Hatfield & Welwyn Garden City cabbies strike as out of town minicabs undercut local services

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Cab drivers went on strike yesterday in Hatfield & Welwyn Garden City in protesting against local private hire firms using out of area cabs to undercut their local services. Drivers taking part in the protest want the law changed to stop cross-border hirings.Unite the union said via Facebook that they should “Cap private hire numbers, and private hire bookings should start or finish in the area they are licensed for.”

The protest was also used to highlight other key issues in the area. The Welwyn Hatfield Drivers Union (WHDU) point towards the unfair dismissal of Mr Baber and also changes to the metered pricing structure as reason to express their concerns.

The WHDU said: “We did not want to take this route, but have been forced to do so due to the lack of cooperation by the management and the arrogance of Kenny Lang in particular.

“We want a friendly working environment and believe we are far from it. Until our demands are met we will be doing continuous strikes on different dates.”

July 04, 2018 at 09:31AM https://ift.tt/2ufVjKI THESE POSTS ARE NOT OUR ENDORSEMENT

Summer 2019 4nt family B&B Benidorm break from £289pp incl. flights, hotel & waterpark access

If you're an early bird when it comes to booking holidays start looking forward to August next year with this incredible summer break that will appeal to kids (and adults) of all ages. The 4* Grand Luxor Hotel in Benidorm is a luxurious accommodation that is attached to a huge theme and water park and… GemUK POSTS ARE NOT OUR ENDORSEMENT

ABD: The cost of Khan

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Gareth Bacon, leader of the GLA Conservatives, has published a very interesting document entitled “The Cost of Khan”. It supplies a half-term report on the regime of Mayor Sadiq Khan and the negative impact he has had in certain areas (crime, planning, parking, housebuilding for example). In essence he suggests one of the key problems is financial mismanagement.Of particular interest to our readers will be his comments on the activities of TfL (Transport for London) and the budget for that organisation. It covers:

Cancellation of new tube trains for the Jubilee and Northern Lines that would have provided much needed extra capacity. That might have saved £600 million from the TfL budget but that’s desperately needed after Khan’s expensive promise to freeze public transport fares which cost at least £640 million in foregone revenue. Even that promise was only partly kept.

The pay of executive staff in TfL. The number who are paid more than £100,000 p.a. increased by 25% last year so there were 576 such employees. Is the Mayor really cutting the flab out of TfL budgets as he promised to do?

The “T-Charge” which was introduced last October and will cost Londoners £23 million a year despite the Mayor’s own Impact Assessment saying it will have only a negligible impact on pollution (and that has been borne out by real data since).

Nominee passes which you may not be aware of are highlighted. These allow TfL employees to nominate family members and anyone who resides in the same household to obtain free travel. Even flatmates qualify! There are 39,884 people who are nominees and the cost might be equivalent to £32 million in lost revenue per year.

Those and other reports show how the Mayor has been so wasteful of financial resources with the result that he is desperate to raise money from the T-Charge and the ULEZ charge which will impose major unnecessary costs on Londoners. In the personal view of this writer TfL continues to be a massive and very expensive bureaucracy which is unaccountable to the public. It formulates transport policy that will increase the bureaucracy and then does public consultations designed to get the right answers. TfL needs major reform but the Mayor does not seem to have it under control.

July 04, 2018 at 09:06AM https://ift.tt/2ufVjKI THESE POSTS ARE NOT OUR ENDORSEMENT

Watch Sadiq Khan on London Uber licensing decision

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July 04, 2018 at 08:37AM https://ift.tt/2ufVjKI THESE POSTS ARE NOT OUR ENDORSEMENT

4* Liverpool Tower Hotel from £27.50pp with city views: Cheap dates throughout Summer

Pirates! We've found a bargain rate for an iconic Liverpool hotel that has really knocked our socks off. You can stay in the glamorous 4* Mercure Tower Hotel -- which only reopened its doors earlier this year after a mega makeover -- from as little as £27.50 per person, based on 2 sharing. This amazing… Niamh_UK POSTS ARE NOT OUR ENDORSEMENT

Last minute Santorini summer holiday from £364pp - 7nts hotel, flights, luggage & transfers

Pirates, holidays to Santorini at great prices in summer can be hard to come by so grab this last minute Santorini getaway while you can. You will stay for a week based on a couple sharing and breakfast is included each morning of you stay. Holiday details Travel duration: 7 nights Example date: 26th July… Lola POSTS ARE NOT OUR ENDORSEMENT

Luxury 4nts in Menorca: 5* hotel, flights & breakfast from £277pp (Suite upgrades available)

Ahoy there pirates! If you fancy treating yourself to a divine 5* holiday in Menorca this year, use our holidays finder to get the best rates. We've discovered a luxury minibreak, including 4 nights B&B, and return flights from just £277 per person, based on 2 sharing. Longer stays are also available, as well as… Niamh_UK POSTS ARE NOT OUR ENDORSEMENT

Discover the Adriatic: 7nt full board cruise in ocean view from £493pp flights from £78 return

Explore some of the Adriatic's top locations with this amazing 7 night Royal Caribbean cruise. Departing from Venice, set sail to Croatia, Montenegro and Greece this winter aboard Royal Caribbean's Rhapsody of the Seas. Enjoy the top notch service on the full board basis in between visits to Dubrovnik, Kotor, Santorini and Katakolon before retiring… GemUK POSTS ARE NOT OUR ENDORSEMENT

Super romantic Cotswolds stay from £50pppn incl. breakfast - dog friendly (August dates)

Whether it's for a special occasion or you simply fancy a night away. The 4* No 38 The Park hotel is the ideal place to whisk that special someone off their feet. The hotel oozes romance and luxury in all of it's rooms. Breakfast is provided and there is a plush room upgrade available. Offer… GemUK POSTS ARE NOT OUR ENDORSEMENT

Dubrovnik beach break from £254pp: 7nts - incl. flights & breakfast (Go half board from £301pp)

Game of Thrones fans will be thrilled to find this end-of-season bargain beach holiday to the Croatian city of Dubrovnik -- better known as Westoros -- this year. You'll get 7 nights at beachside Tirena Sunny Hotel, with breakfast daily and direct flights from the UK from as little as £254 per person, based on… Niamh_UK POSTS ARE NOT OUR ENDORSEMENT

Uber look to circumvent unsafe areas by patenting controversial new technology

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A controversial new technology, which by-passes perceived unsafe areas has had a patent applied for by Uber.

The "safe-routing" option has onvoked fear amongst some that it could result in negative feesback for the driver.

The patent was filed for in the U.S. back in January and updated on June 28th.

The software would allow users to opt for what may be considered a safe-route, utilising third-party data to facilitate its operation.

A by-product of this software could see fares rising in accordance with varying route-parameters, such as traffic or adverse weather conditions.

A similar applicatiin was used by microsoft in 2012, which caused major controversy, it became known as the "avoid ghetto app."

The type of vehicle used may also become a factor, depending on any given Iber vehicles attributes, such as age or performance.

As yet Uber are awaiting approval of the patent

July 03, 2018 at 04:44PM https://ift.tt/2ufVjKI THESE POSTS ARE NOT OUR ENDORSEMENT

Luxury 5* Gran Can winter getaway: 4-7nts B&B from £279pp incl. flights & hotel w/ rooftop bar

Ahoy Pirates, what's the best solution to beat those winter blues? That's right a cheapy trip to the Canaries to enjoy the 5* surroundings of the Arrecife Gran Hotel & Spa. This stunning accommodation is right by the beach and offers an indoor pool, spa, and a rooftop bar with amazing views over the island.… GemUK POSTS ARE NOT OUR ENDORSEMENT

Get inspired in Italy: Flights to Milan from only £29 return

Pirates, Milan is well known for it's fashion, so why not grab one of these cheap flights and do a bit of shopping or whisk your other half away on a bargain break. The flights are from London but you can also fly from Liverpool and Bristol for a bit extra - use our flights… Lola POSTS ARE NOT OUR ENDORSEMENT

USA is calling: Return flights from £250 - Washington D.C., New York, Philadelphia & more

Mateys, we don't know what's going on with airline prices today but we pirates never say no to cheap flights! We've spotted heaps of seats available on USA routes for under £300 return -- with dates available right the way through to Spring 2019 -- including some Christmas and New Years dates. Flights from Ireland… Niamh_UK POSTS ARE NOT OUR ENDORSEMENT

Ultra all inclusive Turkey holiday from £299pp - 7nts 5* DoubleTree Hilton hotel & flights

Ahoy Pirates, check out this awesome ultra all inclusive holiday in Turkey staying in the brand new 5* DoubleTree by Hilton Antalya Kemer. The holiday in Turkey is for 7 nights with the best prices departing between November and February. You can even book today with a deposit, call 020 3917 7253 for more details… Lola POSTS ARE NOT OUR ENDORSEMENT

Moped gang tried to dupe cabbie by posing as undercover police officers

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It's been revealed that moped gangs have started impersonating undercover police officers in a ploy to attack and rob unsuspecting motorists.

Police have warned motorists to be on their guard after a cab was boxed in by two moped riders who both had blue flashing lights fitted to their helmets.Police revealed that the blue flashing lights were switched on as they pulled alongside the cab.The moped riders then claimed that the cab driver had gone through a red light.Suspicions were raised however, when the passengera in the cab told the moped riders to remove their face masks and identify themselves.When the moped riders refused to reveal their identity the police were called, the two moped riders subsequently fled.Moped attacks have increased sharply from 827 in 2012 to over 23000 in 2017, and has been a major cause of concern for police, who are struggling to deal with the problem.If approached by anybody on a moped claiming to be an undercover officer, always keep your doors locked and ask to see identification, if in doubt dial 999.

July 03, 2018 at 12:51PM https://ift.tt/2ufVjKI THESE POSTS ARE NOT OUR ENDORSEMENT

Remember Walls Have Ears...And The TfLTPH Twitter Police Are Listening In.

Taxi leaks has known for some time that everything we say on social media is closely monitored by TfLTPH. 

Going back to 2011, our editor Jim Thomas, received an email (still in his possession) from John Mason, on which he'd forgotten to redact the attached train. Further along the line was a communication from his assistant Helen Chapman,  who had been spying on Jim and attached screen shots from Twitter and the London Taxi Drivers forum of virtually everything he'd posted the previous day. 

(Reason for this was John Mason had in fact been blocked by the Forum and most of the drivers on Twitter).

At Taxi Leaks, we've always known TfLTPH take an interest in what we produce as our Stats checker can be used to show certain systems that click onto the blog (in TFL's case, we have a list of terminal ISP addresses). 

A busy day already at Racheal Grundy House

Screen shot from our commercially available Stats Checker program which monitors visitors to Taxi Leaks Blogs.

Recently Taxi Leaks have experienced problems when advertising posts on Twitter. We've appealed several times but have had no communication back from Twitter. Our blog has been flag up as unsafe....which is a blatant lie. Will will continue to post using what ever means we have at our disposal as we won't by bullied off line.

In the past we've posted proof that the LTDA wi-fi set up at Taxi House, was being used to spread discord amongst drivers from different representative orgs using the comment section of The Old Anderson Shelter Blog. When the proof was published in an issue of the 'United Cabbies News', it suddenly stopped. 

Carrying on from this surveillance, it has been bought to our attention that drivers have started to receive threatening letters from TfLTPH's Twitter Police team, over what's been alleged to have been said on social media.

And, it's no good blocking @TfLTPH as we believe their Twitter team are using a number of 'troll type' accounts to follow drivers. 

So please be very careful what you say on all social media platforms as its alleged they (TfL) have also managed to infiltrate private drivers groups on FaceBook. 

It would be a better use of TfLTPH resources to follow up on Tweets like this one below and take action, rather than what a few cabbies are saying to each other!

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MP Finds George Osbourne's behaviour over BlackRock And Evening Standard Job, Worrying.

Ronnie Cowan Sir Bernard Jenkins Baroness Browning

Ronnie Cowan of the Scottish Nation Party spoke out in parliament about worrying impropriety of former Chancellor George Osborne. In a debate about the Thirteenth Report of the Public Administration and Constitutional Affairs Committee, he said:

"As Sir Bernard Jenkin mentioned, the situation with George Osborne has been particularly worrying. That the former Chancellor of the Exchequer has been taken on as an adviser to the BlackRock Investment Institute on a salary considerably in excess of his previous salary as Chancellor, in a sector that he was responsible for regulating, seems to show little care for even the appearance of propriety among Ministers. 

"That the body that was supposed to be regulating the revolving doors between Government and industry had to hear that he had accepted a high-profile position as editor of the Evening Standard in the news, without him having consulted them or waited for clearance, shows that the system is broken. 

"That the president of BlackRock could tell investors that there is no way of knowing whether Mr Osborne will draw on (or disclose or use for the benefit of yourself or the organisation to which this advice refers) any privileged information that he gained from his time in Government shows that this is an absolute mockery.

"As the hon. Member for Harwich and North Essex said, the ACOBA chair, Baroness Browning, said to the Committee:
Every bus driver and hairdresser you know should apply for any of those jobs. I can tell you factually, not one applied.”

Sir Bernard Jenkins called on the government to;

considered the Thirteenth Report of the Public Administration and Constitutional Affairs Committee, HC 252, Managing Ministers’ and officials’ conflicts of interest: time for clearer values, principles and action, on the role and effectiveness of the Advisory Committee on Business Appointments (ACoBA); 

notes that ACoBA regulates applications for business appointments by former Ministers and civil servants who have recently left the public sector; 

he believes that ACoBA is an ineffectual regulator which fails to inspire public confidence or respect; 

expresses concern that the Committee’s inquiry revealed numerous gaps in ACoBA’s monitoring process with insufficient attention paid to the principles that should govern business appointments; 

agrees that failures of consecutive governments to address ACoBA’s deficiencies have damaged public trust in politics and public institutions and led to repeated scandals; 

calls on the Government to bring forward major reform by introducing a principles-based system to ensure that individuals act with integrity and behave according to those principles; 

and further calls on the Government to fund independent checks by ACoBA across all Government departments and executive agencies to reinforce those principles.

https://www.theyworkforyou.com/debates/?id=2018-06-28b.1130.0&s=taxi#g1134.0 

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August in the Azores from £349pp: 7nt island break - incl. flights, 4* hotel & breakfast

Thanks to some sumptuous rates in our Holiday Finder, August is now a great time to discover the Portuguese archipelago of The Azores. We found rates starting from £349 per person, based on 2 sharing, which includes some bargain return flights and 7 nights at the 4* Vale do Navio. The cheapest flights are from… Samcana POSTS ARE NOT OUR ENDORSEMENT

Under £200 in August: Corfu getaway from £198pp - 7nts hotel, flights, luggage & transfers

Pirates, it can be super expensive to head off on your hollibops in August so check out this holiday in Corfu in Greece that is under £200 per person! You will stay for a week in the sun in the heart of all the action when the weather should be super hot. Holiday details Travel… Lola POSTS ARE NOT OUR ENDORSEMENT