Taxi Driver Online

Anger at 'Ryder Cup' taxi plans




The Celtic Manor will host many of the world's top golfers in 2010
Plans for age limits on Newport taxis are opposed by some cabbies, with some believing the idea is motivated by the city hosting the Ryder Cup next year.

The prestigious golf tournament will be played at the city's Celtic Manor resort in September 2010.

Newport council proposes that private hire vehicles should be no older than six years and hackney carriages no more than 10 years from 1 August 2010.

The council said a cabinet member would be making a decision on 18 March.

Taxi drivers are worried they could not afford to finance newer vehicles in the recession, although some cab firm owners have backed the plans.

Newly-licensed cars must be brand new if private hire or younger than three years if a hackney carriage from August 2009.

The plans were put out for consultation between October and December and a report on its findings is due out on Tuesday. We believe the Ryder Cup is the only reason they are bringing the age limit in

Alan Meek, Newport taxi driver

Taxi drivers protested against the age limit plans outside the council's offices in October and handed in a 300-name petition to the council.

Alan Meek, a private hire driver for Dragon Taxis, said he believed putting an age limit on cabs would put a lot of drivers out of work.

"What they are asking with the recession the way it is at the moment is stupid," he said.

"My personal view is that the cars should be of a certain standard in terms of cleanliness and road worthiness and should not necessarily be assessed by age.

"We believe the Ryder Cup is the only reason they are bringing the age limit in."

The golf tournament is expected to bring in thousands of visitors from all over the world to the Newport area.

John Lavendar, a director at Dragon Taxis, said he believed improvements in the fleet were "definitely needed" and that the age limits being proposed are "reasonable".

"But I feel for taxi drivers because these are difficult times," he said. "We are 20% down on our work from two years ago and taxi drivers will find it more difficult to obtain credit to buy new vehicles."

Comfort

Moasan Ali, the owner of Capital Taxis, said he did not think taxi firm operators would be against the age limit plans.

"Newer cars will improve the impression people have of my firm," he said.

"I know that the drivers who work for themselves have objections. But they are buying £400 to £500 cars and using them as taxis.

"We are in a credit crunch and they will find it difficult."

In Newport council's monthly newspaper Newport Matters, the council said it was considering the age limits to improve the appearance and comfort of licensed vehicles in the city.

A council spokesman said: "A report on the proposed changes to the licensing conditions for Hackney carriage and private hire vehicles and for the licensing of drivers is going to the cabinet member for environment and community safety.

"He will make a decision on 18 March."

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Think of how stupid the average person is, and realize half of them are stupider than that.
George Carlin

The decision is down to just one man then!

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Grandad,

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Think of how stupid the average person is, and realize half of them are stupider than that.
George Carlin

the "new" rule for PH is a bit harsh

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Of all the things ive lost, i miss my mind the most

The price of a Newport cab is favourable to the price of my Calloway driver perhaps if I took a full set of clubs down there I could exchange them for a fleet of Newport cabs?

Regards

JD

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Copyright notice © The contents of this post are copyright of JD and are not to be reproduced outside of TDO without written permission.

You could then license them in Berwick and you will be sorted.

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Grandad,

Have you tried a fairway driver?

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Former taxi driver

lol I have indeed but it could never compare to the smoothness of my other clubs off the tee. I suppose that's down to a design fault, or could it be my inability to hit the ball correctly? lol

Regards

JD

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Copyright notice © The contents of this post are copyright of JD and are not to be reproduced outside of TDO without written permission.

What aiming for the 1st hole and the ball lands on the 18th due to the sharp turning circle

lol well done skippy, I bet that raised a laff or two?

Regards

JD

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Copyright notice © The contents of this post are copyright of JD and are not to be reproduced outside of TDO without written permission.

I'm off to pay my doctor a visit very shortly, I'll take my clubs along so we can have a quick nine holes around her surgery.

Regards

JD

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Copyright notice © The contents of this post are copyright of JD and are not to be reproduced outside of TDO without written permission.

Hope he gives you the all clear JD

Its a she, I prefer women touching my body rather than men. lol

We played nine holes around her surgery as predicted where she gave an admiring glance at the stiffness of my driver. Not wishing to intimidate her I offered her the first stroke which she gladly accepted. The first hole was very tight with both players going at it hammer and tongue. I was hoping for a hole in one but sadly I came up short and landed in the rough. Her stroke play was magnificent and it was this that which gave her the edge. It was at this stage she offered me another appointment for the following week but I declined on the grounds of ill health. She offered me a prescription which I duly accepted and we both parted amicably with a smile on our face.

That was my experience at the doctors this afternoon.

Regards

JD

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Copyright notice © The contents of this post are copyright of JD and are not to be reproduced outside of TDO without written permission.

You must have BUPA.
All I get is a lecture on the evils of smoking and a script for paracetamol

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http://wingsoverscotland.com/ http://www.newsnetscotland.com/

Makes no sense whatsoever.

If there are sheds being driven around the streets of Newport, then why aren't the licensing team prosecuting the owners. As was mentioned in the similar situation in Leeds, leave the good guys alone and go after the bad guys.

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IDFIMH