Taxi Driver Online

Excellent blogging

We may have our differences but this sort of thread on TDO is what makes us all log on. Very funny, made me chuckle.

Now then let's go to another thread to rip you all apart

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If you find yourself in a confusing situation, simply laugh knowingly and walk away

The local rag aren't happy with the proposals.

http://www.southwalesargus.co.uk/news/4 ... _is_wrong/

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IDFIMH

does any other LA have these guidlines?



noticed the report says different

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

When the golf came to Hoylake the other year it was an f in fiasco especially for the taxi trade it really wasn't worth the effort. That of course may be because our council couldn't organise a pi$$ up in a brewery

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Note to self: Just because it pops into my head does NOT mean it should come out of my mouth!!

I used to drive in Newport just over 3 years ago and the council double head like there is no tomorrow and get away with it. I took the council to task over a number of things and one of them being "The Tariff being so low" pointing out that the hackney saloon cars that they allowed out were the OLD E reg yes E reg and that drivers were unable to upgrade to better vehicles, I worked out at the time that the age and the mileage they were doing that the cars were the equivalent to being 48 years old and the attitude of the councilors "Alan Morris" in particular was "If they were good enough to pass the MOT/hackney test" then they were good enough to run!

On some of the vehicles the back seat was so shot you were literally sitting on the sub frame - and I joke you not.

Look at the position in the "National League" table tariffs and you will see why the Newport drivers are unable to keep up the standard required re vehicles, the tariff is so low it is unreal - this was pointed out at the time re the tariff and the retort from one ar$e of a councilor was " I use taxis all the time and I think that the tariff is fine"

Since when has a tariff been fine?

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if you cannot be yourself, then who can you be.

Of course it's fine he's a consumer

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Note to self: Just because it pops into my head does NOT mean it should come out of my mouth!!

The workers united.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/wales/7942620.stm

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IDFIMH

City centre taxi protest


NEWPORT taxi drivers caused traffic problems in the city centre as part of a protest against council proposals to impose an age limit on taxis.

Proposals are being considered for newly licensed drivers to have a vehicle no older than three years and three months for private hire, and no older than five years for Hackney Carriages.

Taxi drivers are concerned that many people may not be able to afford a new vehicle in the current climate and drove slowly around the city centre this afternoon to show their opposition.

Roger Nolan, 62, a Hackney Carriage driver, said: “I understand from the council’s safety point of view, but we’re just seeing the start fo this recession and they’re asking drivers for such an expense.”

Councillor David Fouweather, Newport community safety cabinet member, said drivers had been consulted on the proposals.

He said: “We already have support from a number of taxi operators in the city, but no matter what we do some of the drivers will not be satisfied.

“This is an issue of public safety. These vehicles are subjected to extremely high usage and mileage in a city environment.

“The vehicles stop and start at regular intervals, so their ability to remain consistently mechanically sound, safe and of an acceptable standard of appearance and comfort can be in doubt. This is not a risk that I am willing to take.”

A decision on the proposals will be made on Thursday.

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

Do you think this is possibly a forgone conclusion?

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Note to self: Just because it pops into my head does NOT mean it should come out of my mouth!!

The answer is possibly in;



CC

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

4 desperate owners here have bought cars from the scrappy, with very minor damage repaired them they got them for £100 each
Once passed the test they get a 3 year licence

Desperate? I think it's more like tight

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Note to self: Just because it pops into my head does NOT mean it should come out of my mouth!!

MP's call for re-think on Newport taxis


A NEWPORT MP is calling for the council to re-think plans on introducing age limits for the city's taxis.

MP for Newport East Jessica Morden said ideas to bring in restrictions should be delayed until the economy improves.

Proposals are being considered for newly licensed drivers to have a vehicle no older than three years and three months for private hire, and no older than five years for Hackney carriages.

The council's cabinet member for environment and community safety, David Fouweather, will make a decision on the plans tomorrow.

If given the go-ahead, the proposals would come into effect in August, and drivers with existing licences would have until next August, one month before the Ryder Cup comes to Newport, to comply.

Ms Morden said taxi drivers she spoke with were not convinced the age-limit was the best way to tackle the issue of poor-quality taxis in the city, with some saying takings were down 20 percent during the recession.

"Drivers will find it extremely difficult to obtain credit for replacement cars. Changes like these could actually drive taxi drivers out of work," she said.

A consultation on the plans closed on December 31 and the age limit was altered, as originally, private hire vehicles would have to be brand new, or less than three years old for Hackney carriages.

Cllr Fouweather said the plans were aimed at introducing a good, safe fleet which everybody in Newport could be proud of.

Ms Morden said: "I believe the council already has the power to police the condition of taxis - but taxi drivers tell me they are not using them."

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

New taxi rules will be enforced



Taxi drivers brought traffic to a standstill in protest over the plans
New rules aimed at taxis in a south Wales city have been pushed through, despite protests.

Hundreds of taxi drivers staged a demonstration in Newport on Saturday, bringing traffic to a standstill.

The drivers oppose regulations insisting that private hire vehicles are no older than eight years. Hackney cabs must be under 10-years-old.

The council says it is a safety issue, but some cabbies say it is prompted by next year's Ryder Cup golf tournament.

The city is hosting the event, and it is widely seen as a way of putting Newport and Wales on the international map.

The council said taxi drivers had been consulted extensively on the plans and it was an issue of public safety.

Speaking after the demonstration on Saturday, Lionel Morris, chairman of Newport Hackney Drivers Association, said: "We're not against the age proposition but we're saying it's the wrong time to put such an expense on us during the recession.

This is an issue of public safety... this is not a risk that I am willing take

Coun David Fouweather

"People are not catching a cab as much as they used to because of the economic situation.

"The prime reason for having this now is because of the golf tournament."

But Councillor David Fouweather, who has now authorised the new measures, insisted that widespread consultation on the proposals had taken place.

He said: "This is an issue of public safety. These vehicles are subjected to extremely high-usage and mileage in a city environment.

Inspections

"In addition to their heavy use, the vehicles stop and start at regular intervals, so their ability to remain consistently mechanically sound, safe and of an acceptable standard of appearance and comfort can be in doubt.

"This is not a risk that I am willing take."

The council said vehicle inspections by its licensing officers also vindicated the move.

"In the last 12 months, our licensing officers have inspected 174 vehicles and found 80 of them - almost 50% - to be unsafe," added Mr Fouweather.

"Such contempt for the rules of the road beggars belief."

In addition to age restrictions on taxis, all private hire vehicles must have approved stickers permanently attached to the cars.

The council said this will make properly licensed vehicles easier to indentify, and support its 'Safer Cab' scheme for lone women passengers.


The Celtic Manor in the city will host many of the world's top golfers in 2010

But some cabbies say the cost will force them off the road.

Mushtaq Ahmed, joint secretary of Newport Hackney Drivers Association, said he had spent £12,000 on a hackney cab a year and a half ago.

"In another three years, because of the age limit, this vehicle will be off the road.

"I will still be paying for it when this comes in but I won't be able to use it."

However, the council has insisted that the new regulations are in line with other authorities in Wales, some who impose even tougher age limits on vehicles, such as Cardiff and Swansea which take private cabs off the road when they are six-years-old.

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

Cab dispute threatens golf event
By Mark Hannaby
BBC News

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/wales/7970619.stm

The taxi drivers have already held protests about the plans
Major events including the 2010 Ryder Cup golf tournament are threatened with disruption due to a dispute between Newport's taxi drivers and its council.

Newport Hackney Drivers Association says new age restrictions on taxis will force up to 60% of the city's taxi drivers out of business.

Newport City Council says the new rules are to improve public safety.

But the drivers have said it is an attempt to spruce up the city's image in readiness for the Ryder Cup.

Newport council has ruled that private-hire saloons should be no older than eight years, and converted Hackney carriages no older than 10 years, from 1 August 2010.

The drivers are more opposed to the timing of the change than to the notion of age restrictions as such.

They say that during a recession they can't afford upwards of £14,000 per taxi to replace their vehicles.



The taxi drivers say their livelihoods are more important than the golf tournament

Independent Newport taxi driver Graham Hubbard said: "How drivers that are married, bringing up children, paying a mortgage (are supposed) to pay for a new car? it's just impossible. If you do your sums, its just impossible."

Regular strikes are being planned to try to force the council to change its position.

Newport's taxi drivers have already held a strike - on the night of the Six Nations final.

And now there are plans to stage slow driving protests on the M4 to disrupt major events up to and including the Ryder Cup.

The Chairman of Newport Hackney Drivers Association, Lionel Morris, told BBC Wales' The Politics Show: "(With) these 'go slow' demonstrations on busy days like Saturdays, if there were to be something going on at the Millennium Stadium, then it will be chaos on the road.

"We will be willing to disrupt the Ryder Cup as much as we can because we would want the UK people to realise, at the end of the day, its more important for our livelihood and for people to stay in work rather than a few days of golfing in Newport."


Lionel Morris said 'Go Slow' demonstrations would be held

The taxi drivers have a letter dated 10 October 2008 from Newport council's environmental health manager (acting) which they argue shows that the Ryder Cup was a factor in the council's decision to bring in the age limits.

The letter states that though the new age limits are "primarily to protect the safety of the travelling public... such policy conditions would also help to enhance and improve the quality of licensed vehicles in the city, especially in view of the forthcoming Ryder Cup and the world wide profile and media coverage that the city of Newport will receive."

Newport council declined a request for an interview with the programme.

In a statement Councillor David Fouweather, cabinet member for community safety and environment, said: "There was extensive consultation with drivers and Newport residents on this issue which we extended at the request of the drivers to ensure they had their say.

"The decision was made to improve public safety and any suggestion that this has been done solely for visitors during the Ryder Cup next year is absurd.

"This policy now brings us to line with those that are already in place at other south Wales authorities."

'Takings down'

Newport council has also argued vehicle inspections by its licensing officers vindicate the new age limits.

It claims 174 vehicles were inspected in the last year and 80 were found to be unsafe.

Newport East MP Jessica Morden says she sympathises with the taxi drivers.

She says their takings are already down around 20% in the current recession and its very difficult for many of them to get credit to buy new vehicles.

Ms Morden said: "I hope there can be a resolution because I think the taxi drivers would like to sit down regularly with the council to talk about these kind of issues which doesn't seem to have been the case up to now. "

With the council having now taken the decision to make the changes, there's no obvious mechanism to resolve the dispute.

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