The Reiver
A Tale of Two Cities on behalf of their members against age limits, ones (because there are quite a few, make no
against delimitation and against mandatory mistake about that), is that they are invariably
The taxi trade is quite unique in the people it
driver training. Three huge successes and quite nice people (did I say that tongue in
seems to attract, invariably cab drivers prefer
they are in the council’s pockets (whatever that cheek?) they are usually quite polite, they don’t
to moan all day long on cab ranks about
means!!)? Or is it the fact that when Preston really shout and swear at you (well not to your
private hire robbing their work and what their
Council come up with decent ideas that will face anyway). They might not do what you want,
council has (or hasn’t) done to them, or how
benefit the travelling public that the association
but they never really tell you where to go by way
the local association or union branch are in the
support the councils efforts? Strange, what
of expletives. If a taxi or private hire driver wants
‘pockets’ and in cahoots with the council, or are
some people would call being in the council’s
a representative to basically ‘eff and blind’ at a
too weak to have accepted what the council
pocket, I tend to see as a good working
licensing officer or councillor and the rep does,
have just done.
relationship!
the chances are the rep will not be welcomed
back, indeed there’s a strong possibility the
I always find it strange that these same It’s nice to see Leeds TOA rejoin representative will be arrested or escorted from
people moan on about the local associations
the NTA.
the building. I can’t understand the ‘what have
not consulting them on trade matters. Call
the Romans ever done for us attitude’ towards
me cynical, but surely the only people the
For many years the Leeds association
associations. True, to our detriment we as a
associations are responsible to are its members;
were NTA stalwarts, they were amongst the
trade have a collection of misfits and idiots, but
non-members don’t actually count for anything,
NTA’s (and old Nat Fed’s) strongest member
normally they are ridiculed; yet in some places
but the irony of all this is it’s always these loud-
associations. My friend Brian Heptinstall was
the apparent ignorance is esteemed. Do we
mouthed hypocrites that cause most of the
a former Nat Fed chairman and had for many
want a trade run by idiots with BIG GOBS?
discontent and trouble with their BIG gobs and
years tirelessly worked with Leeds council on
Personally, I think if it goes that way, we’ll all be
have the effrontery to expect those committed to
behalf of his association. It would appear that
going to hell on a handcart (or even a tuc-tuc).
the trade to do all the running around defending
the successful working relationship, forged by
the trade trying to fight off unfair government
Brian and nameless Till next month Ladies…
(local or otherwise) policy, not to mention other
others is potentially being
regimes, while these [cab drivers] rake the work
jeopardised by people
off the streets. Like I’ve always said there are
who don’t appear to have
proper taxi and private hire drivers and those any understanding of the
who drive taxis. concept of diplomacy.
In many respects the
Local authorities prefer dealing with trade association in Leeds has
associations. It makes their lives easier; it been hugely successful,
actually makes the trades’ lives easier too. Can unlike almost three
you imagine what a council would think if 20 or quarters of the country
30 cab drivers turned up to a meeting then all Leeds Council has retained
disagreed with each other? I’ve always been of numerical control of
the opinion that the trade can argue till it’s blue numbers and has worked
in the face, but in front of a council it should be with the association in
united, with the arguments left behind closed many different ways to
doors. After all, not everybody agrees with each benefit the travelling public
other. I was recently invited to the AGM of the of Leeds. Unfortunately the
Preston Hackney Carriage Association. In many association in Leeds has
respects this association was quite lucky to
always been quite modest
have still been in existence, arguably if it weren’t
(Quietly efficient, as
for the efforts of Mark Selley, Pete Tyson and
opposed to being mouthy
a few others who will remain nameless, the
and arrogant). If it had a
association wouldn’t have been there in the
success it wouldn’t shout
same guise. I find it unfortunately sad but typical
about it, but would carry
that the association in Preston seem to be
on working towards other
taking a degree of flack from people who don’t
successes.
seem to have a clue about anything, let alone
trade matters.
Again, people seem to
completely miss the point
Recently, a policy document went to
of building relationships of
consultation, the association responded in a
trust with local authorities,
thoroughly professional manner, managing
many a daft idea can be
to successfully stall or stop some arguably
stopped at birth if such
expensive potential changes. Indeed, the
relationships are created.
association seem to have a working relationship
Yet, the ignorant (or
with the licensing department and committee of
perhaps just plain stupid)
Preston City Council. They are then accused of
out there don’t seem to
being in the pockets of the council! So let’s look
realise this. One thing you
closely at this particular association being in
do learn about councils,
the council’s pockets, they successfully argued even the most stupid
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