A man was refused a licence to drive a private hire car after being convicted of assault when he banged a friends’ head against a table in a pub.
The Glasgow Times reports that Glasgow councillors decided not to grant the new licence to Efrem Gebrekristos at a meeting on 3 November.
Police had objected to Mr Gebrekristos obtaining the licence in light of his criminal record.
A Police Scotland Sergeant told the licensing and regulatory committee that Mr Gebrekristos was not a fit and proper person to hold a licence.
The Sergeant described how he put a man in a chokehold and slammed his head across a table in a pub at closing time in 2018, it is understood.
He was sentenced to carry out unpaid work as part of a community payback order.
An agent representing Mr Gebrekristos told councillors his client had got into an argument that escalated with a friend.
He said it “wasn’t a random attack on a random individual.”
Pointing out how Mr Gebrekristos was surviving on universal credit benefit, he said his client realises it is a “serious matter” and there have been no issues with the police since.
Committee chair, councillor Alex Wilson, expressed concern that if Mr Gebrekristos could do that to someone he knows there would be the potential to use violence against a member of the public.
After considering the case in private councillors were split on whether to block his licence application.
Councillor Wilson seconded by Councillor Leodhas Massie voted to refuse the application while Councillor Hanif Raja, seconded by Councillor Eunis Jassemi moved that the application be granted for one year with a warning issued over future conduct.
Councillor Wilson had the final deciding vote so the application was refused.
An Edinburgh man has branded the Capital cars taxi rank at Edinburgh Airport ‘a shambles’ after he battled for just under an hour to secure a cab.
EdinburghLive reports that Ian, 31, and Kirstyn Williamson, 34, had been down south at a wedding and flew back to the Scottish capital late on Sunday October 29 after their flight was delayed.
But after a long day travelling, the couple were met with a chaotic taxi queue at the official rank.
Ian says that the experience of getting a taxi is confusing and that there are no clear signs telling you the best practise for booking a cab.
The pair stood in a queue for a considerable amount of time and Ian says that whenever they asked for advice or updates their requests were met with derision by those working the taxi rank.
After a wait of just under an hour, Ian and Kirstyn finally got their taxi, which they described as expensive, but the couple claimed that there was a queue of around 200 people by the time they left the airport.
“After we landed back in Edinburgh we headed for the main taxi rank as that would be the quickest option for getting back," Ian said.
“We weren't aware that the situation regarding taxis had changed so I went to the left where the black cabs would have sat previously and my wife went to the right and joined the queue that was forming for the private hires.
"It soon became apparent that taxis would only appear when ordered at the screens but this isn't advertised at all and a lot of people were in the same boat as us - unaware and very frustrated at the wait that we realised we'd be facing.
“There was one person ordering taxis for everyone and three people calling out names when the taxis arrived. There are three screens which can be used to order by the looks of things so I’m not sure why more of them weren't being used as the queue was only getting bigger and people were obviously getting more annoyed!
“There were people asking if taxis could be picked up anywhere else and the staff were pretty unhelpful/rude with their responses although I understand they were under a lot of pressure.
"We both tried to order separate taxis via different operators while we were in the queue, but demand was ‘higher than anticipated’ and we weren't able to get one, so we had no choice but to wait in the queue.
“We could see some black cabs leaving the drop off zone, but we didn't want to take the risk of moving over there and there not being any available, leaving us to rejoin the back of the queue.
"We got to the front of the queue around 1.10am and were told it would be an eight minute wait for a taxi.
“Once your taxi has been ordered, you go into the ‘waiting area’ which is just everyone who has ordered a taxi waiting around for their name to be called as their taxi arrives - basically a bunch of people getting more and more annoyed, including myself!
"The whole time we were in the queue it was only getting bigger and when our taxi arrived at 1.22am, 57 minutes after we got off the flight, the queue was the biggest it had been and I reckon there was easily at least 200 people waiting on taxis.
“Don't get me started on the price of the taxis as that's a joke as well! There needs to be a better way of getting folk to their destination in the early hours.
“I'm aware Capital has bought out exclusive use of the airport taxi rank but it is an absolute shambles and not an enjoyable experience in the slightest.”
A spokesperson for Capital Cars said: “Our system shows that we were experiencing a high volume of bookings at around 12.30am on Monday.
"Unfortunately we cannot control delays and when they happen we are sometimes left with added pressure on our services.
“We do apologise for the couple having to wait in the queue. From the time their booking was processed a taxi arrived within ten minutes.”
Source: https://www.edinburghlive.co.uk/news/edinburgh-news/edinburgh-couple-fume-having-wait-28018052
Taxi customers across Northern Ireland could be set to see an increase in fares from next week as Stormont finalises its review into prices.
BelfastLive reports that the Department for Infrastructure launched a public consultation last year on potentially increasing the maximum fare structure that taxi companies can operate under.
While the consultation closed last October, the lack of an Executive and Infrastructure Minister has delayed a decision on the fare rise.
Fuel costs, depot fees and labour cost increases have led to calls from taxi companies to increase the maximum fare structure.
The public consultation saw a proposed price increase in the cost per live mile to £1.90, which would be an increase of almost 12%.
However, as part of the consultation, DfI also included an option for an even higher increase to £1.96 per live mile, which represents a 15% increase.
In a statement, the Department said it expects to come to a final decision on the proposed increases next week.
“A 2022 public consultation on further increasing the maximum fare structure opened on 12 August 2022 for eight weeks and closed on 7 October 2022.
“The public consultation addressed issues such as increases in fuel, vehicle maintenance/operating costs, depot fees and different fare bands for evening/weekends.
A decision on this taxi fare review was not taken prior to the Minister leaving office in October 2022.
“Under the Northern Ireland (Executive Formation etc) Act 2022 (EF Act), a decision to potentially increase taxi fares was considered in March 2023.
“In May 2023 a further desktop review was completed to take account of costs at that time ( including fluctuating fuel costs and inflationary increases to vehicle operating costs).
“A decision was taken in June by the then Permanent Secretary to defer the issue and revisit it in the Autumn.
"The Autumn review has been completed and we expect to be able to confirm the decision arising from the outcome of that review next week.”
Source: https://www.belfastlive.co.uk/news/northern-ireland/ni-taxi-fares-could-set-28037714
Slough Borough Council has agreed a relaxation of taxi licensing restrictions in an effort to aid the town’s ailing private hire industry.
The current policy was created to improve the quality of the private hire and hackney carriage fleet, with an emphasis placed on licensing vehicles that emit fewer emissions in line with the council’s commitment to improve air quality in Slough.
However, this policy has greatly reduced the number of new private hire vehicle licences granted and has been a significant barrier to entering the licensed trade for new driver applicants.
The cost-of-living crisis has further exacerbated the problem. The licensed trade has suffered due to lost income, a decline in Slough’s night-time economy, vehicle supply issues and rising costs of both fuel and vehicles.
Since 2018, there has been an approximately 50% reduction in the number of private hire vehicles licensed by the council.
The current fleet of licensed vehicles has been reviewed and it has been decided that meeting the ULEV vehicle standard by 31 December 2025 is not achievable and would place an unreasonable financial burden on the licensed trade.
Additionally, the requirement to only license a vehicle that is less than three years' old is cost prohibitive.
At a Licensing Committee meeting on Monday 30 October, councillors resolved to delay a ban on licensing new diesel vehicles until 1st January 2026 and petrol vehicles until 1st January 2027.
A further measure meant vehicles would need to be less than five years old when first licensed.
Taxis operating in Tonbridge and Malling will have to take card payments and will be barred from refusing to take passengers on short journeys as part of a package of changes approved by councillors.
The updates to the borough’s private hire and hackney carriage policy will mean drivers refusing to take passengers or charging more than shown on the in-cab meter will be liable to receive penalty points on their taxi licence and a two-week suspension.
More than 80 responses to a consultation, including feedback from local taxi drivers, helped inform the new regulations.
A recommendation to make CCTV mandatory in every taxi was deferred for further research to be undertaken.
Des Keers, Tonbridge and Malling Borough Council’s Cabinet Member for Community Services, said: "We thank everyone who took part in this consultation as the comments we received were very constructive.
"The updated regulations are testament to our commitment to enhancing the taxi service in Tonbridge and Malling and will ensure our local taxi fleet delivers for residents and visitors."
The changes to the policy come into effect on 1 December 2023.
Taxi drivers across the Fylde Coast are set to receive a briefing note aimed at clearing up confusion over out-of-area private hire vehicles.
Police are appealing to find a taxi driver who may have "vital clues" about the murder of Ryan Passey seven years ago since he was fatally stabbed in a Stourbridge nightclub.
A joint operation by Hull City Council, Wolverhampton Council, and Humberside Police has uncovered a number of safety issues with taxis operating in the city.
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.