Friday, 13 July 2018

City Hall set to meet London taxi drivers to discuss the future of the world renowned London Knowledge


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UK Independence Party and London Assembly member David Kurten is to host an event to promote The Knowledge of London following concerns of a decline in applicants.The event will take place at 4pm on 16th July at City Hall and is likely to be heavily attended by taxi trade stakeholders and drivers. The discussion panel includes well known trade figures like Dean Warrington from Wizann Knowledge School, Frances Wyhowska of The Taxi Charity and Mike Newell representing the London Cab Drivers Club. David Kurten has been a highly outspoken and strong supporter of the licensed London taxi industry posing many questions to Mayor Sadiq Khan in regards to the future of the industry.
According to Transport for London figures driver numbers in the capital are steadily decreasing in what is largely perceived as an unsteady market by those outside of the industry given the rise of rise-hailing apps like Uber.
Statistics show an overall decrease from 23,984 drivers in January 2018 to 23,824 by the end of March 2018; a decline of 160 cabbies in a three month period.
Cabbies will talk of new ways to promote the world’s toughest taxi test and inject confidence in an industry that has changed dramatically as technology advances.
July 13, 2018 at 06:53AM https://ift.tt/2ufVjKI THESE POSTS ARE NOT OUR ENDORSEMENT

David Kurten to host Knowledge event.


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UK Independence Party and London Assembly member David Kurten is to host an event to promote The Knowledge of London.
The event was announced on his Twitter feed and will take place at 4pm on July 16th at City Hall.
David Kurten has been a highly outspoken and strong supporter of the licensed London taxi industry.
This will be an all ticket event only. If you are a taxi driver wishing to attend contact david.kurten@london.gov.uk
SK
July 13, 2018 at 05:25AM https://ift.tt/2ufVjKI THESE POSTS ARE NOT OUR ENDORSEMENT

Thursday, 12 July 2018

Press Release From London Taxi OR

London Taxi PR launches ‘The Knowledge’ campaign

 

 

London Taxi PR is delighted to announce that it is launching a new campaign this month (July), titled ‘The Knowledge’ – Become a London Taxi Driver, this will promote, signing up to The Knowledge, the infamous Test each applicant must pass to become a licensed London Taxi driver.

 

The campaign also highlights that ‘The Knowledge’ is in fact inclusive and open to all, regardless of their gender, religion or ethnicity.

All images used in the campaign have been provided by Terry Gibbins, a passionate & Proud London Taxi driver and Photographer, who has been photographing drivers for several months. He came to London Taxi PR with the idea for a campaign.

 

Once again London Taxi PR have teamed up with 8 outdoor media who will provide 29 large format digital billboards across Central London. The campaign which will run for a month, will feature London Taxi drivers of all genders and ethnic origin, which reflect the current diversity within the trade, with the headline “I did it, so can you”.

 

The aim of the campaign is to encourage more people to sign up to do ‘The Knowledge’ & become a London Taxi driver. We believe the job offers great opportunities for all who are prepared to put in the work and meet the high standards required of the profession to be a licensed London Taxi driver.

 

All previous campaigns have already achieved significant publicity, illustrating that licensed London Taxis are not only safe, distinctive, instantly recognisable, and incredibly easy to hail, either by hailing from the street or through an app, but that they also have a fantastic historic profile, dating all the way back to the 17th Century.

 

This new campaign also follows the recent culmination of London Taxi PR’s latest initiative, which involved street level advertisements at some 80 Bus Stop sites across Central London in conjunction with JCDecaux, together with a social media campaign, #lookforthelight, alongside the advertisements.

 

This latest launch also comes on the back of two success major award wins for London Taxi PR, most recently having been crowned Best Transport PR Agency 2018 – London, in the Business Excellence Awards organised by Acquisition International (AI) magazine. This followed London Taxi PR’s previous win earlier this year for The Best Public Transport Promotions Group – England, in the Air Transport Awards.

 

Both awards validate the significance and importance of the work that London Taxi PR are doing in promoting their trade through the media and other outlets.

 

Since their formation, London Taxi PR has undertaken a series of targeted media campaigns, which are being used by London Taxi PR to promote the benefits, advantages and safety of using the iconic London Taxi to a wide audience.

 

London Taxi PR was established in March 2015 by two licenced London Taxi drivers of many years standing - Lee Sheppard and fellow cabbie Gary Long, London Taxi PR is seeking to raise awareness to the public, tourists and visitors to the capital by illustrating the advantages that can be provided by using the iconic London Taxi’s. These Taxis are affectionately known as London’s Pride, and this has been used to significant effect as a catchphrase in their campaign material.

 

All the campaigns and publicity that has so far been generated by the company has been funded by fellow London Taxi drivers, many of whom have signed up to donate to the cause on a monthly basis, indicating how passionate they all are about their industry and the cause.

 

The campaigns have included; Digital Taxi rooftop advertisements that were provided by Verifone Media; an advertising campaign through JCDecaux on telephone kiosks situated around London’s West End; two campaigns with British Airways involving advertising in their High Life magazine and posters in Terminal 5 Business Lounge, followed by a full-page  advertisement again in High Life; a full-page advertising campaign in The London Magazine (high end property and residential title); a 3-month digital billboard campaign in conjunction with 8outdoor media, showcasing the London Taxi trade on three digital billboards in and around West London; and finally with Clear Channel UK which involved advertisements on phone boxes and digital pop up banners. There has also been a full-page advertisement and editorial campaign run within the leading Travel and lifestyle magazine, Inspired Travel.

 

Several distinctive tag lines have also been used in promotions, including; Take a ride in London’s Pride and #lookforthelight.

 

London Taxi PR. Passionate about promoting and preserving the iconic London Taxi trade and funded by London Taxi drivers who care about their industry.

 

 

For more information on London Taxi PR and their campaigns, please visit their website http://londontaxipr.com

 

 



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Discover the stunning Seychelles with direct return flights with BA from £517


Calling all you romantic Pirates out there. British Airways now fly direct to the popular honeymoon destination of the Seychelles -meaning that your total flight time is only 10 hours! Flying indirect with other carriers can be cheaper but these routes can often double your travel time. So these flights with BA are ideal for… GemUK POSTS ARE NOT OUR ENDORSEMENT

Made for Manhattan: New York winter getaway from £392pp - 3nts hotel & flights


Ahoy pirates, New York is calling and for under £400 per person we can't complain! You will stay for 3 nights in a great rated Hilton Garden Inn and you can choose to stay longer if you wish - and why not we say. There are many dates at great prices - click here to… Lola POSTS ARE NOT OUR ENDORSEMENT

Winter sun: 7nt Cape Verde break from £400pp - incl. resort & flights


Book early and you can truly land some winter sun bargains! Our Holiday Finder is offering 7 nights by the beach in beautiful Cape Verde for this low price. You'll be staying at Aguahotels Sal Vila Verde, with direct flights and ATOL protection also included. This price is for a January departure. Due to its… Samcana POSTS ARE NOT OUR ENDORSEMENT

Flights to Berlin from £28rtn this summer & autumn


Take a trip to Europe's coolest capital with these super cheap flights to Berlin! This bohemian city has a lot to offer in the late summer and autumn, and our Flights Finder is offering great fares from across the UK. The cheapest time to go is September, with August departures also available with prices starting… Samcana POSTS ARE NOT OUR ENDORSEMENT

Uber may look to offer passengers the option to pay with cash in more global cities including London


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Uber Technologies Inc are considering launching their "pay by cash" option in more big cities around the world, an option that is already available in 51 locations including Singapore, Mexico and Brazil where 25% of rides are paid with cash.
Uber's biggest market for cash payments is currently India, where nearly 65% of user's paid with good old hard-money.
Uber’s product designer Ms van Schoonhoven said at the Women of Silicon Roundabout conference;
“Our mission with Uber is to make transportation as reliable as running water everywhere and for everyone.“Before we introduced cash, we only had digital payment methods, so of course to achieve our mission we started to launch Uber ‘cash’ in markets all over the world.”
“We realised there was a whole segment of people who didn’t use Uber because they didn’t have digital payment methods.“We realised we were launching a product that a lot of locals couldn’t access, which was a big missed opportunity for us.“So we knew that we had to consider those who don’t have access to a bank account and rely on cash as a daily method of payment to pay for their goods and services.”
Uber could now look to offer such a service in the UK. With a new "temporary" 15 month licence being offered to the controversial ride-hailing app in London, it may now jump at the chance of working with regulators to introduce their "cash payment" method.
A major concern when registering a passenger who wishes to only ever pay by cash is the lack of verification taken by Uber themselves.
With a card payment set up, certain details need to be verified by the company offering a chance to perform digital security checks. These checks won't necessarily take place if someone simply signs up with the app for "cash only" transactions, therefore leaving the drivers somewhat vulnerable.
July 12, 2018 at 06:20PM https://ift.tt/2ufVjKI THESE POSTS ARE NOT OUR ENDORSEMENT

UK Lakeside lodge stay: 2nts from £23pp w/ free bottle of wine - sleeps up to 6 (couples £39pp)


Nestled in between the Yorkshire Dales and the Lake District lies the sleepy town of Carnforth, the location of Pine Lake Resort. Split into a number of wooden cabins & studios, grab the family, your mates or your favourite ship mate and enjoy a 2 night stay and enjoy a peaceful - and cheap -… GemUK POSTS ARE NOT OUR ENDORSEMENT

Shock For Drivers With Electric Taxis, Using Heathrow Feeder Park

With the news that a new £1.5m state of the art system is to be introduced to run the feeder park (Taxi Expert), the Trade also found out at the bi monthly Heathrow liaison meeting, that drivers with the new electric Taxi can’t charge their vehicles while going through the system. 


Drivers with the new LEVC will have to charge their vehicles before they enter the system in the same way drivers with diesel Taxis have to fill up before going through the FP. 


This will mean an extra wait of 45 minutes before they join the queue to go through the feeder. 


This is the statement published in this months copy of the Badge Taxi paper, authored by LCDC airport rep Jamie Hawes 

 

1. Electric Cabs: Protocol for Electric Taxis entering the Taxi Feeder Park:

HAL have informed the trade that before long there will be no waiting whilst charging at Heathrow. Drivers of electric taxis will have to charge up their cabs before entering the system in the same way that any other driver must operate when filling up with Diesel or LPG-that is charge/fuel before putting on. 


This may come as a little bit of a shock to those drivers who have signed up to a hefty financial agreement to own the LEVC taxi with the encouragement of TfL and HAL by way of free charge points, only to now find that they must waste 45 min before entering the feeder park rather than be able to charge up whilst waiting. 


It was pointed out that this being the case the positioning of the chargers in the North Park was a complete waste of time in that it only leaves less space for drivers entering or leaving. 


No Matter, what HAL wants, HAL gets.




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Fabulous flights to Rome from £33 return


Ahoy, cheap flights to Rome can be hard to come by so if any pirates fancy heading there take a look at these. The flights to Rome are from London as well as Manchester and East Midlands. Use our flights finder for all options. Flight details Direct flights Departures from London, Manchester, East Midlands Example… Lola POSTS ARE NOT OUR ENDORSEMENT

London: Weekly TfL roads and events update


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Farringdon Street
Saturday 14 – Sunday 15 July
• From 07:00 on Saturday 14 until 19:00 on Sunday 15 July, Farringdon Street will be closed northbound between Ludgate Circus and Snow Hill • Southbound traffic flow will be maintained. This is for Cycle Superhighway works. More information is available on our websiteBrewer Street
Monday 25 June – Friday 27 July 2018 • There will be a road closure on Brewer Street between Wardour Street and Lexington Street for public realm works • Brewer Street (Madam Jojo) taxi rank will be inaccessible and will be suspended for this period of time • There will be no vehicle access during this period of timeCharlie Brown’s Roundabout
Monday 9 July – Monday 23 July • From 21:00 until 05:00 every weekday from Monday 9 until Monday 23 July, works will take place to improve the roundabout to minimise traffic disruption • The A406 will have lane closures clockwise/eastbound and the Southend Road off-slip will be closed between the junction and Lechmere Avenue • Chigwell Road (north) will be access only between Broadmead Road and Raven Road junctions with no access to the A1400 • There will be no access to or from Latchett Road and Maybank Road from the A1400 Southend Road • Alternative diversion routes will be sign-posted on the siteVictoria Embankment • Cadent Gas is due to carry out essential gas works on Victoria Embankment by Blackfriars Underpass from 6 August until mid-September 2018. As a result, Victoria Embankment will be closed westbound between Southwark Bridge and Westminster Bridge. Read more to find information on alternative travel routes and how you will be affected.
Wimbledon Tennis Championships • The Wimbledon Tennis Championships are currently taking place until Sunday 15 July. Read our notice about special arrangements in place for taxi and private hire vehicles during the tournament.Lovebox festival, Gunnersbury Park
Friday 13, Saturday 14 and Sunday 15 July • Gates will open at 14:00 on Friday, 12:00 on Saturday and Sunday. The music will finish at 22:30 each day • There will be a marshalled taxi rank in operation from 19:00 to midnight for each day of the festival. Access will be via the ‘red gate’ off Popes Lane via South Ealing Road • All London drivers and suburban drivers from sectors 7 and 8 may service the rank • Drivers will not be able to access the park via the North Circular as Gunnersbury Lane will be closed between the North Circular and Acton Town London Underground station. Road closures are planned to be removed by 01:00 each night • Private hire vehicles must only enter the area if they have a booking. There will be a designated area for them to pick upBST Music Concerts
Friday 13, Saturday 14 and Sunday 15 July • The second weekend of British Summertime (BST) concerts takes place in Hyde Park, with doors opening at 13:00 on Friday, 12:30 on Saturday and 12:00 on Sunday. Last entry on all days at 21:00. Up to 50,000 people are expected to attend on Friday, and 65,000 people are expected to attend on both Saturday and Sunday • From 21:00 until 23:45, Park Lane may be closed between Marble Arch and Hyde Park Corner and the eastbound up-slip from Knightsbridge to Hyde Park Corner. This is to assist with post-event egress • If the closures are implemented, traffic will be diverted via Hyde Park Corner Underpass • Police units will be in attendance to assist with traffic movements on Marble Arch and Hyde Park CornerSummer Streets, Regent Street
Sunday 15 July • The third annual Summer Streets event will take place from 12:00 until 18:00 • To facilitate this car-free day event, Regent Street will be closed in both directions from Piccadilly Circus to Oxford Street between 08:00 and 20:00 • Additionally, Regent Street will be closed southbound from the junction with Mortimer Street to all traffic except London buses • New Burlington Street will be closed between 05:00 and 21:00. There will be associated closures or restrictions on adjacent roadsVirgin Sport British 10k
Sunday 15 July • There will be a series of road closures to facilitate the run from 05:30 until 14:00. These will include Strand, Charing Cross Road, Piccadilly, Regent Street, Whitehall Place, Whitehall Court and Temple Place • The following taxi ranks will be suspended for this event: ○ Charing Cross Road ○ Embankment Place ○ Strand (Charing Cross station) ○ Pall Mall ○ Temple Place ○ Piccadilly (Le Meridian Hotel) ○ Piccadilly (Fortnum and Mason’s) ○ Regent Street/Piccadilly (Lillywhites) ○ Whitehall Court (Royal Horseguards Hotel) ○ Whitehall Place (Corinthia Hotel) ○ Regent Street (Hamley’s)
July 12, 2018 at 04:20PM https://ift.tt/2ufVjKI THESE POSTS ARE NOT OUR ENDORSEMENT

August in Mexico for under £600pp incl. flights, 7nts in a funky hotel & breakfast (sleeps 1-3)


Grab the squad and head out to the beaches of Mexico this August. If you're able to get to Scottish airports there are loads of late August deals to be had. Like a week in the 4* Oh by Oasis hotel. Travel as a group of 3, a couple or solo and head out to… GemUK POSTS ARE NOT OUR ENDORSEMENT

Flash Sale! Flights with Thomas Cook Airlines from £55rtn (Dubrovnik, Marrakech, Madeira & more)


Thomas Cook Airlines are launching a whole host of new routes this summer, and to celebrate they've released a rather nice discount code! New destinations include Thessaloniki/Halkidiki, Marrakech, Madeira and Dubrovnik (one for the Game of Thrones fans) The code is valid for travel from now until the end of December, but you must book… Samcana POSTS ARE NOT OUR ENDORSEMENT

Cabbies have stopped picking up passengers from Manchester Airport following taxi rank dispute


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Taxi drivers have refused to pick up passengers from all terminals at Manchester Airport as the dispute over a new taxi ranks position remains ongoing.
The action between Unite the union and Manchester Airport started this Monday and has entered into its fourth day of protests. Taxi drivers are concerned that the new taxi rank on terminal three is not visible to the public and set too far away from the terminal. Drivers are saying that the new rank discriminates against less mobile passengers and Hackney cabs themselves. The new taxi rank has also shrunk in size. The original rank set closer to the terminal had space for 12 taxis, where as the new, less visible rank, will only accommodate four.
According to Manchester Evening Yucel Polat, a Taxi driver and Unite spokesperson, said: “We were getting threats and drivers were getting moved on so we moved to a full withdrawal from all terminals. We are getting a strong feeling they don’t want black cabs here. "At international airports around the world the first thing passengers see when they step outside is a taxi rank. But not here.
July 12, 2018 at 02:27PM https://ift.tt/2ufVjKI Perry Richardson THESE POSTS ARE NOT OUR ENDORSEMENT

Luxury 5* superyacht stay in Gibraltar from £189pp - 2nts hotel with breakfast & flights


Ahoy, Fleetway are offering this really awesome holiday in Gibraltar staying in an award winning 5* luxury yacht hotel. You will stay for 2 nights (stay longer if you wish) with breakfast included each morning of your stay. Call Fleetway on 02039177255 or click here to book! Psst pirates - our mateys at Fleetway have… Lola POSTS ARE NOT OUR ENDORSEMENT

Another Open Letter From Taxi Leaks...Asking More Important Questions.


Let's get one thing straight from the start, Taxi Leaks is an impartial Taxi news website. We carry no paid adverts and do not carry advertorials for any Org, Union or company for monetary gain. The links we do have are there strictly through merit. 

Most of all, we are not an org, we do not represent the trade....all we do, is inform the trade. 

Having said that, we have found ourselves having to ask TFL's commissioner and directors questions because will feel these important questions are not being asked by our trade representative bodies. 

So today, we put these questions to TfLTPH:

1. After last weeks case, can London's Taxi drivers have an apology from TfL who’s COs we’re removing copies of Taxi paper from Taxis, saying the “headline was wrong”? We have video of drivers being harassed.

   

TfL COs Protecting Uber From Rape Headlines In The Press!
Will TfL now issue an apology to Taxi drivers who were harassed by COs?

2. Could you please tell my under what circumstances, Grayhound Cars have been given an exemption to allow them to display their name on liveried front doors ? Also, I'm told Otto cars is being allowed to advertise on its cars rear body work. Please explain why?

WHAT MAKES GREYHOUND CARS DIFFERENT TO ANY OTHER PH PRIUS???

3. In the Reading verdict yesterday judge Emma Arbuthnot on Page 4, section 14 (how the app works)...said it was the driver who accepts the job and only then Uber makes the booking. This is illegal under current legislation laid down by Parliament....Will you therefore revoke Uber’s licence ASAP ???

Judge Emma Arbuthnot, in summing up :
IF THE DRIVER ACCEPTS...THEN UBER COMFIRMS THE BOOKING!!!

We also asked the LTDA the third question adding the caveat 'will you be at Palestra today demanding Uber's immediate revocation?'

As of yet, we've received no answer from any one!



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Labour Caught Up In Cash For Voter Data Scandal


Facebook has already paid off the fine handed to it by the UK data regulator for its role in the Cambridge Analytica scandal.

But while most of Wednesday was taken up with chatter largely criticising the paltry sum - the maximum the Information Commissioner could under previous laws - another company had also been handed a penalty for allegedly illegal data practices.

During the regulator’s investigation into how data is being used for political purposes, the Information Commissioner found that the owner of a popular parenting website, Emma’s Diary, had illegally sold on the data of one million Britons to the Labour Party ahead of the 2017 general election.

WHAT DATA?

The 1.065.200 records included pregnant women, new parents and even their children.

Details included the name of the parent who joined the website, their home address, whether they had young children and the birth dates of the mother and children.

The parent company of Emma’s Diary, Lifecycle Marketing, has been fined £140,000 but denies any wrongdoing.

DOES IT MATTER?

Amid the Facebook probe findings, the Information Commissioner also revealed its concerns about the legality of political consultancy groups using data to target people with adverts ahead of the European referendum, including the Vote Leave campaign, it alleged.

The official Remain campaign - trading as Britain Stronger in Europe - may also face a penalty because it used a third party data broker that did not have adequate consent and “similar issues as we have explored on the Leave and wider political parties side of our investigation”.

As more details on the use marketing and digital data played in politics ahead of landmark votes comes out, it appears that the Cambridge Analytica debacle was just the tip of the iceberg. Whether serious ramifications will follow is in the hands of the data regulator and the Electoral Commission



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Hoist the anchor: 2nt mini cruise from £34.50pp incl. transfers - Xmas market dates available


No matter if you're a seasoned cruiser or are looking to book your first one, this taster 2 night mini cruise to Amsterdam will appeal to everyone. Departing from Newcastle, you'll spend the duration of the cruise in your own private cabin with ensuite and arrive into Amsterdam where a transfer bus will be waiting… GemUK POSTS ARE NOT OUR ENDORSEMENT

Chic 4* French Riviera break 4nts from £258pp - incl. Radisson Blu hotel, breakfast & flights


Ahoy mateys! Jet off to the French Riviera with a swanky stay at 4* Radisson Blu Hotel Nice offering first class amenities, private beach access and breathtaking views. Breakfast is included in this holiday, which is available throughout the season, with the cheapest dates to be found in October. Holiday details Travel duration: 4 nights… Cee POSTS ARE NOT OUR ENDORSEMENT