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 193 OCTOBER 2011 INSIDE Outcome of private hire consultation Notice 08/11 ARE DIAMOND CARS FOREVER? PAGES 3 Transport for London -London Taxi and Private Hire NEWS Outcomes of Private Hire Consultation WALKER ON THE MARCH PAGE 9 NEWS L.C.D.C’s BOXING CLEVER WITH BUNCEY PAGE 18 NEWS VERDICT FILM REVIEWS WITH See L.C.D.C’s response on pages 4&5 NORMAN BARRY PAGE 12 2 Issue 193 - October 2011 Editorial Grant Davis involving Private Hire Operators, and their drivers, but BETTER LATE unfortunately, this seems to have Published by THAN NEVER fallen on deaf ears. The London Cab Driver’s Club Ltd. Unit A 303.2, I was pleased to read in the latest A few weeks ago, I attended a Tower Bridge Business Complex edition of TAXI magazine that the meeting at Palestra, with Helen Tower Point, 100 Clements Road LTDA had finally recognised the Chapman, TFL, and the new Head of Southwark, London SE16 4DG problems the trade is facing within Safer Travel Command Mr Sultan Taylor. After listening to various Telephone: 020 7232 0676 the City Of London. In the past, we have worked with the LTDA on speeches around the table, I then E-mail for membership enquiries: various initiatives to protect our Informed Mr Taylor that due to the past actions of the PCO and their E-mail: [email protected] trade, however, I must admit to conduct themselves in the Web: lcdcorg.wordpress.com Introduction of “Satellite Offices” the being disappointed when I called Capital, but unfortunately nothing PCO had done no more than to Bob Oddy and asked him to has changed. I hear that Helen, Editor: Grant Davis educate members of the Public support our “ Rank at The Bank” and John are heading to demonstration in the City a few “HOW NOT TO USE A LICENSED The Badge is distributed free to the Licenced TAXI” Birmingham to see how they deal London Cab Trade. months ago. with touts, so we shall wait and see. Bob said that he felt the problem For advertising enquiries please contact the I told him that if I took his pen from the office on in the City was not serious OLYMPIC FARE INCREASE? table and threw it out of the window of 020 7394 5553 or E-mail: [email protected] enough to warrant a Finally, it has been muted in some demonstration. Palestra, it would land outside a Bar All advertising in The Badge is accepted under quarters about an increase in taxi called the Baltic, where night after our terms and condidtions. These are available Obviously they have had a fares for the Olympics. We at at the LCDC office. night PH vehicles ply for hire outside change of opinionstill better late the LCDC are vehemently the venue, whilst the Clipboard Before entering into any commitment, financial than never eh? opposed to this, as anybody with or otherwise, always remember to seek Johnny touts for business. If this is any working knowledge of driving professional advice. going on just 50 yards from the front ENFORCEMENT DESPAIR a taxi in London will know that door of LT&PH right under their The views expressed in this publication are not I must say that we were very with the road restrictions coming necessarity those fo the Editor or of the disappointed at the outcome of noses, then realistically, what chance Management Committee of the into force during the Olympics do we have? London Cab Driver’s Club. the PH consultation. We have these will lead to higher journey worked with Mr Mason over the Contributions for publication are welcomed costs, and to have a fare increase As I have said, I strongly believed that and should be sent to the Editor at the last two years to show him the on top of this will only add insult above address. LT&PH could have made a big high level of abuse that occurs to injury to the long suffering difference to how the private hire The London Cab Driver’s Club Ltd. night after night in the Capital public. www.lcdcorg.wordpress.com Issue 193 - October 2011 3 Are Diamond (cars) forever? DANNY SULLIVAN the taxi work from every major venue within the City Of London. In a recent meeting at LT&PH, Outside the door of everyone of attended by John Mason Helen these venues there are Chapman, ourselves, Unite Clipboard Johnnies illegally and the Ltda , we were putting work into vehicles of informed that Diamond cars Diamond Cars who ply for hire had been arrested by outside. undercover enforcement At the same time, every request officers, who had been touted from the licensed trade for a cab by the infamous Abacus rank is rebuffed at every turn, clipboard Johnny,(who seems lack of finance, lack of will, and to have more lives than a cat.) even when a restaurant such as Diamond Cars have now Sketch requested a rank outside appealed against the loss of their their premises, they were forced Operators Licence, and the to pay £3,000 for the privilege. outcome should be known in the The situation with the Private next month or two (hopefully hire is completely out of control, before Christmas)but I would for once they are issued with a not hold my breath. satellite office it is tantamount to Diamond cars have a total of 16 them having their own taxi rank satellite offices in the City and outside their Bar / Club whilst we demise of our industry as we sit on our hands whilst our the West End. These Sat Offices on the other hand have to trawl know it is guaranteed Are we trade goes down the pan.! each pay just a one off fee of through all the red tape needed getting close to the time where £200.! for life What a joke, for a new taxi rank just to be onceagain we will be forced to SATELLITE OFFICES: especially when you consider approved.! take to the streets of the that our very own licence fee is If the lack of enforcement Capital to demand that TFL do UNLAWFUL, £293 every three years. currently being shown by the what they should do and UNENFORCEABLE, For just an outlay of £3,200 Authorities continues, we at uphold the law. Diamond Cars has access to all the LCDC believe that the Make no mistake we will not UNCONTROLABLE [email protected] 4 Issue 193 - October 2011 LCDC RESPONSE TO SECTION 1 SECTION 6 for all drivers. Could you please be more specific about New measures will be introduced for Additional checks will be done on all further requirements and improved shared Operator premises. personnel named on an operator’s standards? Applications will only be accepted if licence application to ensure they are certain conditions are met. ‘fit and proper’ Will this include all nationals outside the What are the new measures? Does this apply to all booking staff? EU.? What conditions will needed to be met? (clipboard jonnies. Will the new requirements apply to Will all booking staff be required to be exsisting drivers or just new applicants? licensed like all Private Hire Drivers and have detailed background information checks? How will TFL be funding and SECTION 2 enforcing all these All applications for a private hire requirements. operating centre will require proof that SECTION 7 planning permission has been further restrictions will apply for (PCO Notice 19/09) granted, applied for, or is not required. operator applications in shared Private Hire Operators with Will this include all existing Operators? premises within central London. Operating centers in late What further restrictions will apply? What action will be taken if planning night venues permission is denied? Could you please be more specific about the restriction? To facilitate the provision of safer travel (Applied for) does this mean that a for those attending nightclubs and other licensed applicant will be permitted to Will this apply to all existing operators? late night venues, some existing operate whilst planning permission is What action will be taken if operators operators have. Made arrangements with assessed? cannot meet these restrictions? club proprietors to run operating centers from Such venues, and have successfully applied to the PCO to have the Venue’s premises added to their PHV operator’s license as a licensed operating centre. SECTION 8 However, ongoing enforcement work by TfL will work with private hire the PCO and the Metropolitan Police SECTION 3 operators and applicants to encourage Service has shown that some operators Private hire Operating Centres within adherence to local parking are failing to comply with private hire shared premises will be required to regulations. legislation. PCO guidelines, and other have a designated booking area within What does this mean? conditions of licensing including the way the premises. This area will be named in which they take bookings at such on the licence. What action will be taken if an operator venues. Will this include all existing Operators? does not adhere to parking regulation? How could TFL enforce any parking If an operator fails to comply, and are regulation? Operators are observed taking bookings outside the reminded that they: premises what action will be taken? Will TFL issue a licence if there is no Must only accept bookings at the parking spaces outside or in the premises forming the licensed surrounding area where a operator as operating centre that is inside the applied for a licence? building forming the venue.