Edinburgh taxi drivers will no longer be charged by the council to use The Royal Mile on their annual outing.
According to the Edinburgh Reporter, the cab drivers organising this year’s Edinburgh Taxi Outing in June were quoted a figure understood to be around £1,500 to have planters blocking traffic on the High Street temporarily moved.
Following calls for any fees for the long-running event to be waived, the local authority had said they would be free to shift the large boxes themselves or alter their route by turning left down Cockburn Street.
However, announcing the U-turn on Monday 13 May, council leader Cammy Day said there would be no charge and said the issue “has now been resolved”.
Taxi Outing secretary Keith Bell said: “I was confident this was just a bureaucratic misunderstanding and that once the relevant people became involved the matter would be sorted, and I’m glad it has.”
It is understood that earlier in the week organisers were told the cost could be reduced to £400.
In an initial letter the council told them that events wishing to use a route which requires planters to be moved – including the much-loved outing which marks its 77th year this year – then “costs for the work would be at the expense of that organiser”.
The Association of Hackney Carriage Drivers of the City of Edinburgh hit out in response, saying despite efforts to uplift the spirits of vulnerable children, “bureaucratic hurdles erected by the council” threatened to “undermine altruistic endeavours”.
The tradition sees the capital’s cabbies treat local youngsters with special needs, life-limiting conditions and terminal illnesses to a fun day out parading through the city in their balloon-clad taxis, soaking spectators with water pistols.
Originally the convoy, bound for Musselburgh for an ice cream stop and then East Lothian, travelled along Princes Street and Regent Road.
However amid tram works the procession was directed along the Royal Mile, and this became the established route for the event. It was also a convenient place to drop off the Lord Provost en route.
The planters were first installed in 2020 as part of a range of measures to make it easier and safer for people to walk, wheel and cycle during the pandemic, although the council had previously agreed to permanently close the High Street to traffic between North Bridge and St Mary’s Street.
Cllr Day said: “The taxi outing is a highlight every year for the children, drivers and public who love the fun spectacle – and the possibility of getting soaked! – as the cabs and young people travel through Edinburgh.
“It’s an unforgettable day out which lives long in the memories of all the children taking part so I asked officers to waive any fees that may be incurred for the removal of the planters, I’m pleased to say this has now been resolved.
“We recognise how important this annual charity event is for both the young people who take part and the drivers so I’m delighted that they’ll now be able to travel down the Royal Mile.”
The mother of a boy on a bicycle chased by a cabbie after being in collision with his private hire vehicle has told how her son required surgery for a broken arm.
Leah Pond says Alfie, 11, hit a ditch and came off his bike after the driver chased him along Pound Gardens, in Norton, Stoke-on-Trent.
He broke his arm and sustained several cuts, scrapes and bruises.
She says the PHV had been reversing on ‘the wrong side’ around a corner in Pound Gardens when Alfie collided with the back of the cab.
A witness told StokeonTrentLive that the vehicle 'was reversing up the hill in a blind spot' caused by a hedge when the collision occurred – although this claim contradicts a police statement which stated the car was stationary.
Leah said Alfie stopped to apologise to the driver. But she added: “The driver jumped out and grabbed hold of him. Alfie managed to get himself free and rode off.
"The taxi driver chased him, which resulted in Alfie hitting a ditch and breaking his arm. He has cuts, scrapes and bruises all over him.”
The taxi driver then got back in his cab and drove off, according to witnesses and a police statement.
Alfie was taken to hospital and received further treatment at the Royal Stoke University Hospital on Thursday 9 May, when he was placed under anaesthetic and had the broken bone readjusted.
Leah added: “As the taxi driver was chasing him, these adults were shouting ‘leave him alone’. If that taxi driver had caught up to Alfie and got hold of him, what was he going to do to him?”
Another witness, told StokeonTrentLive: “The taxi was reversing up the hill in a blind spot at the top of the street. You can’t see anything around that corner, because there’s a hedge in the way.
“The lad went into the back of the car, and stopped to apologise. But the taxi driver got out of the car and started chasing him down the street. He was really scared, the little lad.”
Leah added: “He was shouting abuse at Alfie. Being 11 years old, and having a grown adult chasing him, he was scared, so he has shot off.
“Even if he had come back and checked Alfie was alright, that would have been a different matter, but he’s just got into his taxi and left.”
The driver was described as black, of medium height, bald, wearing a black T-shirt, cream shorts and glasses.
A Staffordshire Police spokesperson said: “We were called at 6.50pm on Tuesday 7 May, to reports a taxi driver chased a boy who had collided with the back of his stationary car.
"The collision happened between 6.35pm and 6.45pm in Pinfold Avenue. The driver drove off after he chased the boy.
"We’re keen to speak to anyone who saw what happened or those with any CCTV, dashcam or doorbell footage from the area at the time.”
Anyone with information is asked to call Staffordshire Police on 101, quoting 581 of May 7, or by using Live Chat on the force's website. Alternatively, contact Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555111.
Source: https://www.stokesentinel.co.uk/news/stoke-on-trent-news/mums-fury-alfie-11-breaks-9279585
A private hire firm fed up with the number of roadworks in Stafford town centre has sent a formal complaint to the Government - branding the county council 'totally and utterly incompetent'.
StokeonTrentLive reports that three major routes into Stafford have been affected by roadworks which has led to gridlock, hundreds of lost bookings each week, and lengthier journeys for customers.
Now Aerobrights has slammed Staffordshire County Council's highways department for its handling of the situation which is affecting routes including the A449 Wolverhampton Road and Chell Road in the town centre.
It has submitted a letter of complaint to Transport Minister Mark Harper and Stafford MP Theo Clarke, saying the roadworks have been 'poorly planned' and allowed to go on for weeks and months longer than necessary.
It means self-employed drivers are refusing to work at peak times because of the traffic issues.
Driver Bill Armstrong says it took him an hour to complete a round trip from Staffordshire Technology Park to Stafford Station on May 2.
He added: "It's complete gridlock. When we had the big motorway closure it took 30 minutes to get from the station to Tesco to pick somebody up.
"It's losing us as much as 200 to 400 jobs a week and drivers are paid by the job, so it's really affecting their income.
"You can't earn extra money while you're sitting there with the engine running, wasting fuel. The pollution is going to be astronomical.
"There's no management of the roadworks and no incentive for people to get the job done quickly - usually you see one person working and six standing around on their phones or watching.
"Chell Road is officially going to take nine months but it never needed doing from the start.
"What is really required is an eastern bypass - that has been needed for 50 years.
"In the winter you can get three motorway snarl-ups a week and Stafford grinds to a halt every single time."
Fellow cabbie Graeme Jenkins said: "There does not seem to be a plan to cope for the normal rush-hour traffic from 3pm onwards. Add to that extraordinary events like the M6 being closed and you have pandemonium with every side road blocked, taking hours to get through Stafford.
"What is this doing to the commercial life of Stafford, its future, reputation and pollution and where is the planning and support? This is an unbearable set of circumstances for people living and working in Stafford.
"Why is one job allowed to start before the first is finished and why does every job run over its time? Why are subsidiary works allowed to start when there is enough traffic disruption already?
"This is just poor management. There does not seem to be any traffic management around the supporting roads to help ease the overall problem.
"I meet all spectrums of the Stafford population and they are all totally disgusted with the town management - the devastation of the town centre, which I understand is a national problem, but mainly the extensive ongoing roadworks for a cycle lane nobody seems to want.
"They would prefer the money spent on giving us back the town centre, lighted properly, with character."
Staffordshire County Council says the works on the A449 Wolverhampton Road works are for 'essential repairs'. Housing developer Taylor Wimpey is behind the roadworks at Beaconsided.
Councillor Mark Deaville, cabinet member for strategic highways, said: “I fully understand the frustration these road improvements are causing and apologise for the inconvenience to drivers. Our residents have told us that the quality of Staffordshire’s roads is a priority to them, as it is to us.
"Unfortunately, carrying out these works often causes delays, for which we are very sorry, but it is essential we fix our roads in a timely manner.
"We always review how we could better manage works in the future. The main works around the town are seeing over £16 million investment in the town’s road network, bringing long-term and lasting improvements for years to come and unfortunately in this case need to be carried out now due to funding and planning requirements.”
The council has launched two surveys – one aimed at the travelling public, and one aimed at taxi drivers - both drivers who are licensed by Warrington Borough Council, and drivers who are licensed by other local authorities.
The feedback gathered through the surveys will help shape the council's future policy on taxi licensing, taking into account the specific needs of our community.
Warrington Borough Council Chief Executive, Prof Steven Broomhead MBE, said: “We understand the importance of reliable and accessible taxi services for residents and visitors alike.
“We are currently looking at reviewing our taxi policy, which helps to set local standards on provision.
"This survey will provide us with invaluable insights from both taxi drivers and the public, allowing us to develop a comprehensive policy that balances nationally recommended standards with local requirements.
“By taking part in this survey, you have a chance to directly influence the development of Warrington's future taxi policy. Together, we can ensure we continue to provide safe, reliable, and efficient taxi services for everyone.”
What are we looking for?
We want to hear your thoughts on a variety of topics, including:
• Availability of taxis
• Accessibility
• Safety/CCTV
• Applying for a taxi driver’s licence
How can you get involved?
• The survey for the public is available at smartsurvey.co.uk/s/wbctaxigeneralpublic
• The survey for taxi drivers is available at smartsurvey.co.uk/s/wbctaxidriver/
The survey should take no longer than 10 minutes to complete and is open until Friday 24 May 2024 at 5pm.
More information about taxi licensing is available at warrington.gov.uk/taxi
Source: https://www.warrington.gov.uk/news/have-your-say-taxis
A taxi driver who completed deliveries for the NHS during the height of the Covid pandemic has been jailed for his role in a major heroin and cocaine ring.
LancsLive reports that in court, the family of Kevin Rimmer could be heard gasping "oh my God" as the 57-year-old was jailed.
On the side, he had been acting as a courier for the conspiracy led by two brothers, which involved the trafficking of hundreds of kilograms of class A drugs worth millions of pounds across the country.
Rimmer's trips, supposedly for the NHS, were used as cover for transporting drugs and cash in case he was stopped by the police amid lockdown restrictions.
A court heard the defendant, whose son was a promising Everton Academy footballer, was also responsible for storing heroin and cocaine and "handled large quantities of cash" - up to £100,000 worth - and "was responsible for monitoring stock levels".
The brothers who led the gang, Vincent and Francis Coggins, plotted a ruthless vendetta of violence after a raid on their stash house by rival gangsters saw them lose in the region of £1million of illicit substances.
Francis Coggins remains on the run, while his 58-year-old brother and several other men have been jailed.
Rimmer was also jailed for 16 years after admitting two counts of conspiracy to supply heroin and conspiracy to supply cocaine, as well as possession of heroin in relation to a small quantity of the class A drug which was seized upon his arrest.
The sentencing at Liverpool Crown Court, which happened in October 2022, can only now be reported because of a media blackout imposed due to the series of other trials.
Alex Leach KC, prosecuting, said Rimmer, a former postman, was courier for the operation, and regularly stored heroin and cocaine.
However, the court had heard how Rimmer, from Huyton, Merseyside, had acted as carer to his 87-year-old mum at the time.
Andrew Alty, defending, said Rimmer was a dad to four children, including 17-year-old twins, was "somebody who had clearly worked hard throughout his life" and "at all times was acting under the direction of others".
Mr Alty said: "This is going to be a horrendous time for him. His life is effectively over now."
Source: https://www.lancs.live/news/lancashire-news/oh-god-family-members-dumbfounded-29156864
Taxi drivers shared concerns at the cost of buying new cars as Huntingdonshire District Council sets new minimum emission standards
In the early hours of Sunday, May 21, 2023, Farid Cheheb was driving his taxi when he struck 44-year-old Shane Scannell on South Street, Epsom.
A private hire driver is more than £200 out of pocket after refusing to let an assistance dogs ride in his cab.
A General Motors autonomous car company has settled a lawsuit for millions with a woman who was hit by one of its self-driving taxis and dragged along a San Francisco street last year.
Ibraheem Khan, 27, pounced on Abdelella Yousif in Glasgow’s St George’s Cross on November 13, 2022.
Edinburgh taxi drivers will no longer be charged by the council to use The Royal Mile on their annual outing.
The mother of a boy chased by a cabbie after being in collision with his PHV on a bicycle has told how her son required surgery for a broken arm.
A taxi firm fed up with the number of roadworks in a town centre has sent a formal complaint to the Government - branding the county council 'totally and utterly incompetent'.
Warrington BC has launched two surveys – one for the public, and one for cabbies - both drivers licensed by Warrington BC, and drivers who are licensed by other local authorities.
A taxi driver who completed deliveries for the NHS during the height of the Covid pandemic has been jailed for his role in a major heroin and cocaine ring.