Newcastle taxi protest brings city centre to a standstill

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The centre of Newcastle was brought to a standstill on Wednesday as the Newcastle Hackney Carriage Driver Association called a protest over a plethora of issues.

A multitude of vehicles engaged in a mass ply-for-hire between Eldon Square and Hatmarket, which created major congestion in the area.

The Newcastle Hackney Carriage Driver Association called the protest in response to growing concerns over a lack of rank space and the removal of existing ranks without trade consultation.

Other issues which have caused anger amongst the Newcastle taxi industry are the restrictions surrounding gates and bus lanes, making it difficult for thw taxi industry to ply their trade and transport the public.

There are also serious concerns at the number of private hire vehicles illegally plying for hire and the lack of enforcement pertaining to this.

Other issues are the number of private hire licenses being issued in the area, which have trebled in three years due to a relaxing of the criteria needed to becone a PHV driver.

It is claimed that Newcastle Coty council have been fully aware of these issues, but have failed to act.

A representative of Newcastle City Council has claimed that The Newcastle Haclney carriage Driver Association have disengaged with the council, and have also stated that they are powerless to act in relation to PHV numbers because of the lack of legislation surrounding their ability to cap private hire vehicle numbers.

Despite more protests in the pipeline, Newcastle City Council have requested that the association re-engages with them.

August 25, 2018 at 09:51AM https://ift.tt/2ufVjKI THESE POSTS ARE NOT OUR ENDORSEMENT

Law commission report due for government response next month

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Since Parliament has broken up for Summer Recess there have been rumours about the Law Commission’s review of taxi and private hire services. If you’ve drawing a blank on what this is about, you’re not alone. Having started in 2011, the review was concluded in 2014 at which point the commission presented its report and recommendations to government. However, it is yet to get a response. Now, we’re suddenly hearing the government may be about to respond to the commission’s recommendations. As a quick refresher – it recommended the introduction of a new single legal framework for the regulation of taxi and PHV services across England and Wales and national standards for taxis and PHVs. It also recommended that local licensing authorities could set additional standards for taxis only, and not for PHVs.The Law Commission said its proposals would make it easier for PHVs to cross border hire and would give licensing officers new enforcement powers to deal with vehicles and drivers licensed in different areas.Clearly, this would make the problems weface worse, not better. It would effectively legalise the ability for operators such asUber to get cheap licences anywhere in the country and flood areas like London, exploit the market and undercut taxis and local PHV services.

Government is now facing pressure from MPs from all parties to publish the reportand recommendations made by the working group on taxi and PHV licensing, which I took part in on behalf of the trade earlierthis year. It must have realised it can’t putoff responding to the Law Commission any longer. Representing our trade on the working group, I pushed hard for national minimum standards, a definition of cross border hiring, and crucially, a definition of plying for hire. When Parliament comes back from holidayin September, hopefully we will finally see the long-awaited action we need.

August 25, 2018 at 07:14AM https://ift.tt/2ufVjKI Steve McNamara - LTDA THESE POSTS ARE NOT OUR ENDORSEMENT

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Private Hire driver jailed for the horrific sexual assault of two young women

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Private hire driver Felix Chan, 35, has been jailed for seven years for sexual assault. Chan, who worked for PHV firm Delta in Liverpool, targeted young female passengers as his victims. The married dad-of-two even took pictures of one of his victims and a sickening video of her laying naked. Chan's first victim was a 19-year-old student who was sick in his vehicle. After demanding £70 as a soiling fee, he followed his victim into her shared accommodation and forced his hand up her skirt. The victim alerted the police but Chan claimed that his hand may of gone up her skirt when he tried to stop her from falling. Chan was not charged by the police on this occasion. The court heard that Chan wasn't charged until a second incident was brought to light this year when Chan targeted a 20-year-old woman who was said to be heavily intoxicated. Chan's second victim entered his private hire vehicle after a night out in Liverpool, and asked him to take her to a location. The victim, who was in contact with some friends on WhatsApp at the time, sent them messages telling them that Chan had started touching her and didn't know what to do. Chan demanded cash from his victim and told her because she couldn't pay he had to continue touching her. The court heard one of the victims friends phoned her worried but Chan took the phone and said she shouldn't worry because he was going to take care of her. The victim passed out which is when Chan sexually assaulted her. Prosecutor Deborah Gould said: "That was the opportunity he took to sexually assault her and take footage of her on his mobile phone" The 20-year-old victim woke up during the assault but was so afraid that she pretended to still be asleep. When Chan spoke to her she didn't respond. The court heard that she laid still crying silently with ears rolling down her face. After the attack, Chan drove his victim home, but not before stopping one more time to sexually assault her again while filming. The woman's neighbours found her later that night distraught and called the police. Chan was identified by CCTV footage and arrested at his home, where the police found his mobile phone with the footage on. Chan admitted three counts of sexual assault and one of assault by penetration. Sentencing Chan, Judge Steven Everett said:

"It looks as if to me there isn't much respect for women generally, certainly none for his wife.

"It seems he didn't regard it as unusual to go on these jaunts with other men, where there was sexual contact with other women. "I find that very depressing and very unpleasant.

"Two people have had their lives totally turned upside down by your disgusting behaviour." He jailed Chan for seven years and told him to sign on the Sex Offenders Register for life.

August 24, 2018 at 01:18PM https://ift.tt/2ufVjKI Michael Murphy THESE POSTS ARE NOT OUR ENDORSEMENT

Vile Private Hire Driver jailed for the horrific sexual assault of two young women

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Private hire driver Felix Chan, 35, has been jailed for seven years for sexual assault. Chan, who worked for PHV firm Delta in Liverpool, targeted young female passengers as his victims. The married dad-of-two even took pictures of one of his victims and a sickening video of her laying naked. Chan's first victim was a 19-year-old student who was sick in his vehicle. After demanding £70 as a soiling fee, he followed his victim into her shared accommodation and forced his hand up her skirt. The victim alerted the police but Chan claimed that his hand may of gone up her skirt when he tried to stop her from falling. Chan was not charged by the police on this occasion. The court heard that Chan wasn't charged until a second incident was brought to light this year when Chan targeted a 20-year-old woman who was said to be heavily intoxicated. Chan's second victim entered his private hire vehicle after a night out in Liverpool, and asked him to take her to a location. The victim, who was in contact with some friends on WhatsApp at the time, sent them messages telling them that Chan had started touching her and didn't know what to do. Chan demanded cash from his victim and told her because she couldn't pay he had to continue touching her. The court heard one of the victims friends phoned her worried but Chan took the phone and said she shouldn't worry because he was going to take care of her. The victim passed out which is when Chan sexually assaulted her. Prosecutor Deborah Gould said: "That was the opportunity he took to sexually assault her and take footage of her on his mobile phone" The 20-year-old victim woke up during the assault but was so afraid that she pretended to still be asleep. When Chan spoke to her she didn't respond. The court heard that she laid still crying silently with ears rolling down her face. After the attack, Chan drove his victim home, but not before stopping one more time to sexually assault her again while filming. The woman's neighbours found her later that night distraught and called the police. Chan was identified by CCTV footage and arrested at his home, where the police found his mobile phone with the footage on. Chan admitted three counts of sexual assault and one of assault by penetration. Sentencing Chan, Judge Steven Everett said:

"It looks as if to me there isn't much respect for women generally, certainly none for his wife.

"It seems he didn't regard it as unusual to go on these jaunts with other men, where there was sexual contact with other women. "I find that very depressing and very unpleasant.

"Two people have had their lives totally turned upside down by your disgusting behaviour." He jailed Chan for seven years and told him to sign on the Sex Offenders Register for life.

August 24, 2018 at 01:18PM https://ift.tt/2ufVjKI Michael Murphy THESE POSTS ARE NOT OUR ENDORSEMENT

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Cab drivers may be forced to breach disability legislation as London councils impose a ban on diesel taxis

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In January of this year TaxiPoint reported that both Islington and Hackney councils would be looking to ban motorists who drive petrol or diesel vehicles from a new "Green" zone within the Shoreditch area.

It has now been revealed that the new "Green" zone will go live on 3rd September 2018, with the operational hours being Monday to Friday, 7am-10am and 4pm-7pm.

All petrol and diesel vehicles will be excluded, including licensed London taxis. The exceptions to the exclusion will be all electric and hybrid vehicles, which includes the LEVC TXE taxi.

The fine for venturing into the "Green" zone during prescribed hours will be £130.

The "Green" zone will consist of nine streets:

Tabernacle StreetPaul StreetCowper StreetBlackhall StreetRavey StreetSinger StreetWillow StreetRivington Street Charlotte Road

A similar scheme is to be launched by the City of London Corporation in April, which will reduce access to Moor Lane, again only fully electric or hybrid vehicles will be allowed access.

The course of action being taken by Islington and Hackney councils as well as the impending action from the City of London Corporation has highlighted a rather interesting and potentially serious situation for the London taxi industry.

Nobody from any of the aforementioned councils seem to have given the first thought as to how this affects legislation surrounding both hackney carriage legislation and disability discrimination legislation.

According to hackney carriage legislation, a taxi driver must, unless there is a reasonable excuse, take a customer within a twelve mile radius or one hour journey time of their pick-up point.

This is a simple enough piece of legislation, until you factor into the equation the new "Green" zone. Islington and Hackney councils now expect a customer to differentiate between a zero emission capable taxi and a diesel taxi. This is all fine and dandy until you realise that around 2% of the entire fleet are zero emission capable, and at the moment, it will take around fourteen years for every taxi to be zero emission capable.

This therefore means that a driver could potentially be prosecuted, or have his or her licence suspended or revoked if they refuse to take a customer where they wish to go to or refuse to enter the "Green" zone.

Next we come to the next major issue, the disabled community. If a driver refuses or is unable to allow a disabled customer to alight within the "Green" zone, the driver can again potentially be prosecuted. Refusing to take a disabled customer on the aforementioned grounds could also see the driver prosecuted.

What also hasn't been factored in whatsoever is the fact that a wheelchair user may need collecting from the "Green" zone. When you consider that the London taxi industry is the only fully wheelchair compliant, door to door service available to the disabled, this scenario beggars belief.

The taxi industry, as confirmed by Mayor Sadiq Khan, is part of the public transport industry and is the only door to door service.The private hire industry, by very definition is not part of the public transport industry, it is, as the name suggests, private transportaion. This therefore means that out of all of the vehicles wich could need access to the "Green" zone, London taxis should be top of that list and should as a consequence have an exemption, regardless of the type of engine the vehicle possesses.

The streets that will be restricted are fairly inconsequential, they aren't major thoroghfares, in fact some of them you would be hard-pressed to drive along, Cowper Street is a blocked turning and Ravey Street has been partially closed for what seems like years due to building work. In fact only Tabernacle Street, Paul Street and Willow Street hold any significance, with the latter being the site of a major hotel, this hotel will become inaccessible if taxis cannot drive into Willow Street.

This therefore begs the question as to why these streets are REALLY being closed. Any pollution in the area will be coming from City Road, Old Street and Great Eastern Street, none of the roads being restricted have any real weight of traffic.

Could it be that "you smoke, I choke" is being used as an excuse to perform an experiment, with a view to expanding the scheme across roads that really are a major pollution problem, but which are also main thoroughfares?

So which of the three pieces of legislation should a taxi driver break, Islington and Hackney's emissions regulation, Transport for London's Hackney Carriage Act, or the Governments Disability Discrimination Act. Whatever the answer is, this one requires the wisdom of Solomon as well as a large helping of common sense.

August 24, 2018 at 01:09PM https://ift.tt/2ufVjKI THESE POSTS ARE NOT OUR ENDORSEMENT

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London cabbie Joe Lewis takes to the West End stage supported by the Denmark Street Big Band

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The talented Joe Lewis will take centre stage at the West End’s Charing Cross Theatre alongside the reknowned Denmark Street Big Band on Sunday 16th September.

Joe Lewis, who is also a working London cabbie, became obsessed with Big Band & Swing Jazz sounds whilst siting at his father’s knee where they would constantly listen to LPs by Sinatra, Davis Jr, Bennett & Darin. The timeless, inspirational sound of these artists became the soundtrack to Joe’s life, and his dedication and superb vocal technique have created stunning tributes to his idols.

Earlier this year, Joe met a fellow obsessive in Paul Burch, Leader of the Denmark Street Big Band. They joined forces and began a series of intimate gigs, performing classic Big Band Swing numbers. These sellout shows and ecstatic audiences marked the arrival of a major new force on the British swing scene. The Charing Cross Theatre is delighted to present the West End Premiere of Joe Lewis and the Denmark Street Big Band’s “Great American Songbook Show “. With only 265 seats available and the theatre anticipates another sellout, so make sure you are one of the few who will always be able to say: “I was there“, and book early!

For more information and to book your tickets click on the poster below!

August 24, 2018 at 10:47AM https://ift.tt/2ufVjKI THESE POSTS ARE NOT OUR ENDORSEMENT

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Teenager jailed for stealing Taxi driver's cab and false teeth during late night robbery

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Teenage thug Conner Kelly, 18, broke into the home of a taxi driver in Liverpool, stealing his false teeth before driving off and crashing his cab earlier this year.

The robbery took place late at night while the victim was at home asleep. The unnamed taxi driver was left unable to work for more than a week as his taxi was being fixed from all the damage caused by the crash, but it was the theft of his false teeth that caused him most problems, as he was left toothless for months while a new pair of dentures were being made. Judge Steven Everett said to Kelly in court:

"You had a huge effect on him [the victim]. He would have had to around for months and months without teeth in his mouth and it isn't funny, it isn't funny at all. You had a real effect on his life."According to the Liverpool Echo, Kelly had a number of previous offences including robbery, attempted robbery and battery. Judge Everett added that Kelly's record was as bad as he's ever seen for an 18-year-old. Kelly, who has a young daughter, was sentenced to two years and eight months at Liverpool Crown Court and was disqualified from driving for five years and four months.During sentencing, Judge Everett said:

"If you had been thinking about your daughter on that night you would not have committed these offences. These are terrible offences."

August 23, 2018 at 10:58PM https://ift.tt/2ufVjKI THESE POSTS ARE NOT OUR ENDORSEMENT