal Green Road I was behind another taxi, from the back of my cab I heard the passenger say "F**king hell" I replied, “Eh?", he then told me to look at the cab in front… There they were, in all their

glory – a couple had stripped off and were having sex on the back seat of the taxi in front... and I was initially totally oblivious. Now despite the cab in front's rear screen steaming up, it was quite clear what was going on, given that it looked like Right Said Fred had started headbanging at an Iron Maiden gig.

I followed the taxi along Roman Road until the cab in front turned off at Grove Road, where the lady in the back then waved at myself and my passenger, in the full knowledge that we had seen the whole show. I do remember my passenger saying, "Well you don't see that every day" to which I replied, "That's the second pair of hooters I've seen in twenty minutes.” He then asked me if I was willing to swap jobs, to which I replied – "No chance."

The GodfatherNotorious gangland enforcer, ‘Mad’ Frankie Fraser, cut a formidable figure. Despite his relatively short stature, he was a genuinely scary guy, but he was an absolute gentleman to me. I used to pick him up quite regularly in the 90s and the noughties – we had each other's phone number on metaphorical speed-dial. He was an Arsenal supporter, and we used to regularly talk football. In fact, two of his grandsons played professional football, Tommy played for Port Vale and Brighton, amongst others, James played for Bristol Rovers. The third or fourth time that I met Frankie, I picked him up along with another

associate (allegedly a relative). I took Frankie to a club in Tin Pan Alley (Denmark Street) and then had to take the unnamed ‘relative’ to a street in Romford. Now there was nothing unusual or remarkable about this job, except for the fact that I noticed on the A12 near Leyton that my passenger appeared to have an undesirable metal instrument on his person…

I remember briefly looking over my shoulder and saying nothing. He then said to me, "Don't worry, I ain't gonna use it on you, but if we get pulled over then I might use it to get away! But don't worry". So, it's at this point I'm left with no option but to ‘bluff it out’ – I can’t be sure at this point if what I think I’ve seen is real or if the fella’s just joking (I was after all probably rather paranoid considering my previous passengers’ reputation). I remember saying to him: "You gotta do what you gotta do", I then stayed silent, all the way to some street in Romford. When we arrived at his destination, I nearly went into shock when he paid me £100. He then said, "Wait" and wrote his number down, saying that I was a ‘good'un’ and if I was ever in trouble, I should give him a call. Needless to say, I purchased new underwear with the aforementioned £100. Incidentally, I never said a word to Frankie about the incident, however I might still have the geezer’s number somewhere... So beware! n TAXI

“Now despite the cab in front's rear screen steaming up, it was quite clear what was going on, given that it looked like Right Said Fred had started headbanging at an Iron Maiden gig.”


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Columnist | Robert Lordan

Learn Rob’s underground tales of London history to increase your tips!

Beneath London – Rob’s Tunnel Runs

possible to be granted a tour on certain open days.

Run it from Brook Road to Clapham South tube station. Just across from here, between Nightingale Lane and The Avenue, is a nondescript cylindrical structure which is also related to WWII. The building marks the spot of one of several deep-level air raid shelters, which were built alongside tube tunnels – the others were at Chancery Lane, Belsize Park, Camden Town, Goodge Street, Stockwell, Clapham Common and Clapham North.

In 1948, the shelter at Clapham South was used as temporary accommodation for 200 West Indian immigrants who’d arrived on the famous Empire Windrush. Many of these men found work in nearby Brixton, which is why the area became a stalwart of the Caribbean Community.

You probably drive past the gated, sloping road in the middle of Kingsway (opposite the junction with Theobalds Road) every day. This is the old Kingsway tunnel which was built to carry trams below the ground – its southern exit was beneath Waterloo Bridge.

Run it from the top end of Kingsway to the Postal Museum. From here, visitors can take a ride on a section of the old Mail Rail; the post office’s private underground line which ran between Paddington and Whitechapel before its closure in 2003.

Have you ever noticed the small, round brick structure on Petty Wales, just across from the Tower of London? This is the old entrance to the former Tower Subway; an early deep-level tunnel which opened in 1870.

At first, a wooden, cable-hauled carriage would convey those brave enough to chance it through the narrow pipe; the other end being on a road called Vine Street which was located where the More London development now stands. This setup soon proved uneconomical however, and so the metal tube was converted into a pedestrian tunnel. It was fully closed in 1898 and is now used to convey water mains.

Run it from Petty Wales to the Old Bailey. The famous Central Criminal Court opened in 1907. Before that, the site was occupied by the dreaded Newgate gaol. Beneath the court, a part of Newgate survives: a grim passageway known as ‘Dead Man’s Walk.’ Along this corridor, those condemned to death would be led from their cell to the gallows. In a cruel twist, the passageway was lined with arches, each lower than the last, forcing prisoners to duck their heads lower and lower, as they were dragged towards their fate… n TAXI

W hilst on the Knowledge I became fascinated by the hidden stories associated with London’s countless streets and points. I’ve been passionate about the city’s history ever since – and have discovered that sharing these tales with the public often results in a nice tip!

Alongside the tube network, sewers and various other utilities, the ground beneath London is honeycombed with all manner of secret tunnels – one recent instance being the makeshift labyrinth dug by HS2 protesters beneath Euston Square Gardens. Here are six runs, linking ten more examples…

We’ll begin at Regent’s Park tube station. As any cabbie knows, Marylebone Road at this point is flanked on either side by two private gardens: Park Crescent and Park Square. But did you know this pair of green spaces are connected by two underground passageways? The oldest dates from 1821 and is known as ‘The Nursemaids’s Tunnel’, whilst the second is more recent and accessible only to local residents armed with a special key. Run it from there to Mortimer Road N1 which was once home to William Lyttle – aka the ‘Mole Man of Hackney’ who, between 1967 and 2006 excavated an incredible warren of tunnels beneath his house. When asked why, he simply replied “I’m just a man who loves to dig.”

Now let’s head down to Crystal Palace where, beneath the Parade, lies the stunning Crystal Palace Subway. This Victorian relic, which is vaulted like a crypt and decorated in cream and terracotta-coloured tiles, was built in the 1860s to connect the Crystal Palace exhibition hall (which had been relocated from Hyde Park) to Crystal Palace High Level railway station. Both of these buildings are of course now long gone – the palace burnt down in 1936 and the station, which was situated

Rob’s history tips

between the Parade and Farquhar Road was demolished in 1961. The pedestrian subway remains intact, although it’s only open to the public on certain days of the year. How would you get from Crystal Palace to Parade to the London Silver Vaults? Although open to the public, few seem to know that this subterranean mall exists. As the name suggests, this underground complex – originally known as the Chancery Lane Safe Deposit when opened in 1885 – specialises in peddling silverware.

It’s well known that in WWII, Churchill and his staff had a stronghold – aka the Cabinet War Rooms – beneath Whitehall. But did you know there was a backup bunker in Dollis Hill?

The entrance to this facility – codenamed ‘Paddock’– is on Brook Road. Churchill wasn’t too fond of Paddock and it was used for meetings on just two occasions. Although now in a state of great disrepair, it is

The Nursemaids’s Tunnel

Dead Man's Walk

Newgate Gaol

The Mole Man of Hackney's tunnels

The facility codenamed ‘Paddock’

"In a cruel twist, the passageway was lined with arches, each lower than the last, forcing prisoners to duck their heads lower and lower, as they were dragged towards their fate…"


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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”

“LTDA subscriptions cost less than four quid a week”

John Luckhurst Senior Partner

Charlotte ColletSolicitor Advocate

Farouk MerdjaneI was involved in an accident whilst driving my cab in Shepherd’s Bush. I wasn’t too worried about it because I was confident that it wasn’t my fault and the insurance would sort it out. A short while later I received a summons for driving without due care and attention. I had no witnesses to help me, but the other driver had produced “independent” witnesses out of thin air! I quickly contacted the LTDA’s legal department and they immediately visited the scene of the incident and arranged for professional photographs to be recorded. I later appeared before magistrates at Lavender Hill Court, where the LTDA barrister tied the witnesses up in knots and demonstrated they could not have seen what they said they had. Thank you, LTDA legal department; you gave me an excellent service.

Driving a taxi for many hours of the day in one of the world’s most congested cities is a challenging task. Cabbies often fall victim to complaints and false accusations from police, passengers and other road users (especially cyclists and PHV drivers). When these events arise it’s

comforting for LTDA members to know that they have the immediate support of the best specialist in-house legal team in the business. The success rate of the LTDA Legal Team is second to none. In fact, according to Criminal Justice Statistics, LTDA members defended by our team are FOUR times more likely than the national average to be acquitted of allegations made against them.

Meet the LTDA legal team

Ken Jackson

The LTDA’s solicitors and support team, could not have been more helpful when I first informed them that an allegation had been made against me. The LTDA was quick to check all the CCTV cameras in the area and arrange for plans of the location to be drawn up. Witness statements were also obtained and Mr Demidecki was successful in getting the Crown Prosecution Service to drop the case against me. Thanks LTDA - an all-round brilliant service!


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" All the world’s a stage and all the men and women merely players…” – As You Like It, Act II, Scene VII.

The Boracic Lint Road – A Coronavirus Chronicle…

W hen William Shakespeare sat down, quill in hand, to write the above catchy apothegm in circa 1600, you can bet your life he wasn’t trapped in his Stratford Upon Avon kitchen, battling the demons of a third ‘lockdown’. Nor could he have imagined, 420 years later, that a debilitating pandemic – with a name, like ‘coronavirus’, that wouldn’t have looked out of place on a Shakespeare folio, would grip the world. Neither did I…

Sci-Fi PPE & sinister masksInitially, a viral epidemic on a posh cruise liner had forced the captain to take dramatic action. We’d witnessed this scenario before, when salmonella food poisoning had swept through a similar cruise ship. But gradually, snippets in the newspapers became fully-fledged articles, and pics of riot police and medics, swathed in sinister masks and ‘sci-fi’ PPE uniforms, were shown removing struggling civilians from the streets of Wuhan, a bustling modern city in South East China. Rumours began creeping out about a bacterial leak, from a scientific establishment investigating bat viruses. Some, non-confirmed reports, suggested that the disease had been released deliberately.

COVID-19Gradually, newspapers and TV reports illustrated cities around the world, being contaminated by a catchy infection called ‘Coronavirus’ or less dramatic, ‘COVID-19’. Graphs and diagrams filled the pages and news channels devoted much time to explain how this potentially ‘killer’ virus, spreads. We’d experienced pandemics before. In 1997, when Bird Flu H5N1, deadly to poultry, transmuted to humans and swept through 50 countries in Africa, Asia and the Middle East. For the most part, the UK was saved from any large-scale infection. However, 2020 and COVID-19, was becoming a serious health threat around the globe.

Top hat in the backIn London, licensed cab drivers were taking the potential hazard in their stride, displaying their usual stoic character. Thanks, we told the doubters, to the cab’s famous design

– being able to wear a top hat in the back, we were safe, isolated in our little boxes. If you needed to take an extra precaution, simply, wear a face mask; but the masks made you hot and made your glasses steam up. Government ministers began to appear regularly at peak telly times warning the public of serious potential health risks. Talk of the army being called in. Emergency hospitals to house the expected thousands of victims, sprung up in unexpected locations.

Metallic mushroomsFewer and fewer passengers were finding their ways into taxis, as queues of cabs lengthened at stations and lingered on ranks. Empty taxis clung dustily to garage walls; others, dramatically sprung up, en masse, in dank fields like metallic mushrooms. For a moment, I thought there may have been a brief respite in the stultifying hourly inertia, but then, doctors, nurses, medical staff – even patients – were finding it difficult getting to their hospital appointments, or back home after

Cabbie chronicles

treatment. With no passengers to carry, why not offer the cab trade’s services to alleviate the burgeoning backlog of transport frustration. Our offers were discarded and disregarded out-of-hand. Who, said the authorities, were we to assume a mantle of pseudo paramedics? No matter the passenger compartment is virtually hermetically sealed, our offer spurned, we limped home to languish in another lockdown. I began to exist on a televisual diet of travelogues, cooking programmes and quiz shows, afternoon naps and sadly satisfying snacks. My general knowledge was expanding as fast as my waistband, and I suddenly found a hitherto untapped desire to cook (kosher) sausages over a driftwood fire on a remote Pacific island beach.

ZoomAnd speaking of kosher, 2020 was the year in which my son Danny, should have been celebrating his son's ‘coming of age’ (barmitzvah). Thirteen years in the planning, and all those hopes, dreams, aspirations and expectations, destroyed by – what

looked like, under a microscope, - a conker on heat. Invitations had been posted, dates and times booked, grub organised; suits pressed, and daisies polished. Three times the arrangements were re-arranged – until an amazing alternative was proposed – a ‘zoom’ celebration. Staged at home, with television links to friends and family around the world. Mazel Tov!

Cab sittingJanuary 2021 and I haven’t driven a cab for almost ten months. Like lots of cab drivers of my age, I don’t qualify for any grants or credits. In fact, I’m ‘boracic lint’ (rhyming slang for ‘skint’ – out of money. Pot-less!) Those three/four days driving the cab for four or five hours, were ideal for old blokes, like me, to top up our pensions and fill up our grandchildren’s money boxes. No work, no income, no future? Is there gonna be a future for aged cab drivers? With thanks to my garage, I actually have access to a licensed cab 24/7. It’s outside my door. I’m cab sitting. The NHS recommend that as a vulnerable citizen, I shouldn’t leave the house, but if the jabs currently doing the rounds do get to grips with the virus, more and more people appear on the streets, and some sort of semblance of normality regenerates, I’ll be able to start paying my way again – but for how long?

No amps, no appsFrom what I’ve seen on twitter and other social media platforms, after 2022 if you want to subscribe to a taxi app, you will need to be driving an electric cab. No amps, no apps! And if you’re not already on an app, there will be a mandatory £2,000 joining fee. But then, if I’m still driving a cab at 80, who needs an app?

Columnist | Al Fresco

A sea of serum That’s it, I’ve got an armful of COVID-19 mRNA Vaccine BNT162b2. Thanks to the NHS, an army of volunteers and a sea of serum, I’ve now had my anti-covid jab... A long line of chuckling senior citizens, some, ‘matronly-blue rinsed’ (others a more fortunate bald), filled a spacious hall within the main stadium of ‘The Hive’ – Barnet Football Club. If they only got crowds like that on ‘match days.’ It was a scene replicated around the UK. Neat, orderly lines of ordinary folk, baring a shoulder of choice and some cheerful chatter, sharing the life preserving moment for posterity, clutching identifying forms and printed information sheets. Maybe this is the beginning of the end of the virus for us all – and perhaps, the long, winding Boracic Lint Road for us Cabbies? n TAXI


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Column | Cab You Drive

“The only positive is that numbers have stopped falling and that we can now claim to have over 25 per cent of the fleet as ZEC/electric.”

A Rough Start to 2021

Well, what a year that was! My first column of 2021 and I for one am extremely happy to see the back of 2020, what has to have been the worst year, ever, for the London taxi trade!

We started 2020 with 22,567 cabbies, whereas 2021 begins with only 21,061. A loss of over 1500 of London’s finest and that’s not counting the drivers that have left the trade permanently but not surrendered their bill’s, just put them in a cupboard somewhere never to see daylight again or be renewed.

Vehicle numbers are now down to just 14,009. The only positive is that they have stopped falling and that we can now claim to have over 25 per cent of the fleet as ZEC/electric. The truth is that before the pandemic

Word on the street

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SEP 20

OCT NOV DEC JAN

LEVC 132 117 148 11 6 36 36 25 170 70 25 52 13

DYNAMO 7 4 5 2 15 14 14 6 9 1 2

LTI 2

30

0

60

90

150

120

180

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Short and Sons Accountants Ltd T: 01784 390021 M: 07481 479933 www.shortandsons.co.uk [email protected]

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many in the trade were anticipating an all ZEC/electric fleet by sometime in 2024/25. At the current rate of sales – just 15 new cabs in January – we may never get there, it’s that bad. We can only hope things pick up in March or whenever lockdown 3.0

DYNAMO 86

LEVC 3,710

METROCAB 1

TX1 9

TX2 579

TX4 7,003

VITO 2,621

TOTAL 14,009

finally comes to an end.A quick call around the traders and

dealers confirms what I have been predicting since last year. Older cabs are now worth around just £2000 per year of plate, dropping to £1000 for some models where there are plenty

of sellers and zero buyers. Late Vitos and Euro VI TX4s are just not selling unless a desperate seller drops the price to absolute silly money.

At the top end of the market, it is no different. Nothing is moving except the flapping of the vultures’ wings as they circle the auction halls, online catalogues and bidding sites, hoping to pick up repossessed TXEs for a pittance.

2021 has to be better, and I wish all of you the very best for the year ahead. n TAXI


23

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Economic Benefits of TXE Add Up for Joe

Electric dreams

Irarely venture onto social media and when I do, I always come away wishing I had resisted the urge. The same old debates go round and round, rarely reaching any consensus and often resorting to name calling.

My last foray onto Twitter showed that the debate about the financial savings to be made with a TXE goes on. One side contends time wasted on charging negates any fuel savings and that the additional purchase cost of the cab swings the balance in favour of a cheaper diesel. The other side, predominantly supported by TXE owners and drivers, is that most charge at home and when they do stop to charge on-street, they double this up with a coffee/toilet/walk thus minimising ‘lost time’.

Column | Joe the TXE

The sound of silenceThese arguments are only half the story. As a long-standing TXE owner, as I see it, the real benefits are in the silence and comfort of driving my cab. I am now, like many electric vehicle converts, not just cabbies, best compared to a reformed smoker who can no longer stand the smell of tobacco. It’s not the smell of diesel, but the noise. When I am at a set of lights and a noisy transit van pulls up alongside it goes right through me, it really grates. I have developed a totally irrational dislike of diesel engines!

Saving on servicingThe other economic factor rarely considered is the savings on servicing. I was at over 60,000 miles before I changed my original front pads and could have left them a bit longer had I been prepared to return midway to the next service. That would have

was getting more work with the cab as customers chose it over other available taxis on apps, ranks or on street. During the first lockdown all the private and contract jobs I secured by leafletting and knocking on doors only happened because I had this cab and I was able to do them at the rates I did when working locally, because I was charging at home and had no diesel bill.

To me, and I admit I’m biased, the economic argument of TX4/Vito versus TXE is a no brainer. The TXE wins hands down. n TAXI

£

been at least five, possibly more, sets on a TX4. Services are also much cheaper and further apart, as long as you regularly move the tyres around and get them turned, as you should with a TX4 or Vito. I got over 32,000 miles on my first set of tyres, at least 25 per cent more than on any previous cab.

The cab of choiceThe most compelling economic argument in favour of the TXE is that customers, when we have any, love it. I am 100 per cent confident that back when life was normal, I

“The most compelling economic argument in favour of the TXE is that customers, when we have any, love it.”

TX4/Vito

TXE


24

Many drivers still know Chris as a Knowledge examiner. Stopping for a break at the Great Suffolk Street caff, he’s often asked, “Would you go back, sir?”

On the road

I used to be uncomfortable being addressed as ‘Sir’ after I left TfL, though I eventually accepted it. Had I met any of my old examiners on the road I’d probably call them ‘Sir’ too. Anyway, the answer to the question above is always “Yes”. It was the best job I ever had.

Palestra – a strange placeThere were no clocks or light switches at Palestra – a strategy employed in casinos to keep gamblers on task. The lights came on automatically. Knowledge boys in the waiting area wouldn’t have known that if they sat still for a few minutes the lights would switch themselves off. We weren’t encouraged to keep personal artefacts in our examination rooms. We had to move rooms every week, so we didn’t get comfortable. The last half an hour every Friday was taken up with wheeling our belongings along to next week’s designated room on a trolley called a ‘dog’.

The TfL experienceWorking at TfL wasn’t like other office jobs I’d had. People didn’t sit on the edge of a desk and chat over coffee. You were in no doubt that you were there to work, and you were expected to project a serious demeanour all the time. From day one, they attempt to mould you into an unthinking corporate drone. TfL as a corporation has zero sense of humour. It’s not like Virgin or Facebook (and there’s no Christmas party). Don’t join TfL if you have ideas about improving things.

We weren’t encouraged to think for ourselves and come up with ideas. Executives higher up knew exactly how they wanted things done. We’d suggest things, but we’d always receive a curt “No” from the suits upstairs. No explanation, no discussion. I never met the people directing things, they were just names of people I’d read about in TAXI. They weren’t experts in anything apart from general management and would move on to the next gig when things got hot – as we saw during the scandals following Uber’s licensing.

On the busesThe Knowledge examiners had little to do with other staff. Staff members I spoke to outside my team were nice people, but they were inhibited by the oppressive culture. The examiners had more autonomy and could make their own entertainment. In an environment where every utterance was scanned for non-compliant language, examiners weren’t afraid of stuffing an ice cream down the cleavage of political correctness. I sometimes felt I was on the set of On the Buses. It was at odds with the rest of the office and it was a breath of fresh air. Everything though was unnecessarily complicated, with

Knowledge candidates didn’t realise they were allowed to make themselves a cup of London Transport coffee as they waited for their appearance. It was never publicised. Everything was on a need-to-know basis. I’d been working there six months before questioning why staff members in other departments were walking around in Led Zeppelin T-shirts. I was surprised to hear that ‘Dress Down Fridays’ applied to examiners too. Nicola, the manager, would’ve been comfortable with a more casual approach, but some of the other examiners would have resented a move away from tradition. They probably wouldn’t have talked to me for a week. I was on a short contract when I started as an examiner. I returned a few years later as a temp to cover staff shortages. Soon after Taxi & Private Hire Licensing moved to 230 Blackfriars Road, a permanent vacancy came up and I was keen to apply. It should have been a shoe-in, but I had to go through the full recruitment procedure: written test, presentation and interview. I failed the interview and was out, never to return. My theory is that those making the hiring decisions didn’t want any moderate examiners on board. I wasn’t invited to re-apply when more vacancies came up.

A foaming tankard of British aleAnyway, back in the present day, we’re all pretty much back to where we were a year ago: Covid’s still raging, and there’s little happening in the cab trade. Various lockdowns have been and gone, and lives have been changed as we’ve adapted to new ways of thinking and working. There’s a strange mix of uncertainty and hope in the air, but with vaccines rolling out, things should start improving soon. I used to look forward to the end of the working week and to

relax in the pub with a foaming tankard of British ale. All

the highs and lows have flattened out. The most

exciting thing I can imagine happening now is being

invited to the vaccine centre. I suppose things are going in the right direction though. n TAXI

EASY RUNFrench Ordinary Court –

Aberdeen Park

HARD RUNAubrey Walk –

Meadway Gate

Columnist | Chris Ackrill

“Would you go back, Sir?”

long drawn-out procedures and strange jargon. Technology was used gratuitously. I received a letter from TfL’s Sheffield address, signed by someone who worked on the same floor. It took several weeks to get security clearance to use the photocopier. Employee 007; licensed to print in black & white. Staff had to swipe their ID cards to gain entry through the electronic barriers. Often the cards wouldn’t work, and we’d have to ask security to help us. We were all scared of the mysterious men in black.

Need to know basisThe coffee-making facility was just about manageable.

“We had to move rooms every week, so we didn’t get comfortable. The last half an hour every Friday was taken up with wheeling our belongings along to next week’s designated room on a trolley called a ‘dog’.”


25

– What sets those with ‘The Knowledge’ apart from the rest?

What does it mean to be a professional in 2020? When does an occupation or a job become professionalised? What makes those with ‘The Knowledge’ different from other “… suppliers of transportation services…?” A brief background search produces suggestions as to what the make-

up of a ‘professional activity’ might involve. Modern definitions include notions of ‘accountability; integrity; competency; knowledge and qualifications’ - deprive a Knowledge Boy or Girl of a 4G network and these skills would still exist, though some other ‘suppliers of transportation services’ might well struggle!

Some of the key ingredients of ‘professionalism’ involve:

‘The deployment of formal certified learning’Can other ‘suppliers of transportation services’ really claim to be engaged in doing this? Possibly, though that might depend on the depth and quality of learning involved in order to be accredited. In what world can those that pass ‘The Knowledge’ be compared to the learning involved to obtain other road-based transportation service operator licenses?

‘A professional owns the power, skills and freedom to problem solve.’ It’s pretty certain that an individual having the means to purchase and blindly follow a mobile device with a sat-nav app doesn’t meet this threshold. ‘Knowledge Boys & Girls’ have in-built ‘chips and processors’ that deploy real knowledge, in real time. Out on the roads, real professionalism isn’t dependent on the battery life of a mobile device or if that device knows that the football kicked off late or is going to penalties - which will impact on both journey time and route choice.

‘A professional possesses the ability to make decisions in the best interests of others.’We know that this level of responsibility is based on the use of specific, localised, operational expertise - rather than hoping a digital device can

provide an AA graded Knowledge rating of a route selection in line with traffic conditions, whilst ensuring a disabled passenger arrives at the entrance to their hotel which has suitable wheelchair access and porter assistance.

Those who possess ‘The Knowledge’ and have responded to the strength of the calling to the highest standards of the profession don’t just know the optimum route within an ever-changing landscape, they know its history too. If the formation of a professional identity is also about ‘providing a specialised service to society,’ those professionals with the ability to share that learning with their passengers are actually, inter-generational custodians of present-day and historical London knowledge. Black cab drivers are trusted ‘old school influencers’ in relation to the sites, attractions, facilities, services and cultural traditions of the capital – including being ambassadors of a historic trade, which is known as the best taxi service in the world.

All this, whilst transporting passengers in the most direct and safest manner, in accordance with codes, ethics and the standards of a professional community of operators.

Those with ‘The Knowledge’ have often picked up and are moving before a passenger has informed them of their destination – professionals are not sat around backing up traffic, typing postcodes into gadgets, in the hope a device can professionalise their practice and make them what they are not.

When people are lost - a professional finds them and gets them where they need to go. When they are too tired to go on - a professional takes the reins and when they are late for what’s important to them, professional road craft and knowledge get them to their destination safely and quickly.

So how are those with ‘The Knowledge’ valued and whose responsibility should it be to promote the identities and activities of such professionals, in turn separating them from other “suppliers of transportation services…?”

You are professionals. We know it.

Let’s ensure everybody else knows it and values it too.

‘The Professionals’

n The LTDA are here to represent, protect and ensure recognition of the professional practice, identity and standards of our members.


26

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