IN THE
NEWS...IN THE NEWS..
SCHOOL IN OSSETT APOLOGISES AFTER REQUESTING A TAXI WITH A ‘WHITE BRITISH’ DRIVER
A school has apolo- gised after an in- appropriate mes- sage was sent to a taxi company re- questing a driver - but insisted they be ‘white British’. According to the Wakefield Express, Highfield School in Ossett, which caters for children with special educational needs, sent the mes- sage to set up the regular weekly tran- sport arrangement with a taxi company. But because of the complex needs of
some of its pupils, the request stated that the passenger “will not tolerate anybody who is not white British”. Peter Marshall, exec- utive headteacher of the school, said: “We fully acknowledge that the email sent by the school was wholly inappropriate and we apologise for any offence that was caused. “Our priority is to support our pupils, many of whom have extremely challeng- ing and complex
Wajid Ali criticised the school’s message
needs. “Over 180 children from our school community
use
minibuses and taxis to enable them to access the highly- specialised teaching
BAILIFFS CALLED IN OVER £400 PRESTON BUS LANE FINE
A taxi boss has been told to expect bailiffs in an ongo- ing battle over bus lane fines. According to the Lancashire Evening Post,
Stephen
Jones, who runs HB Cabs in Tarleton, is refusing to pay Lan- cashire
County
Council £400 on principle, because he believes signage in Fishergate, Pres- ton, is misleading. Signs
know the difference. Mr Jones, 61, said: “The sign says taxis, so of course drivers will go down there. “How many have been affected by this?
Especially displaying
permitted users of the bus lane show a picture of a bicycle, bus and the word ‘taxi’. Lancashire County Council has previ- ously stated only hackney carriages are allowed to use the bus lane, and it is the requirement of PHV drivers to
30
those from out of town, taking people to the station.” Mr Jones said his battle over fines has been ongoing for six months, with him- self and his drivers caught on camera in the bus lane several times. His fines have been totalled up and increased for non-payment. He added: “All they (LCC) have to do is change the sign to say hackney only. “It seems to me like it’s just another way of getting money into the council. “Now I’m being told
that bailiffs will come round to seize property, and what have I done? I’m making a stand over this.” A spokesman for LCC said: “Depart- ment for Transport guidelines allow for the use of signs which specify ex- emptions for taxis. “The drivers of these
vehicles
should be aware that there is a differ- ence between the licences and regula- tions which apply to private hire vehicles and taxis. “The bus lane was put in place as part of wider measures to improve traffic management in this area and we would be happy if we didn’t have to issue any penalty notices.”
and care we are able to provide for them. “We very much value and appreciate the service that all taxi companies and their drivers provide. “We have contacted
the taxi company to apologise and ex- plain the challenges and needs faced by the pupil the re- quest related to.” Wajid Ali, co-chair- man of Wakefield District Private Hire and Hackney Asso- ciation, said: “We try to promote equality and diversity and our drivers work very hard to keep professional stan- dards. “The majority of taxi drivers are Asian, but race or colour should not come in-
to it. “This is the first instance something like this has come to light and everybody is very angry about it. It’s like going back 50 years. We are not living in a draconian era.” Highfield School is a special school for boys and girls aged between 11 and 19 years old. Pupils have a range of learning difficul- ties from autism to physical disabilities and impaired hear- ing and vision.
SCUNTHORPE FARE-DODGER STOLE TAXI AFTER CABBIE TOLD POLICE
A taxi driver had his car taken by a man who he realised had previously dodged his fare. According to Grims- byLive the cabbie made the mistake of leaving the man alone in the car while he went to a police station to report him. But, incredibly, he left the taxi’s engine running and, when he returned, the fare dodger had driven off in the taxi and was later caught drink-driving,
a
court heard. Gejza Gozo, 32, from Scunthorpe, admit- ted taking a car without
consent,
making off without payment, drink-driv- ing and having no insurance
and licence on April 5.
Martin Howarth, prosecuting,
told
Grimsby magistrates that when Gozo got into the taxi in High Street, Scunthorpe, the driver recog- nised him as the person who had not paid his fare on a previous occasion in December. Gozo asked to go to Ashby and back but, instead of going there directly, the driver went to Scun- thorpe police stat- ion to report the fare dodging. He told Gozo he had something to do but did not say what. “Quite surprisingly, considering it was a matter of dishon- esty
that was
involved before, he left his keys in the car and the engine running,” said Mr
Howarth. “While he was re- porting the making off without pay- ment, the defendant took it upon himself to drive the taxi away.” Police later saw the taxi on West Com- mon Lane and stop- ped it. They could smell alcohol on his breath. He was ar- rested and a breath test
revealed he
92mcg of alcohol in 100ml of breath. The legal limit is 35mcg. Gozo was given 100 hours’ unpaid work, three days’ rehabili- tation and was banned from driving for two years. He was ordered to pay £30 compensation, £85 costs and a Government - im- posed £85 victims’ surcharge.
MAY 2019
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