Dunlace Taxi DALSTON Services Ltd STEAM CLEANING Drivers Wanted Cabs to Rent Fairways, TXI’s, Taxis Steam Cleaned TXII’s and TX4’s & Undersprayed Overhauls While You Wait Service and Running Repairs To PCO Standard! Units 10-11 Period Works 1 Lammas Road, Unit 17 Period Works Leyton E10 7QT 1 Lammas Road, Tel: 020 8558 4240 Leyton E10 7QT Mobile 07988 424533 020 8558 9945 The voice of the taxi trade’s only independent organisation Issue 185 DECEMBER/JANUAR 2010-11 INSIDE Christmas message John Mason PAGE 3 NEWS Simon Hughes visits LCDC offices PAGE 5 NEWS Airport matters PAGE 6 NEWS Love boxing? Love Buncey PAGE 15 2 Issue 184 - December/January 2010-11 Editorial Grant Davis - Chairman I would like to start by wishing all Published by members of the LCDC and their The London Cab Driver’s Club Ltd. families a very Happy Christmas, Unit A 303.2, and a prosperous New Year. Tower Bridge Business Complex Tower Point, 100 Clements Road Southwark, London SE16 4DG Christmas Present From Boris? Telephone: 020 7232 0676 As you can see from our front E-mail for membership enquiries: page, will Boris deliver the Christmas E-mail: [email protected] present that we all in the taxi trade Web: lcdcorg.wordpress.com have been hoping for? Let us hope that the combined effort of the United Trade Group has paid Editor: Grant Davis trade. dividends and we will be given the Editorial Error This has proven to be very minimum of 15 years. We at the The Badge is distributed free to the Licenced successful over the last two years London Cab Trade. LCDC realise that the Mayor has and more than ever I feel that the After writing the above, it pains me been under extreme pressure to to report that in last month’s Unite For advertising enquiries please contact the only chance we have in the trade for enforce a 10 year age limit on our office on survival, is that this continues. The newspaper Cab Trade News, the 020 7394 5553 or E-mail: [email protected] vehicles, however, we are optimistic latest example of this took place at editor Mr. Peter Rose published a that the strong case put forward by letter purporting to be of a conver- All advertising in The Badge is accepted under Heathrow Airport with the newly the U.T.G will win the day. our terms and condidtions. These are available formed H.U.T.G. sation between myself and a former at the LCDC office. (Heathrow Airport United Trade member. What was contained in the letter was a complete fabrication of Before entering into any commitment, financial Group) consisting of the LCDC, or otherwise, always remember to seek Trade Unity Breaks LTDA, UNITE, and HATDU. what was actually said, and what professional advice. This has been formed to combat disappoints me most was that Mr. Out At Heathrow. Rose did not contact me prior to The views expressed in this publication are not the uncertainty created at the flyers necessarity those fo the Editor or of the by the Introduction of the voucher printing the letter to confirm if the Management Committee of the Since becoming Chairman, my system being implemented by HALT / conversation did in fact take place, London Cab Driver’s Club. main aim was to achieve trade unity, HALTS. The idea is for the HUTG and my so called “quotes” where Contributions for publication are welcomed hence the formation of the U.T.G. to form a much closer working rela- factual. and should be sent to the Editor at the which consisted of ourselves, the tionship with B.A.A and to make sure This I believe was no more than a above address. LTDA and Unite all working together that the views of the working cab cheap shot at the Club, and shame on you Peter, you should have The London Cab Driver’s Club Ltd. for the good of the licensed cab driver at Heathrow is given a voice. known better. Issue 184 - December/January 2010-11 3 Mr Mason’s Christmas Message er in partnership rather than a “them” and “us” environment of aggression, criticism Dear LCDC and hostility. Thanks to Grant and the Badge for 2010 has seen many other activities again providing me with the opportuni- such as the closure of Penton Street and ty to write a short article in this last the relocation of our services to Palestra. edition before Christmas. The teams have worked hard to introduce As the year draws to a close I know that an advisory note system for minor faults many of your reading this might still have and our on street compliance team has concerns as to the current state of the taxi been expanded to include a dedicated trade and what the future has in store. night team to further improve our licensing I can assure you all that we have, inspections during the night and early throughout the year, worked exceptionally mornings, especially at weekends. hard on a great many number of issues I think I could take up the whole edition and initiatives, many of which have been of the badge on summarising everything raised by Grant and the LCDC. Issues tions from both the taxi and the private Badge has reported details of the pro- else we are working on such as the such as touting have, of course, been hire trade many of which are included in posed strategy in previous editions. It “Green” and “Yellow” badge identifiers, the high on our list of priorities through 2010 our private hire consultation which I know might well be that by the time you read re let of our vehicle licensing service, the and will continue to be throughout 2011. the LCDC will be responding to. Like it or this the announcement on these propos- long term strategy to implement much We will continue to do all we can with our not it is simply not possible just to intro- als will have been made and if it has, and needed system improvements and colleagues in the Met and in discussions duce additional requirements for drivers or it’s a decision that you do not like then I enhancements in driver licensing and with the LCDC, LTDA and Unite to target scrap satellite offices and by law there am very sorry. If this is the case all I can many, many more but I will leave it at that key locations and take the strongest pos- needs to be a very clear, considered set do is assure you that it has taken a long for now and we will happily provide sible action against those found touting. of proposals that all interested parties, time to reach a decision because it is updates as and when they become rele- The one strike and out policy is working including those in the trade and other such a very important issue. Through the vant. well with many revocations and prosecu- stakeholders can consider. However, many meetings we have had with the taxi Throughout 2011 we will continue to tions but there is always more that can be where we can take immediate action we associations they have consistently made work as hard as we possibly can for you, done and I accept we still have a long will. For example, the decision we took in it very clear they object to age limits but the licensee, and will do everything possi- way to go. For example, we are still not July to put a stop on further private hire that if such a limit was to be introduced ble to build on the progress we have great at publicising the results of our activ- operator licenses being issued in 3rd then this should be no more stringent made in 2010 to address those issues ities which leads many to incorrectly claim party venues until we had completed this than 15 years. If the final decision is to that you have raised with us. “nothing is being done”. I hope to see review. introduce a 15 year age limit then I Finally, on behalf of everyone at some real improvements in this area One of the other big issues that is near- believe that this will further reinforce the Transport for London I would like to wish soon. ing a conclusion is the Mayor’s Air Quality importance of good, open, honest and you all a very Merry Christmas and a Throughout the year we have listened strategy and, in particular, proposed age productive relationships between TfL and happy and prosperous New Year. and collected many ideas and sugges- limits for taxis. We are aware that the the taxi trade that sees us working togeth- John Mason -Director LTPH 4 Issue 184 - December/January 2010-11 Issue 184 - December/January 2010-11 5 Simon Hughes visits LCDC offices On Friday the 3rd of the nuisance that they have December, the LCDC was become. grateful for the visit of our Another issue we discussed was local Lib Dem MP Simon the 10 year Taxi age limit that Hughes of Boris may yet decide to bring in. We at the Club feel this will deci- (Southwark&Bermondsey). mate our trade and will if Boris Simon who is Deputy to Nick goes for 10 years, effect all those Clegg has been MP since 1983 in who also work within our Industry, this area, and for those of you who such as the garages, knowledge don’t know Simon he is easily schools, etc.