Brand new funky London hotel stays from £38.50pppn

Be one of the first to stay in Bethnal Green's newest hotel, opening in September this year (with an official launch in October) you know that you'll be sleeping on the newest sheets in the freshest painted rooms at The East London Hotel. With a great location, right in the heard of east London -… Worlds_End_Gem POSTS ARE NOT OUR ENDORSEMENT

All inclusive Cuba break from £563pp - incl. 7nts resort, flights & transfers

Pirates, keep the beach vibes going with a late season trip to gorgeous Cuba. Our Package Finder is offering 7 nights at the Playa Costa Verde Hotel, with flights, luggage, all inclusive board, transfers and ATOL protection also included. Cuba offers spectacular beaches aplenty as well as tropical warm weather year round. The cheapest time… Samcana POSTS ARE NOT OUR ENDORSEMENT

5* Portugal wellness break in Cascais 3nts from £267pp - incl. flights & Sheraton resort

Ahoy mateys! Escape the dreary winter weather with a luxury wellness escape to Portugal and to Cascais - about 30 minutes drive from Lisbon. Here you will be staying at the impressive 5* Sheraton Cascais Resort offering a lush spa, fine dining and plenty of golf opportunities for those who would like to stay active… Castaway_Cee POSTS ARE NOT OUR ENDORSEMENT

Taxi driver brutally attacked by British Soldier

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Sapper Tyrone Jackson, 20, attacked taxi driver Kevin Fugelsang, after a night out drinking in Ipswich. Fugelsang, who is in his sixties, was approached by Jackson who knocked on his window and mumbled something before sticking his finger up at him. The court heard that Fugelsang closed his window in an attempt to avoid any further conflict but Jackson began banging on the roof of his vehicle. Fugelsang stepped out of his taxi to confront Jackson, this is when he attacked, punching Mr Fugelsang in the face. Fugelsang fell to the floor and was immediately mounted by Jackson who continued punching him. Fugelsang managed to contain the attack, but when he let Jackson free, he was attacked again. Fugelsang suffered cuts to his face and Jaw, and also damage to his eye. CCTV footage showed Jackson not only punching his victim, but also kicking him while he lay on the floor.

(Ipswich Crown Court)

Jackson, who has previous convictions for battery and two for threatening behaviour, was sentenced to 16 months in jail by Judge John Devaux who said the offence was aggravated by his previous behaviour. Acting for Jackson, Daniel Taylor said his client was ashamed of his own behaviour and had sought help for his issues which stem from having a difficult childhood. According to the Ipswich Star, Taylor urged the court to give Jackson one last chance and pass a suspended sentence, stating he'd recently been on a pre-para training programme and had a promising career ahead of him if he was to avoid an immediate prison sentence. Judge Devaux decided a stint in prison for Jackson was the appropriate punishment for his continuous behaviour.

August 22, 2018 at 10:36PM https://ift.tt/2ufVjKI THESE POSTS ARE NOT OUR ENDORSEMENT

Feel the luxury in Zante: 5nts in 5* exclusive beach resort w/ flights & breakfast from £499pp

OMG Pirates, get a load of this incredible 5* adults only Zante getaway. It's got views to die for and infinity pools galore. Perfect for a honeymoon with your favourite shipmate. Relish in the opulent surroundings of the Lesante Blu resort which sits right next to the beach. OK, OK, so it's not the cheapest… Worlds_End_Gem POSTS ARE NOT OUR ENDORSEMENT

Gorgeous Glamping nr York: 2nts in Yurt from £85pp *upgrade to wagon from £10pp*

Pirates, if you're looking for something a little different yet totally stunning, check out this fabulous glamping deal... 2nts from £85pp in the most darling, comfy Yurts near York, or upgrade to the breathtaking renovated wooden wagon from £5pppn! Offer Details: Many travel durations possible - 2 night minimum stay Sample dates spanning September -… Bosun-Dawes POSTS ARE NOT OUR ENDORSEMENT

All inclusive 5* Turkey family holiday from £367pp - incl. palatial hotel & flights

Arr mateys! Now this is our idea of a perfect Turkey holiday. Stay at the palatial (there's no better word for it) and top-rated 5* Litore Hotel Resort & Spa on an All Inclusive basis. The resort offers a selection of indoor and outdoor pools, 3 restaurants and 2000 m² spa area with uninterrupted sea… Castaway_Cee POSTS ARE NOT OUR ENDORSEMENT

Luxe 4* Budapest Christmas Market break 2nts from £106p - incl. flights & hotel w/ rooftop spa

Arrr mateys! Budapest is arguably one of the prettiest cities in Europe, boasting spectacular buildings, the world-famous baths and pretty twinkling Christmas markets and it's also still relatively cheap! So live it up in style at the grand 4* Continental Hotel Budapest boasting a roof-top spa with indoor pool and Jacuzzi along with fine… Castaway_Cee POSTS ARE NOT OUR ENDORSEMENT

Beer, Bratwurst & Berghain: Flights to Berlin from just £26rtn

Party pirates, take a trip to the real city that never sleeps with these super cheap flights to Berlin! The capital of bohemian cool has a lot to offer in the autumn (think nightlife, galleries and great restaurants) and our Flights Finder is offering great fares from across the UK. The cheapest time to go… Samcana POSTS ARE NOT OUR ENDORSEMENT

Last minute sophisticated De Vere hotel in Surrey from £40pppn (Bank hol dates incl.)

Still looking for some bank holiday plans Pirates? Well, this stunning accommodation my be the answer. Stay in the gorgeous 4* De Vere Wotton House for a knock down price of £40pppn on a selected few August and September dates. Stays at this hotel usually come to well over £100 so this is a real… Worlds_End_Gem POSTS ARE NOT OUR ENDORSEMENT

Funky Ibiza break in 2019 from £280pp incl. flights, hotel & breakfast - solo from £485

Set your sights on the legendary island of Ibiza in 2019. Your base for this 4 night break will be the newly renovated 4* THB Naeco Ibiza, overlooking the ocean, it is an ideal place to base yourself on the White Isle. This deal includes breakfast, however, there is the option to upgrade to half… Worlds_End_Gem POSTS ARE NOT OUR ENDORSEMENT

LTDA’s E-Taxi Signage Article In Taxi Paper Confirmed As Fake News By TfL

With the amount of Fake News being banded about by a certain org trying to discredit other Taxi news sources, the London Cab Drivers Club, for the sake of clarity, asked TfL compliance if the signage featured in a post on Taxi Leaks (which was referred to as Fake news in the LTDA Taxi paper) was actually proposed to the DfT by TfL. 

At the recent TOPS meeting, TfL confirmed that it was indeed they who submitted the e-Taxi bus lane templates to the DfT for approval. 

They added that although the signage was approved, there are no plans (as yet) to introduce the signage on current bus lanes across London. 

But the question now needs to be asked, as the LTDA’s Richard Massett had access to the original templates, why did they crop the TfL signage out of the images shown in Taxi.

Why were they trying to cover up that TfL had submitted the signage and why did they infer that the signage was intended for Manchester. A statement that has now been shown to be FAKE.  

But it’s all cleared up now, the Fake News was not the post on Taxi Leaks, it was in fact the article that appeared in Taxi Paper. This has been confirmed by TfL. 

from Taxi Leaks https://ift.tt/2wcvHNJ
via IFTTT https://ift.tt/eA8V8J https://ift.tt/12cqxIH

Autumn in the Azores: 7nt island break from £219pp - incl. flights & 4* aparthotel

It's time to try something a bit more off the beaten path pirates! Consider a getaway to the Azores, a group of beautifully green islands located in the mid-Atlantic. With this deal from our Holiday Finder you'll get 7 nights at the 4* Aparthotel do Mirante with flights also included. This deal departs in October,… Samcana POSTS ARE NOT OUR ENDORSEMENT

5* Panama All Inclusive rainforest & beach break 7nts from £1,098pp - incl. hotels, flights & more

Ahoy mateys! We're in love with this next deal whisking you off to tropical Panama for a 3-in-1 holiday experience where you get to explore the cultural sights in Panama City including a visit to Miraflores Locks at the Panama Canal followed by a magical jungle adventure with a tour of the Sloth… Castaway_Cee POSTS ARE NOT OUR ENDORSEMENT

LCDC push TfL and Sadiq Khan to give their stance on Uber licence retrial possibility

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The London Cab Drivers Club have seeked the views of both Transport for London and City Hall following the recent controversy surrounding Uber’s licensing renewal appeal in the capital.

In two similar letters sent to TfL’s Commissioner Mike Brown and London Mayor Sadiq Khan the taxi organisation asks “what action TfL plans to take and whether you will support the LCDC’s call for retrials in previous Uber-related cases.”

Grant Davis, Chairman of the LCDC, goes on to say “We will be highlighting our call for retrials in our upcoming edition of the Badge... We hope and believe that TfL will share the trade’s deep concern over this matter.”

These latest letters follow correspondence by both LCDC and LTDA to the Lord Cheif Justice earlier this week. Both organisations highlighted their concerns regarding chief magistrate Emma Arbuthnot’s perceived conflict of interest surrounding ride-hailing firm Uber.

The full letter read:

Dear Mayor, I am writing to you in the light of the recent revelations made in the Observer newspaper, regarding chief magistrate Emma Arbuthnot and her husband’s business interests, and her subsequent decision to step down from any future Uber-related cases in order to avoid any perceived conflict of interest.I enclose a copy of the LCDC’s letter to the Lord Chief Justice, highlighting our opinion that previous decisions made by Judge Arbuthnot should fall within this same category of perceived conflict of interest, and our appeal that these previous arbitrations should now be reconsidered. Indeed, the judiciary itself has said that it will: “have to consider whether the new information could be seen to change the perception of absolute impartiality.”We will be highlighting our call for retrials in our upcoming edition of the Badge, and would like to inform our readers as to the position of TfL over Judge Arbuthnot’s decision – and specifically where TfL stands on previous Uber arbitrations made by the chief magistrate. We hope and believe that TfL will share the trade’s deep concern over this matter.I would be grateful if you could reply urgently, to clarify what action TfL plans to take and whether you will support the LCDC’s call for retrials in previous Uber-related cases. I have sent a hard copy of this by post, but wanted to register our inquiry with you as speedily as possible, to ensure that your response is included for our readers in the next Badge.I look forward to your reply.Yours faithfully,Grant DavisChairman

August 22, 2018 at 04:32PM https://ift.tt/2ufVjKI THESE POSTS ARE NOT OUR ENDORSEMENT

Mystery shopper initiative sees 16 PHV drivers in Cardiff prosecuted

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A mystery shopper initiative in Cardiff has seen 16 private hire drivers from the area prosecuted.

The drivers involved have been prosecuted for a range of offences which included illegally plying for hire and driving without valid insurance.

The local council set up a mystery shopper initiative after it came to light that private hire vehicle drivers were illegally plying for hire and therefore acting as taxis.

Private hire vehicles are only allowed to pick up customers via an app or an operator. It is illegal for private hire drivers to pick up directly off of the street or a taxi rank.

Of the sixteen, fourteen were licensed for the Cardiff area, with two licensed for the Newport and Rhondda Cynon Taff areas.

The driver's were fined £300 and given 8 penalty points on their driving licences and have been ordered to pay a £30 victim surcharge as well as £150 in costs.

August 22, 2018 at 04:02PM https://ift.tt/2ufVjKI THESE POSTS ARE NOT OUR ENDORSEMENT

Romantic escape to the Seychelles: 9nts from £903pp incl. flights, 4* beachfront hotel

Arrr, Pirates. Quick question for you all...who fancies heading out to the tropical location of the Seychelles? Experience the turquoise waters and white sandy beaches that make these islands a 'must visit' destination. Escape the typical - and inevitable - grey skies of the UK winter and instead enjoy tropical temperatures in the high 20s.… Worlds_End_Gem POSTS ARE NOT OUR ENDORSEMENT

Perfect in Portugal: 3nts in September from £198pp incl. 4* hotel & flights

Pirates, grab yourself a great experience this summer with 3 nights in the Algarve from £198pp including the 4* Pestana Algarve Race Hotel & flights. It's a great time of year to visit this ever-popular tourist hotspot, and the hotel is pleasingly plush... Holiday details Travel duration: 3 nights (longer or shorter stays possible) Example… Bosun-Dawes POSTS ARE NOT OUR ENDORSEMENT

Is the lack of an enhanced driving test for private hire drivers compromising public safety

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Nobody could fail to raise a wry smile at the video footage shown on yesterdays TaxiPoint at some of the antics on the road from a proportion of private hire vehicle drivers in London.

Over the last few years, since the introduction of app-based ride-hailing minicab apps such as Uber, there seems to have been a marked increase in the number of incidents involving private hire vehicle drivers which could be construde as incompetence.

Mistakes on the road are a pretty normal part of driving, we all make them, whether you are a taxi driver, private hire vehicle driver, lorry driver, bus driver, even emergency service vehicle drivers make errors. Ultimately, the longer that you are on the road, the more likely you are to make an error.

All of the above classification of vehicle, with the exception of one have a common similarity, they all require a secondary or vocational driving qualification. The odd one out amongst that list are private hire vehicle drivers.

The Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) ceased providing taxi driving tests for local councils, which also includes Transport for London on December 31st 2016, incredibly, over 18 months on, nobody has been installed as a provider to replace the DVSA.

This situation begs the question as to why every single form of public transportation, from cabs to ambulances, are required to obtain a vocational driving qualification, and yet minicabs aren't.

In recent times we have seen video footage of an Uber vehicle attempting to drive down a flight of stairs in Eldon Street, by Liverpool Street Station, this has in fact happened several times, at different staircases. We have also seen another Uber vehicle drive off of a pier near Tynemouth, with passengers in the vehicle, and yet another Uber vehicle trying to cross a causeway to St Mary's Lighthouse in Tyne and Wear as the tide was coming in. Finally, who could forget the PHV driver who drove across a pavement outside the Natural History Museum, knocking several people over.

Let's be clear, not every incident involves an Uber driver, and there are a lot of very good, experienced PHV drivers on the road and there are also some very poor, as well as very good taxi drivers across the UK There is however, a clear problem emanating from the PHV industry regarding the ability of a sizable minority of drivers, which is simply not being addressed.

By failing to address the issues, public safety is being compromised. This is inexcusable, given that this is probably the easiest of issues to resolve, by simply contracting out the DVSA test and making it a requirement to pass before being issued a PHV license.

Ultumately the buck stops with the Secretary Of State For Transport , Chris Grayling as to whether he will act on the matter.

August 22, 2018 at 02:51PM https://ift.tt/2ufVjKI Steve Kenton THESE POSTS ARE NOT OUR ENDORSEMENT

2019 April break to Malta: 7nts from £256pp incl. flights, bags, cave bar & rooftop pool

Book your early 2019 break now and make some great savings, like with this 4* escape to Malta. Stay in the Pergola Hotel & Spa for 7 nights in the April -- when the temperatures should really start heating up -- from £256 per person, based on 2 sharing! Easter dates are just a bit… Captain_Niamh POSTS ARE NOT OUR ENDORSEMENT