Cheap 4* Turkey holiday in September from £249pp - incl. flights & 7nts aparthotel stay

Pirates, if you haven't yet booked your summer holiday, we've uncovered a gem of a late season bargain to Turkey this September when you'll still get the sun, without the peak price tag. You'll pay as little as £249 per person, based on 2 sharing for flights and 7 nights self-catering in a lovely 4*… Niamh_UK POSTS ARE NOT OUR ENDORSEMENT

Plastic fantastic! London taxis embrace rise in cashless payments

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With the rise of contactless credit cards and alternative payment methods such as Apple Pay and Google Pay, we are increasingly moving towards a cashless society.

According to banking trade body UK Finance, debit card payments have now overtaken cash use for the first time. A total of 13.2 billion debit card payments were made last year, a rise of 14 per cent on the previous year. Meanwhile, the frequency of contactless payments almost doubled in a year to 5.6 billion last year. This was most commonly in supermarkets, but card suppliers say that public transport and car parking have also become regular places for people to use contactless – in London more than half of all pay as you go travel on the TfL network is now made using contactless.

This growth in card use is why the TfL Board agreed that taxi passengers should be able to pay by card, including contactless, back in 2016. From 31 October 2016, all licensed taxi drivers have been required to accept credit and debit card payments.

The easy way to pay

Lee Sheppard is the director of London Taxi PR, set up to promote the trade in the Capital, and states: ‘The advent and move to a more cashless society can only be good for the licensed trade. Paying by card allows us to be a more efficient and appealing service, whether it is for the frequent business user, the short hop journeyer or the user in an emergency when no cash is available. Being able to hail, tap and pay by card provides our customers with peace of mind and an ease-of-use service.

‘The London taxi trade has always been seen as innovators of technology and by continuing to evolve and provide our customers with the fullest of payment options, we are demonstrating we recognise that without these alternatives, we as a service and trade will not survive.’

Every taxi driver must accept card and contactless payments and provide printed receipts for those payments if asked to by the customer. All taxis must have a fully working TfL-approved fixed card payment device fitted in the passenger compartment. Taxis not meeting this requirement are issued with an unfit notice, which remains in place until the credit card reader has been fitted or repaired and the vehicle is presented for inspection.

July 17, 2018 at 11:31AM https://ift.tt/2ufVjKI OnRoute TfL THESE POSTS ARE NOT OUR ENDORSEMENT

TfL Fail To Attend KoL Seminar At City Hall....by Grant Davis

La Dolce Vita: 6nt trip to Venice, Florence & Rome from £169pp - incl. hotels, flights & trains

Pirates, enjoy the best of Bella Italia with this scorching offer from TourCenter! This deal offers 3-in-1 fun - you'll be visiting Rome, Venice and Florence for a total of 6 nights. Flights are included from several UK airports, as well as a great hotel in each city and train transfers to get you around… Samcana POSTS ARE NOT OUR ENDORSEMENT

Awesome all inclusive Corfu late season holiday from £244pp - 7nts 4* hotel & flights

Ahoy pirates, stop what you're doing and take a look at this, we have come across this awesome all inclusive holiday in Corfu at an even more awesome price. You will stay for a week based on 2 sharing in a great 4* hotel for under £250 per person. Holiday details Travel duration: 7 nights… Lola POSTS ARE NOT OUR ENDORSEMENT

Task force needed to prepare British cities for autonomous vehicles, says consortium

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A new City Mobility Task Force including local and national government as well as industry representatives should be convened to develop strategic policy, set goals and provide roadmaps for a new generation of transport services, according to the MERGE Greenwich consortium. The remit of the proposed task force would include recommending changes to street infrastructure and taking steps to build public confidence in both autonomous vehicles and ride-sharing, and seek to gain the maximum social benefits for cities and their citizens. This is one of the key recommendations in a report published today by the MERGE Greenwich project, led by Addison Lee Group, on the outcome of a year-long simulation on the introduction of autonomous vehicle ride-sharing services which would make it quicker and simpler for people to travel between their homes and public transport hubs. AV ride-sharing would allow people to summon and share on-demand vehicles to take them short distances for a set fare. The concept is one of many ways in which new mobility technology could be exploited to address congestion, air quality and convenience in Britain’s cities. Using the Royal Borough of Greenwich as a modelling ground, the consortium finds that by 2025, ride-sharing could account for more than one in four trips. It concludes that AV ride-sharing can cut average journey times to public transport hubs by up to 43%, saving an average commuter as much as 3.5 days in travel time per year. For areas with particularly poor connectivity, the simulated time saving was as high as 74%. Andy Boland, Chief Executive Officer of Addison Lee Group, said: “The MERGE Greenwich consortium report shows all manner of positive changes that autonomous vehicle ride-sharing could bring – reduced journey times, better access to transport and less need for parking spaces. To make this a reality, it needs a task force, harnessing the expertise of the public and private sectors, to facilitate the planning and co-ordination essential to its implementation.” He added: “Government has shown leadership through the Future of Mobility Grand Challenge and we urge them to convene decision makers to ensure that Autonomous Vehicle ride-sharing plays a part in the urban transport mix to give customers choice and to help build the greener, cleaner and more efficient cities of the future.” The report shows that AV ride-sharing would free up parking space, with the number of car journeys requiring parking dropping by up to 38%. This could free up space equivalent to 61 tennis courts in Greenwich alone, allowing many car parks and street parking spaces to be repurposed. However, the research also highlights the complexities in introducing a new AV ride-share service at scale. Whilst overall the service can deliver benefits, during the period in which the introduction of the service takes place alongside all of today’s existing traffic, the service could have some short term unintended consequences. For example, significant preparatory work needs to be done to lay the ground for successful introduction of AV ride-sharing services. Challenges facing the adoption of AV ride-sharing include nervousness among the public about sharing a vehicle, with 45% saying they are willing to do so. Some services – particularly those helping passengers with accessibility challenges – would need to be staffed by a steward, meaning a person is always onboard the vehicle. The cost of first-generation vehicles could also be a barrier to commercial viability initially. Current cost estimates for autonomous electric vehicles are significantly higher than today’s conventional fleet vehicle. The consortium also recommends that pricing and incentives are pitched in such a way as to encourage travelers to switch to AV ride-sharing from private vehicles, rather than from buses, to ensure that the introduction of new services reduces traffic congestion. Recommended pricing would be pitched significantly above the cost of a bus ticket. The MERGE Greenwich consortium was setup and led by Addison Lee Group and involves mobility experts Ford, TRL, Transport Systems Catapult, DG Cities and Immense Simulations. It is backed by funding from Innovate UK – an agency sponsored by the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy.

July 17, 2018 at 09:35AM https://ift.tt/2ufVjKI Perry Richardson THESE POSTS ARE NOT OUR ENDORSEMENT

Lakeside Living: Discover gorgeous Ohrid from £67pp - incl. 3nts hotel & flights

Pirates, it's time for you to discover one of the most beautiful hidden corners of Europe! Lake Ohrid is postcard perfect: pretty mountains and serene azure waters provide a gorgeous backdrop to the cobbled streets and medieval castle of the Old Town of Ohrid. You'll find direct flights from London in our Flights Finder. We're… Samcana POSTS ARE NOT OUR ENDORSEMENT

Minicab driver killed 89 year old man while driving under the influence of Cocaine

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A private hire driver from Liverpool who knocked over and killed an 89 year-old man while three times over the drug drive limit is due to be sentenced on Friday July 20. Paul Morrison, 43, who was high on cocaine at the time, drove into 89 year-old Andrew Oakden as he crossed a road in Gateacre on Saturday, February 18 last year. Mr Oakden was rushed to Aintree Hospital where he died the following day. Morrison was arrested and charged with causing death by careless driving. Morrison, who was driving his Ford C-Max, denied driving without due care and attention, but changed his plea once realising the jury would hear he had taken cocaine and also failed a police field impairment test. Defending Mr Morrison, David Birrell said: "It's a serious matter and there can only be one sentence, but I do submit the court would be assisted by a probation report"

(Image: Aintree University Hospital)

A report in the Liverpool Echo, confirmed; Judge Alan Conrad agreed to a pre-sentence report and adjourned Morrison's sentencing until Friday 20 July. Conrad confirmed that a prison sentence of some length is "virtually inevitable", adding that the maximum sentence the court can impose for causing death by dangerous driving is five years , but the maximum for causing death by dangerous driving or careless driving under the influence of drink or drugs is 14 years. In a statement by Oakden's family following his death, they said:

"Andrew Oakden, known to us as Andy, was a beloved brother and uncle and until her death, a loving husband to Kathleen.“

Andy had a passion for playing bowls and line dancing, he loved animals including his two ginger cats, day trips, and holidays with his late wife.“He was taken from us in tragic circumstances and will be sadly missed by us all and all that knew him. God bless.”

July 17, 2018 at 08:40AM https://ift.tt/2ufVjKI THESE POSTS ARE NOT OUR ENDORSEMENT

British Airways flights to Istanbul from £95 return: Lots of dates available

A melting pot of east and west, Istanbul boasts delicious food, rich history and some outstanding architecture. Using our Flights Finder, we spotted direct flights with British Airways from London to this bustling city for under £100 return. We've seen flights at this low price across selected dates at the end of the year and… Niamh_UK POSTS ARE NOT OUR ENDORSEMENT

See the Swiss Alps this autumn: Return flights from £19

Basel is paradise to culture-seekers; home to 40 museums and art galleries and a perfect blend of Old Town glamour with modern architecture, visitors could be kept occupied for hours just wandering around this Swiss city on the banks of the Rhine River. We've discovered autumn flights to this destination, which is also just 90… Niamh_UK POSTS ARE NOT OUR ENDORSEMENT

Sherbet London relaunches with new taxi “industry disruptor” vision

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“London’s taxi drivers are the best in the world. No question. It is about time that a real taxi company is the industry disruptor for once. That’s what we want to achieve with our new vision.” says Sherbet London CEO Asher Moses.

This month, Asher and his Dalston based team boldly relaunch the company with a new vision. Sherbet will combine three sections of its business to create a unique and modern service never seen by the trade before ; Ride, drive and advertise with Sherbet.

“It’s time for a radical change. We’re at a crucial turning point for the London Taxi industry. There are challenges, of course; there is also massive potential. Through technology and customer service excellence, I believe that there is a clear and certain future for expert, premium professional London Taxi drivers, driving sustainable, energy-efficient cleaner vehicles. That was always the vision when we created Sherbet London. The ‘relaunch’ is the next stage in that evolution.”, said Asher.

The new vision, powered by investment and belief in electric power train technology, focuses on delivering technological and service excellence to Sherbet London’s drivers and customers.

“This new evolution is all about the future. The future of the industry, our children’s future, the environment. So, we want drivers who either own or want to drive electric or newer vehicles. We want to establish a network that truly supports professional drivers who understand that technology and customer service excellence is the key to beating the competition. Our aim is to create a community that can truly compete with the likes of the premium private hire fleets, as well as challenger app-based brands. We all know the threats to the trade; over the coming weeks we’ll be unveiling our plans to strengthen and protect the future for the licensed taxi sector.”, Asher added.

Sherbet London operates one of London’s largest managed, media taxi fleets, delivering passengers and advertising messages safely and efficiently across the city, using high-technology and metrics to deliver customer satisfaction. The team provides impactful taxi media advertising with its fleet of more than 500+ high-specification vehicles, working with high-profile fashion and leisure clients including PrettyLittleThing, Boohoo, TopShop, TopMan, Embassy Gardens, VisitQatar and 888Casino.

Asher stated, “We will set out to provide a clear vision for all key stakeholders. Our premium drivers will sign up to a charter, that will cover vehicle checks, personal safety, customer service and even social media. We are ambitious for Sherbet London and for the wider industry. We are really excited to be launching this vision to the trade. It’s all about positive change for me.”

July 16, 2018 at 08:42PM https://ift.tt/2ufVjKI Perry Richardson THESE POSTS ARE NOT OUR ENDORSEMENT

Straight to Hollywood: Direct Los Angeles flights from £279rtn - incl. bags & meals

It's time to start California Dreamin' thanks to these direct fares to Los Angeles from our Flights Finder! Flights from London are with Air New Zealand - one of our favourite airlines for long haul travel! Checked luggage and inflight meals are included with the options listed below. We've seen options in May and between… Samcana POSTS ARE NOT OUR ENDORSEMENT

Mad for Majorca: All inclusive late season getaway from £279pp - 7nts hotel & flights

Pirates, going on an all inclusive holiday can sometimes be a bit expensive, so take a look at this holiday in Majorca on our cool holiday finder. You will stay for a week on an all inclusive board basis meaning all food, snacks and drinks are included in the price - all for under £300… Lola POSTS ARE NOT OUR ENDORSEMENT

Flights to Melbourne, Australia from just £509rtn - incl. luggage & meals

Pirates, The Only Way is Melbs with these fantastic Australia flights we came across in our Flights Finder. For this price you'll be jetting off to Melbourne, Australia's hippest city and a fine base for exploring the rest of the country. We've seen availability between October and November 2018, as well as February and April… Samcana POSTS ARE NOT OUR ENDORSEMENT

Luxurious 5* all inclusive Mexico: 7nts from £818pp incl. flights & beachfront Hilton hotel

For those Pirates looking for something a little special, we think we have the perfect remedy to your post summer blues - a 5* beachfront escape to Mexico! Immerse yourself in the luxurious surroundings of the 5* Hilton Puerto Vallarta. It's beach side location is perfect for a week of relaxing in the sun! The… GemUK POSTS ARE NOT OUR ENDORSEMENT

Nice price New York: 4nt getaway from £369pp - incl. flights & Times Square hotel (2-4 share)

Move over 2018 because this early bird New York deal is ALL about 2019. Grab your squad and book early on our holidays finder to save a packet on a trip to Manhattan. This deal includes direct flights and 4 nights in a 4* Times Square hotel from just £369 per person, based on 4… Niamh_UK POSTS ARE NOT OUR ENDORSEMENT

Magical Marrakech winter sun holiday from £191pp - 7nts 4* hotel, breakfast & flights

Pirates, any of you up for some winter sun this year? We have come across this great holiday in Marrakech staying for 7 nights with breakfast included. The holiday is based on 2 sharing and the hotel scores really highly at TripAdvisor and is award winning. Holiday details Duration is 7 nights (longer or shorter… Lola POSTS ARE NOT OUR ENDORSEMENT

Beachfront escape in Zanzibar: 9nts B&B from £452pp incl. flights, beach bungalow & breakfast

Ahoy mateys, escape the cold, depressing UK winter and try somewhere different for your holiday? Because we're nice pIrates, we have discovered these adorable beach bungalows along with some cheap return flights to the paradise island of Zanzibar, to create a winter escape you'll remember for years to come. Home of the wild dolphins, paradise… GemUK POSTS ARE NOT OUR ENDORSEMENT

Cheap Kavos getaway from £160pp: 7nts incl. flights & 24-hour bar: Just £49pp deposit

This holiday will definitely appeal to party pirates wanting non-stop fun on their summer holidays. The hotel -- located in the infamous party town of Kavos -- has a 24-hour pool bar and hot tub. This September, grab your bestie and head to the Greek island of Corfu where you will stay 7 nights in… Niamh_UK POSTS ARE NOT OUR ENDORSEMENT

Lovely Latvia: Flights to Riga from £32 return

Ahoy pirates, if you want to visit a great country at an amazing price, take a look at these flights to Riga in lovely Latvia. There are many dates available at great prices throughout September. Team them with a great accommodation and you have yourself a great mini break. Flight details Direct flights Departures from… Lola POSTS ARE NOT OUR ENDORSEMENT