Summer school holidays 2019: 4* Algarve family break 7nts from £365pp - incl. flights & aparthotel

Ahoy early-birds! Yes, it is the middle of the summer and we are experiencing sweltering temperatures, however for those pirates who like to book in advance we've spotted some good July/August 2019 rates for this Algarve family holiday! You'll be staying at 4* Clube Porto Mos in Lagos 2 minutes walk from the beach and… Cee POSTS ARE NOT OUR ENDORSEMENT

4* Hotel right by Manchester airport from £25pppn: Turn that red-eye flight into R&R

Hey pirates - if you've bagged yourself a decent flight from Manchester airport but it leaves at some ungodly time in the morning, why not soften the blow of that redeye flight with an overnight at the 4* Hallmark Hotel Manchester from £25pppn? This comfy 4* hotel with pool, sauna and bar will turn that… jcrdawes POSTS ARE NOT OUR ENDORSEMENT

Frequently Asked Questions: How do I join the group action and what is needed from me?

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Am I eligible to take part in the group action?

Any taxi driver licensed by Transport for London (TfL) to work in London may be eligible to take part in the group action, provided you operated as a licensed taxi driver for some or all of the period between mid 2012 to December 2017 or later.Private hire vehicle drivers or taxi drivers licensed by authorities other than TfL are not eligible.

What am I committing to by registering an interest in taking part? What information do I have to provide at this stage?

At this early stage, you only have to provide your name, badge number and contact details to register an interest in taking part. If you express an interest in the claim, it does not commit you to formally participate in any subsequent litigation.

When and how will I have to fully commit to take part in the group action?

Once you have registered an interest in taking part, you will receive contact with further details of the group action and how it works. You will be asked for more information about how Uber has caused losses to you personally.Registering your interest does not mean that you have to participate; you can make this decision once you have received further information about the group action.

What personal and financial information will I have to provide when committing to take part?

We will provide further details of this to all those who have registered interest in taking part, so that you can make an informed choice about participation.

Will my name, personal and financial information be kept confidential? Where will this information be stored, who will see it, and how will it be used?

Your information will be held securely by Mishcon de Reya and by Newington Communications, and nobody outside the teams in both organisations working on the group action will be able to access it.Under the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) you have the right to request at any point what information is being held about you by Mishcon de Reya and by Newington Communications.

August 07, 2018 at 09:48PM https://ift.tt/2ufVjKI THESE POSTS ARE NOT OUR ENDORSEMENT

Mad for Mexico: 7nt All inclusive beach break from £622pp - incl. resort, flights & transfers

Summer doesn't have to end yet with the all inclusive offers from our Package Finder! Using a cool discount code (see below) you can get 7 nights in a resort by the beach in marvellous Mexico. This package includes flights, checked luggage, transfers and ATOL protection. There are options to depart from Manchester or London.… Samcana POSTS ARE NOT OUR ENDORSEMENT

Sizzling Sicily 2019 early bird getaway from £281pp - 4nts top rated hotel, breakfast & flights

Ahoy pirates, the early bird deals are coming thick and fast and we have come across this awesome hotel in Sicily with gorgeous pool and breakfast included departing in May 2019. The Italian getaway is for 4 nights but you can choose to stay longer or less if you wish - the hotel scores a… Lola POSTS ARE NOT OUR ENDORSEMENT

Turkey's ready: 2 week holiday from £464pp - incl. flights, all inclusive, bags & transfers

Stretch out your summer with 2 weeks at the end of September in coastal Turkey -- an all inclusive 14-night stay, including return flights, bags and transfers, starts from just £464 per person, based on 2 sharing. The hotel gets fantastic reviews on TripAdvisor from past guests (including a Certificate of Excellence) and it even… Niamh_UK POSTS ARE NOT OUR ENDORSEMENT

5* Costa Blanca: 4nts in Autumn from £233 incl. 5* hotel & flights

Pirates, it'll be alright on the night with 4 nights in Spain's gorjina Costa Blanca from £233pp including the 5* SH Villa Gadea & flights. This babin' plush 5* hotel has a stonking great score on TripAdvisor, so your trip is in safe hands. Holiday details Travel duration: 4 nights (longer or shorter stays possible)… jcrdawes POSTS ARE NOT OUR ENDORSEMENT

5 in 1: Fly to Barcelona, Rome, Paris, Budapest & Berlin from £109 return

Pirates, why see one country when you can see five, we have found some banging flights around Europe visiting 5 awesome cities! You will head to Barcelona, Rome, Paris, Budapest and Berlin with the option to include Lisbon and Brussels below. The dates may match with Christmas market season and we know that all of… Lola POSTS ARE NOT OUR ENDORSEMENT

Safari, so goody: Flights to Kenya from £282rtn - incl. luggage & meals

Kenya believe these prices pirates? Our Flights Finder is offering great prices on flights to Nairobi - a perfect base if you've ever dreamt of going on a safari adventure! We've added options between September and December, including lots of options in September and October - some of the best months for spotting wildlife! If… Samcana POSTS ARE NOT OUR ENDORSEMENT

Overnight all inclusive Spanish mini cruise from £80pp incl. tips - Lisbon - Vigo

If you're looking to try the cruising lifestyle but are not sure about locking into a 7 night deal then why not try an over night cruise aboard the Pullmantur Zenith when you can enjoy the all inclusive basis. Cruise from Lisbon to Vigo, Spain in 2019 for £80pp and cabin upgrades start from as… GemUK POSTS ARE NOT OUR ENDORSEMENT

London taxi drivers raise concerns as regulator fails to implement new tariffs

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According to trade sources a formal complaint to regulators Transport for London is to be made regarding the “tardiness of implication” surrounding this years taxi tariff update.

Grant Davis, Chairman of the LCDC, published the open letter written by fellow committee member, Micky Walker, which highlights the loss of earnings experienced by drivers due to the regulators continued delay to implement the 2018 taxi tariff.

The letter is supported by all trade groups in London who reside on the “Taxi Trade Tariff Group”.

The letter reads:

Dear TfL

We are writing to make a formal complaint in regard to how the taxi tariff has been applied and the tardiness of implementation.

The Taxi Cost Index (TCI) has worked well for more than 30 years. It reflects cost increases over 12 months and adds national average wage inflation to produce a change (usually an increase) that is fair to taxi drivers and passengers alike.

With regard to implementation, it has traditionally and consistently been applied at the beginning of April by present and past regulators. We quote TFL papers directly in regard of this which stated “Taxi fares are normally revised every April…..They normally change on the first Saturday of April but are sometimes deferred by a week when Easter falls on the first weekend of April.”

TFL complied with these practices up until, and including, the 2014 increase. In 2015, due to a very small tariff change (0.1%), the change was deferred to 2016.

In 2016, the tariff change took place on the correct date but the TCI was manipulated. A combination of an insufficient award to cover drivers’ total credit card costs and structural changes to the tariff, resulted in the tariff being reduced rather than increased by 1.6% as the TCI indicated.

In 2017, the tariff change was introduced on 3 June rather than the correct date of 7 April. Thus, 25% of the increase indicated by the TCI was lost due to the tariff change. When the trade group met with TFL in late 2017, we asked for this reduction to be taken into account in the 2018 increase and pointed out that there is a precedent for doing so since TFL took charge of regulation. This was refused.

In 2018 the decline in standards continues. We expressed our serious concerns with the cavalier way TFL were treating the date of the tariff revision. When we met TFL in April, it was already past the due date for implementation.

To date, we have no indication of when the 2018 increase will be implemented, although it is clear that it will be at least six months late. Considering that since the last review, fuel has increased by more than 20% and the price of a new taxi by approximately 40%, the 2018 review is out of date before it has been implemented.

We complained formally to Tom Moody and Darren Crowson at that last meeting and asked for the award to be increased to cover the tardy implementation and were refused. We asked for a timetable of procedure to be made available in order that we could ascertain that tariff changes would be made timely in the future. We were informed that not only would that not be possible but were forewarned that due to bureaucratic changes, the 2019 tariff change will be even later than 2018.

That being the case, over three years, more than half of the increases indicated by the TCI will be lost due to late implementation. Frankly, this is not good enough and taxi drivers should not be seeing their income reduced significantly due to either the ineptitude and/or indifference of the regulator.

We demand some form of recompense for this and a timetable of events that ensures that all future tariff revisions will be implemented on their due date. We look forward to your response.

Yours Sincerely,

The taxi trade tariff group (LTDA, Unite, LCDC, RMT, UCG, HUTG)

August 07, 2018 at 05:46PM https://ift.tt/2ufVjKI Perry Richardson THESE POSTS ARE NOT OUR ENDORSEMENT

5* Prague from £191pp incl. flights & 3nts luxury hotel stay w/ Molton Brown products

Pirates, make a push for Prague with 3 nights from £191pp including the 5* Cosmopolitan Hotel Prague & flights. This plush hotel has a crazy good score on TripAdvisor so your city break is in good hands. Holiday details Travel duration: 3 nights (longer or shorter stays possible) Example date: 13th 16th January 2019… jcrdawes POSTS ARE NOT OUR ENDORSEMENT

Experience golden beaches & unicorn inflatables with flights to the Philippines from £345rtn

So you've seen it all over social media now experience it for yourself. The inflatable unicorn island is located in Subic Bay, west of Manila. So to get your holiday planning off to a flying start with these super cheap flights to the Philippines we have discovered on our flight finder. Unicorns not really your… GemUK POSTS ARE NOT OUR ENDORSEMENT

PH Operator Caught Touting On Street, Using Four Operatives Outside The Royal Albert Hall.

Yesterday afternoon, we witnessed four males giving out leaflets with s voucher offering FREE TAXIS to people around the Royal Albert Hall. The men were all wearing a T-shirt advertising Via-van. 

We asked TfL on Twitter, are Via Van a licensed operator and if this was acceptable and this was their reply: 

Yes Via Van is a licensed private hire operator what you witnessed was far from acceptable please report all you saw and heard to us by using tfl.gov.uk/tph.report.

Below is a video of just one of four of them, they were there for over half an hour and must have handed out hundreds of vouchers to people going into the Albert hall, he has the via van logo on his shirt.

    

He was standing right beside the Albert hall’s licensed taxi rank shouting repeatedly "free taxi". It’s blatant touting and misleading the public (they don’t supply taxis)

If TfL let them get away this what’s to stop other minicab firms doing this at major taxi ranks in London?

Via Vans licence should be immediately revoked for touting in a public place. 

TfL say they have passed this on to compliance but also stress that should you see this happening, you should use the form on tfl.gov.uk/tph.report. to report. 

TAXI LEAKS EXTRA BIT :

TfL haven’t got a great track record with this kind of touting offence. Uber were doing the same thing outside the Evening Standard Awards at tobacco doc. Many drivers took photos and complained but nothing happened.

Also, while John Mason was Director of TPH a private hire company was giving passengers free rides home from ranks in central London. The company played advertising videos to the passengers on rout. Mason refused to do anything about it. 

We must contact our orgs and make sure this corporate touting is followed up by TfL and isn't swept under the carpet. 

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Majorca late season holiday from £199pp - 6nts 4* hotel, breakfast & flights

Pirates, you can't beat Spain for a bargain break, take a look at this holiday in Majorca we have come across. The Spanish holiday is under £200 per person and is for 6 nights but you can easily stay longer if you wish - and why not we say! Breakfast is included each morning of… Lola POSTS ARE NOT OUR ENDORSEMENT

Drink Driver jailed for killing 76 year old Taxi driver

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A drink driver has been jailed for seven years for killing a 76 year old Taxi driver in Scotland.

Slavi Todorov, 34, was found to be almost three times over the legal drink drive limit at the time of the collision after spending the night drinking Vodka at his brother-in-law's house. The crash happened on 9 July last year near Ayr. Todorov drove his vehicle on the wrong side of the road which led to the collision with Taxi driver, Mr Mackie. Eye witnesses alerted the police who attended the wreckage on the A70 Coylton to Ayr road where they found Todorov in the drivers seat of his Range Rover Evoque.

The 76-year-old victim was trapped between the steering wheel and drivers seat of his Taxi and subsequently died from his injuries later in hospital.

Judge Lord Ericht told Todorov at the High Court in Edinburgh:

"Consumption of substantial amounts of alcohol had grossly impaired your driving.

"You were around three times over the drink drive limit."

According to a report in the BBC, Todorov had an alcohol count of 64 microgrammes of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath. The limit is 22 microgrammes.

Todorov's inconsiderate actions has deprived Mr Mackie's wife of spending the remainder of their lives together. They had known one another for almost 57 years.

Along with his 7 year jail sentence, Todorov has also been banned from driving for 10 years and ordered to sit an extended test before returning to the road.

August 07, 2018 at 03:37PM https://ift.tt/2ufVjKI THESE POSTS ARE NOT OUR ENDORSEMENT

Incredible Italy: 4-6nt Rome & Venice break from £129pp - incl. hotels, flights & trains

Pirates, this Italy deal from TourCenter is more delicious than pineapple on a pizza! You'll be visiting beautiful Rome and Venice for a total of 4 or 6 nights. Flights are included from a couple of UK airports, as well as a great hotel in each city and train transfers to get you around Italy.… Samcana POSTS ARE NOT OUR ENDORSEMENT

Edinburgh joins the list of cities launching EV Taxi technology

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The world’s most advanced electric taxis, designed and built in the UK, have started appearing on the streets of Edinburgh, thanks to a deal that has been signed by the city’s Union Motor Company.

As a result, these TX eCitys, which promise to dramatically cut driver’s fuel bills, will increasing appear on the capital’s roads. The first TX was handed over to the Edinburgh cabbie, David McMillan, as part of the opening of the new dealership.LEVC’s TX is a range-extended electric vehicle – which this means that the vehicle is only ever driven by its powerful electric motor. However, there is a small petrol engine on-board which can top-up the battery, should the driver be unable to charge. This technology will give drivers a range of up to 377 miles, and a zero emissions range of 80.6 miles.

Mr McMillan, who usually covers 100 miles a day, estimates that he will save £458 per month from making the switch. Further cost savings come from service intervals that jump from 12,000 miles to 25,000 miles.David McMillan, 67 and a cab driver of 7 years, said: “These types of vehicle are the future – promising a smoother, more comfortable ride for passengers and will help clean up cities too. The fact I will be financially better off is a big bonus too.”Mr McMillan has always embraced the latest technological advances in the taxi trade and is currently available to hire through Gett, the global ride sharing app, which has been allowing passengers in Edinburgh to book a ride in a couple of taps in the app since 2015.Union Motor Company, who have operated in Edinburgh for 22 years work with a variety of car brands, have been chosen by LEVC to sell and service the next taxi in the city. The business was chosen because of its commitment to the EV transition as well as its long-standing positive relationship with Edinburgh taxi trade.Danny Flynn, founder of The Union Motor Company, said: “This is the future of all vehicles – they will be essential to protect our urban environment and improve air quality. We have always been a forward-thinking company and we like to be involved in the pioneering of any new technology. We are very excited to come on board and work on the new electric taxi and LEVC.”The Union Motor Company have installed 2 electric charge points at both their retail sites and have employed four new members of staff to sell and service the vehicle. In addition, several staff members have undergone rigorous training to ensure they are ready to service these electric vehicles.Chris Gubbey, CEO of LEVC said: “Our purpose-built, passenger focused taxi, has been designed with the intention of getting more people in the back of cabs – offering the safest, cleanest, quietest and smoothest taxi ride yet. We are delighted to have had the support of Union Motor Company to deliver this vision for the taxi trade in Edinburgh – and I look forward to hearing about how drivers all get on in the new cab.”

August 07, 2018 at 02:33PM https://ift.tt/2ufVjKI THESE POSTS ARE NOT OUR ENDORSEMENT

Check out Copenhagen: flights from only £20 return

Ahoy Pirates, we have come across some flights to Copenhagen at really great prices - just £20 return! The flights are from London airports and Edinburgh- check out our flights tool for even more options. Flight details Direct flights Departures from London, Edinburgh Example date: 16/10 - 20/10 Dates between October and November Hand luggage… Lola POSTS ARE NOT OUR ENDORSEMENT

Incr-Bled-able: 2nt group treehouse stay in Slovenia w/ flights & breakfast from £157pp

Calling all you lovers of quirky accommodation and mini breaks! Check out these incredibly stunning tree houses near Lake Bled, Slovenia, as they could be your home for 2 nights this autumn. Jet off with a group of mates, using the cheap flights we have discovered, for this unique bed and breakfast mini break and… GemUK POSTS ARE NOT OUR ENDORSEMENT