Upping the Zante this August: 4nt break from £277pp incl. flights & aparthotel

If you have limited leave available at work but would still like a dose of summer sun this August then opt for a mini break to the Greek islands - Zante in particular. The 3* Herodotos Studios offer comfy accommodation close to the beach - great for 4 nights in the sun. Of course, if… GemUK POSTS ARE NOT OUR ENDORSEMENT

Flights to Nice in South of France from £29 return

Pirates we have come across these bargain flights to Nice in the South of France with the best prices departing this September. Grab a great hotel to go with these flights and you have yourself an awesome little French getaway. Flight details Direct flights to Nice Departures from London Dates between September Hand luggage -… Lola POSTS ARE NOT OUR ENDORSEMENT

Cute Devon escape: 3nts from £106pp in converted barn w/ pool & hot tub *dogs welcome*

If you and your favourite shipmate are looking for a quiet escape then head to the leafy Devonshire countryside. The Coach House is a converted barn from the 1900s that has been brought into modern times with the addition of a hot tub, indoor pool and free WiFi. Offering 3 (or more) night stays, this… GemUK POSTS ARE NOT OUR ENDORSEMENT

Super summer holiday in Gran Canaria £238pp - 7nts hotel, flights, luggage & transfers

Ahoy there pirates, the sunny Canary Islands enjoy year round sunshine and so once summer is under way in July it is sure to be hot hot hot! This holiday in Gran Canaria is based on 2 sharing and you will enjoy a week long holiday in a great hotel. Holiday details Travel duration: 7… Lola POSTS ARE NOT OUR ENDORSEMENT

TfLTPH Says You Can Fly Your Flag During The World Cup.

There’s been a lot of news, most hyped up PR or fake, about whether or not we can fly the fag of any particular country, (including the St George Cross) on our Taxis during the World Cup. 

This was the headline in yesterday’s Daily Mail. 

"Now taxi drivers are told they can't display England flags during World Cup as council joins Royal Mail in banning them amid fears they could distract other motorists".

We asked TfL for an update on this issue and have now received clear and concise information.

We asked @TfLTPH:

can I fly the England flag on my taxi during the World Cup 

And they replied :

You can. Just make sure that it is secure, doesn't obstruct the windscreen or windows and is not in the passenger area.

They were also asked this by another driver:

as u allow all kinds of marches with all kinds of flags every weekend..can I put a st George's cross in my back window to support my team in the world cup.thanks in advance

And they gave this advice:

Flags must be secure, and not obstruct the windscreen or windows. They must not be in the passenger area.

So... as long as it’s secure and doesn’t obstruct the windows and is not physically in the passenger compartment, you can display the flag of St George on your Taxi. 

But we must stress this is London's regulator TfL. There are one or two councils around the UK that have banned the flag of St George on Taxis and Private Hire vehicles. 

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London Mayor to probe Uber phone use whilst driving

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The London Mayor is to investigate the dangers posed by Uber drivers use of mobile phones to except jobs while at the wheel.The probe was prompted by a question from Caroline Pidgeon at the London Assembly where she highlighted thefact that the Uber app effectively forces drivers to interact with their phone while driving. Ms Pidgeon warned that the practice poses a danger to the public and is against the law.She urged the mayor to speak to the Met Police about issuing similar guidance in London. The London Assembly transport leader told LTDA’s TAXI: “It is against the law to use your phone whilst driving, yet many apps expect drivers to interact whilst driving, which puts all road users at risk.”

Sadiq Khan confirmed this month that further investigation is on his list of commitments. He said that he will ask the Deputy Mayor for Transport to work with both the police and crime and transport committees to investigate the issue. It is illegal to use a phone or a sat nav when driving unless you’re safely parked or you need to call the emergency services and it’s unsafe or impractical to stop.Drivers must have must have hands- free access, such as a Bluetooth headset, or a voice command app. The law applies even if motorists are stopped at traffic lights or queuing in traffic.The fine is now £200 and six penalty points.

June 15, 2018 at 03:13PM https://ift.tt/2ufVjKI THESE POSTS ARE NOT OUR ENDORSEMENT

School holidays in the Caribbean from £815pp: All inclusive 14nts - incl. flights, bags & more

Run away to the Caribbean this summer with this great offer to Runaway Bay, Jamaica starting at £815 per person, based on 2 sharing, courtesy of our Package Finder -- that includes an extra £100 off the total package price. You'll get 14 days of the all inclusive treatment at the Royal Decameron Club Caribbean… Niamh_UK POSTS ARE NOT OUR ENDORSEMENT

Ultra last-minute Turkey: 7nts from £155pp incl. hotel & flights

Pirates, get 'em while they last: 7 nights in Turkey from a mere £155pp including the 3* Lemas Suite Hotel & flights. This hot summer price won't stick around for long, so pack a bag and book a ticket if you want to snag this deal at its cheapest. Holiday details: Travel duration: 7 nights… jcrdawes POSTS ARE NOT OUR ENDORSEMENT

Private hire driver jailed for the hit and run of vulnerable female pedestrian

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A private hire driver from Bournemouth has been jailed for 16 weeks for the hit and run of a vulnerable woman who suffers from a rare medical condition, Hypopituitarism, which means she needs an emergency steroid injection whenever she suffers any trauma. Christopher Jeffrey mowed 20 year old Alexis Richard-McAdams down on a busy road, leaving her on the ground with a broken ankle and bruising. Alexis was without her emergency injection and was only able to receive it because she called her mother who rushed home to grab it. If Alexis had been knocked unconscious she could of died. Jeffrey, 33, who was driving a silver Skoda Octavia at the time of the collision, admitted to driving without due care and attention and failing to stop after an incident in which a person was injured.

He was jailed for 16 weeks, and also banned from driving for 12 months and ordered to pay a victim surcharge of £115. According to a report in the Bournemouth Echo, Jeffrey only pleaded guilty at the very last minute. This case serves as a reminder of the serious consequences of failing to observe the law when getting behind the wheel of a vehicle.

June 15, 2018 at 01:32PM https://ift.tt/2ufVjKI THESE POSTS ARE NOT OUR ENDORSEMENT

Live the luxe life in Mykonos: 7nts B&B from £456pp incl. flights & 4* hotel

OK Pirates, it's time to push the boat out! The island of Mykonos is fast becoming a 'must visit' destination in Greece and we're here to tell you that if you go 'off season' there are some great bargains to be had. Like, 7 nights at the Three Shades Mykonos in summer will usually set… GemUK POSTS ARE NOT OUR ENDORSEMENT

Mini-cab driver loses his nose in Romford violent attack

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Detectives investigating the violent assault of a mini-cab driver in Romford - who had part of his nose bitten off - have released an image of a man they would like to speak to.

Police were called at 23:54hrs on Saturday, 26 May to reports of an assault on Benskins Lane, near Church Road in Romford, Officers attended and found a 51-year-old man with serious facial injuries. He was taken to an east London hospital with life-changing injuries after a piece of his nose was bitten off.

The victim had collected the suspect as a fare on South Street, shortly before the incident and was due to take him to Noak Hill Road.

During the journey, the suspect asked to change the destination to Benskins Lane, which was further.

The victim explained this would cost more and the suspect agreed.

Upon arrival, the suspect stated he was not going to pay and that he was going to fight the victim.

The suspect assaulted the victim by repeatedly hitting him in the face before biting his nose.

Following the attack, the suspect grabbed the mini-cab’s rear facing dash cam as well as cash and documents. He then fled the scene down a footpath.

Detective Constable Gill Garrett, the investigating officer from the East Area Command Unit’s CID, said: "This was a brutal unprovoked attack that has left the victim extremely distressed and too shaken to return to work. He is still receiving medical treatment and has already undergone numerous surgical procedures.

"We have released an image of a man we would like to speak to in connection with this assault. We would urge anyone who recognises him to contact us as a matter of urgency. Any information provided to the police will be treated in confidence, or people can speak to Crimestoppers anonymously.

"We are calling on the public and the media to help us find and bring the person responsible for this heinous crime to justice."

June 15, 2018 at 12:29PM https://ift.tt/2ufVjKI THESE POSTS ARE NOT OUR ENDORSEMENT

Lovely Limerick: 2nts from £74pp incl. hotel & flights

Pirates, grab a cheap getaway for a piratical price with 2 nights in Limerick from £74pp including 3* hotel and flights. This lively Irish town has plenty of buzz for the curious visitor, with warm hospitality and cold drinks on every corner. How to book: You are required to make payments on different booking sites… jcrdawes POSTS ARE NOT OUR ENDORSEMENT

4* Lake Como autumn getaway 3nts from £291pp - incl. Sheraton hotel & flights

Ahoy mateys! Holiday like a Hollywood star with a stylish escape by Lake Como in Italy famously the summer residence of George Clooney. We found some great rates over at the luxe 4* Sheraton Lake Como set in a large park on the shores of the lake offering an outdoor pool, wellness area and… Cee POSTS ARE NOT OUR ENDORSEMENT

Waymo's driverless taxi in action

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June 15, 2018 at 10:26AM https://ift.tt/2ufVjKI THESE POSTS ARE NOT OUR ENDORSEMENT

5* Staycation: Luxe Manchester hotel stay from £43pppn - indoor pool & onsite spa

Pirates, add a little luxury to your summer with a stay at the Radisson Blu Edwardian, nicely located in central Manchester. This 5* property has an indoor pool and stunning spa on site, with facilities that include a steam room, Moroccan Rasul, sauna and Jacuzzi. We've added availability for the summer months below. The cheapest… Samcana POSTS ARE NOT OUR ENDORSEMENT

Loving Lisbon: 4nts Radisson Blu stay from £240pp incl. flights & hotel - winter dates from £193pp

If you have found that your big summer holiday has eaten at most of your leave from work then why not opt for a city break to get you through autumn? We have found this neat little trip to the Portuguese capital, staying in the plush Radisson Blu hotel, which is within easy reach of… GemUK POSTS ARE NOT OUR ENDORSEMENT

LCDC: Is the London Knowledge in crisis?

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The Knowledge is in crisis. Student numbers are falling, Knowledge schools are closing or amalgamating. However, the problems with the KOL do not stand alone but are a symptom of wider problems in the taxi trade. If these problems are resolved, the KOL problems will largely resolve themselves. Attempting to isolate and resolve the problems specifically associated with the KOL, without reference to the wider problems, will be doomed to failure.

The London taxi trade is in crisis, possibly terminally so. Knowledge student numbers are at an unprecedented low . A quarter of existing drivers are 60 years of age or older. Less than 2% are under 30, resulting in overall driver numbers falling month on month and week on week.

Many drivers will retire or semi-retire n the near future, seriously reducing supply but many of these will not surrender their licence as it has no tradable value.

The shape of this age demographics a fairly recent phenomenon as baby boomers have reached retirement age. The result is that not even TFL themselves know the true number of working drivers and by what percentage this has fallen over recent years.

Meanwhile, the taxi fleet is reducing in size, month on month and week on week as new taxis fail to keep up with the number going out of service. Since the arrival of the new ZEC taxi this year at a cost increase of nearly 50%, only one new taxi is being added to the fleet for every 10 going out of service.

This fleet reduction should see rentals struggle to satisfy demand. This was certainly the case when the 15 year age limit was first applied and reduced the fleet. This time however, fleets are reporting that they are unable to rent all their stocks.

The corollary of this is a combination of falling driver numbers and income, plummeting student numbers, a reducing taxi fleet and unrented taxis. The only reasonable conclusion is the taxi trade is in serious decline. Unless preventative measures are taken, the taxi service could quickly become untenable as a vital part of London’s transport service.

Both the taxi trade and the GLA transport committee recognised this when they worked collectively to produce the 2014 “Future Proof” document intended to secure the trade’s future.

Unfortunately, the report’s recommendations have been largely ignored by The Mayor and TFL. All the problems identified by “Future Proof” are still relevant but the situation has worsened because no action has been taken to rectify them.

Read the rest of the article from the LCDC by clicking here

June 15, 2018 at 08:35AM https://ift.tt/2ufVjKI THESE POSTS ARE NOT OUR ENDORSEMENT

Super cheap Costa brava group getaway from £93pp - 7nts hotel & flights

Ahoy pirates, grab your squad and head to Spain with this bargain holiday in Costa Brava we have come across. You will stay for a week in a great rated hotel for under £100 per person - the deal is also a great price if you wish to travel as a couple. Book this holiday… Lola POSTS ARE NOT OUR ENDORSEMENT

Luxe 5* Croatia half board autumn escape 3nts from £289pp - incl. flights & hotel

Ahoy mateys! Discover the picturesque old city of Cavtat, just a short drive down the coast from Dubrovnik. We've laid eyes on the gorgeous, Travellers' Choice awarded 5* Croatia Hotel situated in on a peninsula overlooking the Adriatic with access to 2 beaches, 2 pools and a spa. Half board is included for your stay… Cee POSTS ARE NOT OUR ENDORSEMENT

Lovely Lithuania: Flights to Vilnius in September from £34 return

Pirates, how about a visit to somewhere a little bit different, we have come across some super cheap flights to the fabulous Vilnius in Lithuania. There are a range of dates in September at really great prices. Offer details Direct flights Flights to Vilnius Departures from London Dates in September 2018 Hand luggage - Included… Lola POSTS ARE NOT OUR ENDORSEMENT