is the latter, then this creates a problem for Indeed, as we will always maintain, this tough, the plate ʻdiesʼ with the cab and the
both the existing taxi drivers and ʻnewbiesʼ magazine doesnʼt ʻsit on the fenceʼ like some owner would have to buy a new vehicle with
because if the cake is going to be divided with splinters in their oops-a-daisy; sitting obviously a new plate.
and sub-divided into smaller and smaller on the fence isnʼt true journalism now is it?
pieces will inevitably lead to a reduction in A professional news gathererʼs job is not There are a number of scenarios that need
fares with a resulting reduction in income. about filling page after page of a publication to be addressed here; what happens if a 2-3
But unfortunately it is difficult, some would with ʻpress cuttingsʼ from the national press year old vehicle disappears off the face of the
say impossible for a taxi or private hire driver unedited, or even ʻblowing your own trumpetʼ earth, and the insurance only gives the ʻbookʼ
to reduce running costs as the overheads about what you certainly havenʼt achieved, or price but the owner is still up to his eyes in
are more or less fixed or less fixed, this only
as it happens, regurgitating old rubbish, itʼs
debt trying to pay for a newly vanished cab.
leaves trying to maintain income levels and
about getting off oneʼs backside and hitting
The answer can be found in the previous
that can only be achieved with a hike in fares,
the streets and ranks, travelling up and down
chapter… tough! Then there is the driver who
and there is an argument that this would have
the UK talking to the relevant people, which is
maybe doesnʼt want to work all the hours God
the opposite effect OR work longer and longer
what we passionately do here. Thatʼs why we
sends or for one reason or another he or she
(and longer) hours; and letʼs be honest the
have a following of loyal regular columnists
cannot get finance or is unwilling to take on
latter is the only game in town left.
and other contributors who write for this
what is a hefty financial commitment. Or how
magazine and who may (no pun intended),
about taxi drivers in their 60s and 70s that
Therefore, if the road safety pressure group
from time to time, upset those that donʼt
need to renew a vehicle, will they have to take
BRAKE (that are calling for an investigation
agree in what they have to say (in their own
£40k worth of debt on, and would any bank
into taxi/private hire driver hours) is serious,
opinion), nonetheless that means weʼre doing
give them it? So where did this discriminatory,
this magazine believes that the first port of
our job properly and to the best of our ability.
Darwinesque and Ageist policy come from.
call should be, The OFT, Licensing officers
Every article and “Dear Editor” sent in to us
Yes youʼve guessed someone in the licensing
et al because while they cannot be held
is with foundation and can be substantiated,
department has been reading the Button Book!
responsible for drivers working overlong
and as you all know we have a ʻright to replyʼ
shifts these groups have wilfully ignored the
column for the aggrieved party to respond,
Section 43 Town Police Clauses Act 1847:
policy of delimitation that they promote so
providing, of course, personalities and petty
Vehicle Licence to be in Force For One Year
aggressively is a major contributing factor,
nit-picking donʼt enter the equation. In actual
Only Every licence so be granted shall be
and let us the Taxi and Private Hire trade hear
fact, we can ʻblow our own trumpetʼ as
under the common seal of the District Council,
their views on how to reduce driver hours to a
weʼre proud to announce that itʼs because
and shall not include more than one carriage
ʻsafeʼ (whatever that is) level.
of our ʻEditorialʼ experience, ʻnonpareilʼ and
so licensed, and shall be in force for one year
integrity is the reason why weʼre the best
only from the day of the date of such licence
You read it where first Guv?
and most popular Taxi and Private Hire
or until the next general licensing meeting, in
As you are all no doubt aware, obviously
trade publication in the UK and that includes
case any general licensing day be appointed
having read the ʻexclusiveʼ in this very
London by the way!
by the commissionaires.
magazine last month regarding Alma Lunt
and the Liverpool Wheelchair User Group,
together with Allied Vehicles who recently
Krazy Kouncil Korner aka Tales
The Button book points out that there is
no statutory mechanism to transfer a plate
won the case against Liverpool City Council in
from the Looney LAs…
from one carriage to another (whooa there
the Royal Courts of Justice when they (Allied
Trigger!) and therefore the legislation must
Vehicles) presented the E7 alternative vehicle
Episode 4 -The North Fights Back!
be interpreted as one cab - one plate. But is
on two separate occasions in anticipation of it
this reasonable in the 21
st
Century? And does
being approved to ʻply for hireʼ on the streets
To all the readers that have followed KKK
the legislation mean one carriage at a time (ie
of Liverpool - this particular LA refused to
will have noticed that when it began it was
you canʼt give your unlicensed mate a loan
licence the vehicle as a Liverpool licensed taxi,
dominated by Southerners; Not any more!
of your plate). To our knowledge it has never
apparently without reasonable cause, failing
All over the frozen north Licensing Officers
been tested in court but we suspect that will
to discharge its statutory duty under section
are outraged that their daft decisions arenʼt
change very shortly. But we would like to point
49a of the Disability Discrimination Act 1995
getting the recognition they deserve and have
out, that we donʼt have carriages any more
(to properly assess the impact of its decision
taken to the streets to show their disapproval. but mechanised vehicles mʼlud, and in any
in disability terms) and to the disadvantage
With the rallying cry of “What shall we make” case if it ainʼt broke donʼt fix it.
of local wheelchair-bound passengers,
“Laughingly stupid decisions” “When shall we
maintaining that the current fleet of purpose-
make ʻem” “NOW” being heard in towns and So the overall winner of the Period Drama
built TX cabs are more than suitable and
cities all over Godʼs hallowed land. category is Chesssterrrr Cityyyyy Councillll!!!
accessible for the conveyance of not only able-
bodied persons, but disabled people as well.
This month we turn to Ye Olde Chester
Taxi Talk Magazine welcomes Swasie
Liverpool City Council has until September 7
th
Turner MBE
to appeal the decision, watch this space
Last year one of the last acts of Chester City
Our widely read magazine welcomes a
Council was akin to a dying wasp (it has
brand new columnist aboard. Swasie Turner
We recently read a small piece (on line)
now been amalgamated into Cheshire West
became a totally dedicated and prolific
referring to the above case in a London trade
and Chester) was to remove the numerical
fundraiser for the Clatterbridge Cancer
news-sheet, claiming that: “Just remember limit on taxis, and anyone that turned up Research Trust and other equally worthy
you read it here first!” We think not me old with a new WAV is given a ʻplateʼ. However, causes after the untimely death of his wife
Cockney Sparra. Taxi Talk Magazine, was the it has now emerged that Chester has gone to cancer. At the same time, his 27-year
only [national or otherwise] trade publication one further, and the drivers have now been police career was prematurely cut short due
present in London who followed the High informed that Chester are considering a policy to severe injuries he received whilst on duty
Court proceedings throughout the duration of of one cab - one plate, to give an example; patrolling the angry streets of Merseyside.
the case from day one (hence the ʻexclusiveʼ plate 40 can only be affixed to vehicle Y230 During his lengthy and varied Police service
in this magazine!) and we donʼt recall seeing BGV, and should the cab be stolen, written off (prior to which he served for five years with
any other ʻso calledʼ trade journalist(s) there? or the owner wishes to renew the vehicle… Cheshire County Fire Brigade), Swasie 8
4
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