this case will have upon licensing costs, on the bright side if there were 6
million licenses issued, it would only be a pound each! If Liverpool Council
have to change their policy on the pretence of a particular disability or
YOUR ROUTE TO
particular wheelchair size, then surely all councils will have to consider
what types of vehicle they licence.
For example, if I take an ambient disabled person to Liverpool City Council
who states she has diffi culty in getting into and out of wheelchair accessible
LOW-COST
vehicles, stating sheʼd much prefer a saloon car, will the council change
its policy? A great number of passengers (arguably many more than the
wheelchair bound community, who are a small percentage of the disabled
population) cannot get into either the TX or E7 type of vehicles, these
INSURANCE
ailments range from arthritis to something called old age. Surely council
policy would be adjusted to encompass these people too? We are not
going to get a specifi c type of vehicle that will cover every disability, best
practice guidance and indeed common sense suggests itʼs perhaps better
to have a range of vehicles in the fl eet as opposed to a limited choice.
However, as we have pointed out on many occasions, who decides who
has what? I get the inexpensive saloon and you get the rather expensive
WAV? I canʼt see you being too happy. I once received a rather nasty
phone call from a person who claimed to be wheelchair bound; apparently
the NTAʼs decision to be against rear loading vehicles was my fault, even
though I voted against it. I was told by the wheelchair bound passenger, in
between expletives, that she didnʼt want to get into a ʻBlack Bomber Cabʼ
(which is what TXs are called in Blackpool), because she was thrown all
around the rear of the vehicle when the driver went around corners. I asked
the lady how her being thrown about was the taxis fault, pointing out that
TAXI
the cabs come equipped with ramps and enough securing straps to keep
a sado-masochist happy. I told her being thrown about in a wheelchair that
wasnʼt secured properly was the fault of the driver, not the vehicle, and she
should complain to her council if she has such experiences. After a few
more expletives the phone was put down on me.
I donʼt really have an opinion on the Liverpool case, in actual fact I couldnʼt
give a toss, I would like to see Liverpool City Councilʼs defence of their policy,
which from reports, seemed as hopeless as my beloved Newcastle Unitedʼs
Competitive premiums for:
last season (or was that Evertonʼs on the fi rst day of the season Derek?).
Indeed, if councils are now to be expected to make for licensing policy that
encompass every single section of our society, then they have a rather if not
impossible task. After all, the government have been looking since 1995 and
• Private & public hire vehicles
still hasnʼt found a vehicular solution to the needs of society. To make a policy
• Private car bonus accepted*
that covers the taxi requirements of every single type of disability is almost
as stupid as fi nding a vehicle that can cover every single type of disability, itʼs
• Mini-fl eets from 2 vehicles
not going to happen, and when it does most of us will be long gone.
• Owner/driver fl eets
Cheerio Alf!
Regular readers will have read in recent months the developing spat
• Schemes for cab bases
between two of the magazineʼs regular contributors. Alf Townsend and
Bernie May (both cockneys) have been giving it large and the situation has • Offi ce & Liability cover
apparently led to Alf leaving the magazine. I donʼt know what the problem
is, but being myself I will give a view, without hopefully taking sides. I
• Legal expenses and replacement
havenʼt met Alf but have read his work and his slant on the London trade
and life in general for many years, be this in taxi talk or the other magazines
cabs available*
and papers heʼs written in. In my view Alf is the positive face of the London
Cab Trade and dare I say it, the cab trade in general. The provincial cab
• Monthly fi nance arranged*
trade, as we are all seemingly very aware, always seem to have the view
we are looked down upon by the public. People like Alf, being a literate
chap with books behind him, prove, like Bob McCulloch and Jack Clyde,
*subject to terms & conditions
that we are not all dullards and we have on our ranks many different types
of people, from differing backgrounds with talent. As for Bernie, well his
articles often speak for themselves, he doesnʼt care what he writes and
who he upsets, I guess thatʼs why we read them! Enough said.
phone now on
Itʼs unlike me to plug, but this has got to interest you!
I was recently contacted by a fi rm in Derbyshire selling a camera system
for under £200. At that kind of price I donʼt think there can be any claim that
0845 230 3330
such systems are not fi nancially viable. I donʼt know if the system will be
acceptable for your area, although I cannot see how any local authority can
refuse a camera system when cab drivers are attacked by the public on a
or visit us at
daily basis. Indeed, I donʼt seem how councils can object to such systems
bearing in mind many councils operate cameras all over their authority
areas, in their own council buildings for the protection of their staff and in
robertnott.co.uk
some cases to catch out people putting the wrong litter in the wrong bins
(talk about a misuse of terrorism laws).
NTA Conference 2009
The National Taxi Association is to hold its annual general meeting and
conference open session in the beautiful seaside town of Eastbourne
on the 27
th
& 28
th
October 2009. The NTA have been to Eastbourne
before, from memory there is a decent selection of public houses. Itʼs
your chance to learn something about the trade, buy me a drink and ask
questions to people who have the answers, or even provoke an argument
if you like. For the fi rst time in many years the keynote speech will be
Robert Nott & Partners Ltd t/as Robert Nott Insurance
made by the Secretary of State, the right honourable Sadiq Khan MP. It is
21 Crook Log, Bexleyheath, Kent. DA6 8EB
your opportunity, donʼt miss it.
Authorised and regulated by the Financial Services Authority
Till next month
Wayne Casey
43
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52