taxi talk mailbox
Dear Editor…
Do these licensing Authorities make up their pathetic rules as they go along? I am a hard-working Private Hire driver of many years
licensed by West Lancashire and my car an 07 VW Passat sport, which I have had with West Lancs since new has passed 4 MOTs.
However, on Wednesday 26
th
August I was called into the Licensing Offi ce because there had been a complaint allegedly about the
factory fi tted heat insulated rear windows saying they are not acceptable in West Lancashire Licensing Regulations, how petty and
ridiculous does it get with these people? So much so, I have been given notice that my car will not be re-plated until this is replaced with
clear glass, so my concerns are why has this not come to light in the past 2 years or so? Also within Ormskirk were I generally work two
new Skoda Superbs are on the circuit with exactly the same glass, all fi tted as standard on that level of trim. What’s going on?
Stephen Fishwick, 364
Liverpool
Dear Editor…
On behalf of all hard working London taxi drivers…
There really has to be something said about the article written by the Cockney Rebel, Bernie May in the August issue of taxi talk. Can
we just remind him that we all have to go to the toilet in town at some point including himself and I am sure if he had been a little nicer
and pulled up for the driver he would have reciprocated amicably. Indeed, itʼs people like Mr May that spoil the cab trade wanting to have
a go at your fellow cab drivers at any given opportunity, whom I might add are getting at least some work back from the minicab touts!
Whilst you are sitting on the ranks watching 15 to 20 plus minicabs turning up and picking up jobs right under your nose everyday at the
majority of the big hotels in town, you have not got the guts to confront them or even report these minicab drivers to the Carriage Offi ce.
In the meantime, you would rather get your fellow cab drivers ʻnickedʼ while minicab drivers steal your work!
I feel that the London radio circuits have helped to cause substantial damage to the London trade in condoning such activity, while
over-charging ʻwould beʼ passengers themselves. For example: turning up at an address with a run-in charge of up to £10, as contract
work drops like fl ies. However, everybody is entitled to their pre-booked work as you well know and whilst taxi drivers like yourself
are perhaps somewhat narrow minded and in my opinion a little rude, the cab trade will continue to spiral down the ladder for many
years to come. Can I just remind you that Addison Lee and the radio circuits charge anything up to £95 to the Flyers from town, so
you might fi nd your ʻFlip-fl op Brigadeʼ give the passengers a friendly, safe, and reasonably priced journey… At the end of the day, itʼs
all live and let live
The ʻFlip-fl op Brigadeʼ
Dear Editor... Appeal for Witnesses
My name is Steve Donovan and I drive an Atlantic blue TXII reg No. LS55LDE. An alleged incident between two passengers and
myself took place on Wednesday 12 August 2009, at the junction of Southampton Road and Mansfi eld Road NW3 between 23:30pm
to midnight. My passengers were sick in my cab, losing me a nightʼs work. They paid the fare: £11.80, but not the spoilage charge,
prompting an argument. I have been accused of common assault. I totally repudiate these allegations and hereby seek a witness.
Thank you Steve Donovan. Please contact mobile 07941172259 or email stevedonovan@f2s.com my badge no. Is 64842 thank you.
Dear Editor...
As an individual Liverpool Hackney Cab driver/owner I feel very frustrated by Trade in order regarding, fi rstly: the non-dress code of drivers – this could be a
the lack of endeavour being shown by Liverpool Taxi Companies and Liverpool compulsory white shirt or polo and black trousers or shorts, so the trade would
City Council, and the trade in general to combat the infi ltration of Liverpool by lose their scruffy image. The hounding of cherry pickers by simple means
other vehicles, in particular Sefton. You are well aware of the fabulous advertising getting Hackney Offi cers away from their cosy CCTV monitors and hound any
campaign by a certain Sefton private hire company, with their numerous billboards cherry pickers by telling drivers: “go and get this cab washed and return here”,
and their very, very clever postcards delivered all over the city, of which have then tell them to “clean the inside and return here.” The removal of plates – this
increased the market share for them no doubt, while their drivers brainwash could be done with prior permission of every owner, The driver with a cab on
the ʻwould beʼ customer that Liverpool Taxis are grossly expensive, while the settle, I and the vast amount of owners would love to see the trade cleaned up
Liverpool trade lose out. This has two effects: you as companies are limited to the to protect everybodyʼs interest including the public.
fees you may charge for radio settle while drivers have seen their earnings drop
dramatically over the years struggling to fi nd settle - so is there a solution? Well A points system similar to DVLA where a driver is prosecuted or issued with
if all private hire companies were to charge the same rate, a cost test could be a written warning, points placed on their badge, this tells any owner of any
carried out. For example: a Sefton private hire hiring to Liverpool airport from the misdoings and gives a history of the nomadic drivers who fl it from cab to cab – this
Jurys Inn in the city centre, or a Sefton private hire hiring from Lime Street station; could make life diffi cult to obtain a collar (rental of a cab) and could become
Liverpool licensed PH and indeed Hackney Carriage could do the same journeys self policing as drivers may think about their actions. Also, why are Private
and compare the cost. Most local people are led to believe that Sefton PH are Hire cars from neighbouring areas, Sefton PH vehicles being the main offender
pounds and pounds cheaper, when in fact the difference is negligible whether it be allowed to blatantly park on legitimate Hackney Carriage stands on a Saturday
a Sefton PH or a Hackney. This was highlighted to me by a friend who travelled night unchallenged, then when an operation is under way to stop this practice,
from Barlows Lane, Fazakeley to Liverpool Airport in a Sefton PH vehicle, and no PH car is to be seen? Why is Liverpool City Council awarding contracts to
was charged £22.00. On his return journey he got a Liverpool Hackney cab and other PH companies from outside the city when they are most likely technically
was charged £22.30 including the airport tax, this was quite ironic as he has called uninsured? Why is it that every rank that is relocated, this is to the detriment
the Liverpool cab trade a ʻgang of robbing b****ʼ for years, hence this letter. So if of the licensed cab driver? You often hear about the bad press the cab trade
all Liverpool PH and Hackney Companies had a combined advertising campaign gets, especially from the local newspaper – is this a refl ection of how the trade is
and pooled their very small budgets they have for advertising, and used the same treated by this poor licensing committee? So Mr Kelly, itʼs high time to get your
billboards across the city to compare prices, we may see an upturn in trade. fi nger out and do something positive for the Liverpool trade; the very people who
keep you in a job, or do you just like the kudos of being ʻChair of Licensingʼ?
I can hear the cries already – it would cost thousands! Well someone has to pay
for it, an advertising levy could be placed on every driver, yes you can hear the PS… Enforcement is not a one-way street it is also to protect the Taxi and
moans already but you have to invest in yourself - a campaign could be funded. Private Hire driver. Iʼm sure the Editor will allow you some space to explain
I ask you to put your heads and money together to start fi ghting back, because if yourself (without charge), Iʼm sure youʼve had such an offer on many occasions
you donʼt do something soon you wonʼt have a business to worry about. but not taken it up, why?
As chair of licensing, I call upon Mr Matthew Kelly to put the Liverpool Taxi SC Liverpool Hackney Cab driver Badge 181
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