Taxi marshals will once again be on the streets of Beverley and Bridlington on key dates during Christmas, making sure people get home safely.
The Bridlington Echo reports that East Riding of Yorkshire Council's licensing team will be providing highly visible taxi marshals who will be working to ensure those celebrating Christmas and New Year get home safely.
The licensed marshals will operate in Beverley Saturday Market on Friday, 22 December from 8pm until 2am; Boxing Day from 8pm until 1am; and on New Year’s Eve from 10pm until 2am.
They will also be in Bridlington on Boxing Day from 8pm until 1am, to help ensure people leave the town centres safely, make sure there are orderly queues and making sure people are getting into a licensed vehicle.
Councillor Leo Hammond said: “Over recent years, the taxi marshals have offered a very useful service for our residents, and helped keep people safe.
"I am delighted that they will be back again this year, and I urge our Christmas revellers to make use of them.”
Source: https://bridlingtonecho.co.uk/taxi-marshals-on-streets-of-bridlington-during-the-festive-season/
Angus taxi operators will get a fares increase after councillors voted overwhelmingly to bring in new rates.
The Courier reports that it will see the price of a basic daytime fare for a short journey jump by around 30p.
A decision on the fares increase was delayed last month after the council forgot to invite operators to a meeting to discuss the issue.
But civic licensing councillors have since met to consider a range of options and several operators took the chance to state their case for an increase.
The committee eventually voted 10-1 to back the proposal put forward by Neil Gibson of Lorimer Cabs in Montrose.
He suggested increases of between 7% and 10% for fares covering the first mile.
The main Angus tariffs are:
Monday to Friday 6am to 6pm: £4.03 for first mile, £6.31 (two miles), £8.58 (three miles) rising to £35.91 (15 miles)
Nights and weekends: £4.97 (first mile), £7.55 (two miles), £10.14 (three miles) rising to £41.13 (15 miles).
Under the agreed proposal, the maximum fares will rise to £4.33 and £5.45 as the starting point for the two tariffs.
There are different rates for Christmas and New Year.
The new charge for those will be from £6.93 for the first mile.
But the new rates have to be publicised first so they will not be brought in for this festive season.
Mr Gibson said there needs to be better dialogue between the council and cabbies. “I understand what I need to run my business,” he said.
“There should be interaction with the council and at the moment there is none.”
Other operators also spoke in favour of an increase. Mitch Murray of Forfar Taxi Company said the last review was 18 months ago.
“It’s not a big increase (being proposed) but if we miss one then three years is a long time for us to go without one.”
And Wendy Foreman of GW Taxis in Forfar said the trade is facing spiralling costs. “I feel we really need it,” she said. “We haven’t had an increase for a while.
“Diesel and petrol fluctuate but if they go up we’re not like a shop, we can’t just put our prices up. And insurance has rocketed through the roof, it’s absolutely crazy.”
Civic licensing convener George Meechan was the lone voice in support of fares staying the same. He said the council had received eight representations in favour of the status quo.
One Arbroath taxi operator said any increase would be a “fatal blow” to their business.
“If eight say no and three say aye then the noes have it for me, that’s democracy,” he said.
Source: https://www.thecourier.co.uk/?post_type=fp&p=4831526
A Plymouth man who attempted to incite a teenager into a sexual act when she was a passenger in his taxi has been given a 10-year Sexual Harm Prevention Order.
Dale Purchase, 29, appeared before Plymouth Magistrates’ Court on Monday December 4, after being found guilty of harassment on Friday 3 November.
Purchase was given an 18-week prison sentence, suspended for 24 months, and received a restraining order banning him from contacting the victim.
Sergeant Tom Ottley of Devon and Cornwall Police said: “We take the fear of violence against women and girls very seriously and work tirelessly to ensure we are bringing people to justice while safeguarding victims.
“Despite this case not being a typical incident of harassment, the importance of women and girls feeling safe in our society cannot, and should not, be understated.
"I would like to commend the victim for her engagement with our officers, who have been tenacious in their pursuit of justice.
“The Sexual Harm Protection Order comes with a number of stringent prohibitions, which are aimed to prevent further offending and protect vulnerable people from harm.
“This is further proof that Devon and Cornwall Police will use all available measures to safeguard our communities and protect the vulnerable.”
Source: https://news.devon-cornwall.police.uk/news-article/09aba048-c792-ee11-9d5d-6045bdd24049
Bradford drivers can get up to £10,000 in funding for fully electric licensed private hire vehicles or hackney carriages.
The Telegraph and Argus reports that Bradford Council has unlocked £4.1 million, made available through the Clean Air Taxi Fund Programme to make the district’s taxi fleet more green.
Bradford district is already home to the cleanest fleet in the country, according to the council, with 99 per cent of the 4,800 licensed taxi and private hire trade meeting the Bradford CAZ standard.
Now further funding is open to applicants who wish to purchase or take out a long-term lease (minimum two years' lease at the time the grant agreement is signed and returned) for a fully electric vehicle.
It comes after a recent trade survey in Bradford district suggested more than two thirds of the respondents are thinking about driving a fully electric hackney carriage or private hire vehicle.
Cllr Sarah Ferriby, Bradford Council’s Executive Member for Healthy People and Places, said: “We recognise that there is a desire from the taxi trade to switch to fully electric vehicles.
"We want to further support the taxi trade by offering up to £10,000 per vehicle in grant funding to assist proprietors with the running costs of a fully electric hackney carriage or private hire vehicle.
"This is the highest grant of this type in the UK.”
The application process is now live for Bradford licensed vehicle proprietors.
The grant will be increased for non-wheelchair accessible vehicles from £6,000 over two years to up to £10,000 over two years.
This is in line with the Hackney Carriage and Wheelchair Accessible Private Hire Vehicle EV grants.
Proprietors who have already upgraded to other compliant vehicle types (such as petrol/electric hybrid) can apply for a top-up grant if they choose to go fully electric.
The grant funding will be allocated on a first come first served basis.
Anyone who is unsure if they are entitled to grants or exemptions of any type can call the Council's CAZ team on 01274 435533. The line is open Monday to Thursday, 8.30am to 5pm and Friday, 8.30am to 4.30pm.
The driver must be a proprietor of a licensed vehicle with Bradford Council, regardless of where they live.
The grant is for money towards running costs of a fully electric vehicle licensed with Bradford Council.
The grant can be used towards any costs including payment of EV lease instalments, EV finance or loan instalments, the cost of electricity and/or charging infrastructure, vehicle maintenance, licence costs etc.
Current taxi vehicles must be owned and not leased to be eligible for the fully electric vehicle grant.
An unlicensed private hire driver, who was found to be illegally plying for hire in Reading, has been hit with financial penalties and penalty points on his licence.
According to the Reading Chronicle, Adeel Soomro, 40, from Reading, was found to be operating a private hire vehicle without a licence, in a controlled district, and without the correct insurance.
On 8 April 2023, Mr Soomro parked in a disabled bay on Oxford Road, an area known to council licensing officers for drivers illegally plying for hire. He was approached by officers and agreed to take them to Tilehurst for £15 without a prior booking.
At Reading Magistrates Court on 10 November 2023, Mr Soomro was found guilty of plying for hire, and driving without insurance.
He was ordered to pay a total of £960 in financial penalties and eight penalty points added to Mr Soomro’s driving licence.
Lead Councillor for Climate Strategy and Transport Cllr John Ennis said: “This is another positive result for the council’s licensing team, who work hard to ensure regulations are in force to protect Reading’s travelling public.
“Reading Borough Council will look to prosecute any driver caught Plying for Hire.
"Such illegal activity will not be tolerated, and our team of licensing officers will continue to maintain their vigilant enforcement activities.”
French taxi drivers are calling for government compensation after suffering significant revenue losses during the Paris Olympics.
Coventry city centre has introduced a new taxi marshal service aimed at improving safety and efficiency for late-night revellers.
A court heard harrowing details of the moment a drink-driving uninsured motorist killed three people in a 90mph crash.
The Taxi Charity for Military Veterans was amongst the thousands who enjoyed the Battle Proms at Highclere Castle on 3 August.
Swindon residents could be facing a hike in taxi fares from October after councillors gave the green light to a £1 increase in the standard fare minimum charge.
Ricky Harold, a 20-year veteran of the town’s taxi trade, was parked in a lay-by when his vehicle was struck from behind by a black Audi A2.
Chinese automotive giant Geely has deepened its commitment to the UK electric vehicle market with a £120m cash injection into London Electric Vehicle Company (LEVC).
North Tyneside Council is facing a backlash over plans to increase taxi fares by 6.3%.
Nazim Asmal preyed on his victims after nights out in Preston and Darwen, driving them to secluded spots before carrying out horrific sexual assaults.
Newcastle is set to see a surge in pink taxis driven by women as part of a new initiative aimed at improving passenger safety.
An unlicensed taxi driver who picked up two vulnerable women in Aberdare has been ordered to pay nearly £1,500 in fines and costs.
Cleethorpes taxi drivers are breathing a sigh of relief after council enforcement officers cracked down on vehicles illegally parked in designated taxi ranks.
A Barry man has avoided jail after launching a drunken attack on a taxi driver who refused him entry to his vehicle.
Jersey’s taxi service is in crisis, with driver numbers plummeting by more than a quarter since 2014, a new report has revealed.
On Wednesday 27 July, more than 300 vulnerable youngsters were taken on an all-expenses paid trip to Southport.
Taxi drivers in the town will be able to charge passengers more following a decision by the borough council on 31 July.
A taxi driver has been sentenced to a community order after admitting causing the death of a pedestrian by driving at excessive speed.
A joint operation by council, police, and DVSA officials has seen three taxis taken off the road in Oldham due to safety concerns.
Taxi drivers licensed by Mid Sussex could soon be forced to accept card payments, following a surge in complaints about cash-only services.
Two men have avoided immediate jail time after a high-speed race left a taxi driver with serious injuries.