Firefighters rushed to the scene of a minibus in flames on a busy road this morning.
The driver, a young boy and his personal assistant were taken to safety unharmed.
The Leigh Journal reports that black minibus taxi was reported to have gone up in flames at around 8.30am this morning (Friday, October 20), near the BP petrol station on Wigan Road in Atherton.
Shocked residents shared images of the fire on social media, and traffic was disrupted as firefighters rushed to the scene.
One fire engine attended and the blaze was quickly put out, with no injuries reported.
A spokesperson for Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service (GMFRS) said: “At just after 8.30am this morning (Friday October 20) the crew from Atherton fire station attended a fire involving a minibus on Wigan Road, Atherton.
Firefighers wearing breathing apparatus used a hose reel to extinguish the fire and worked to make the scene safe. Firefighters were in attendance for around half and hour.”
Source: https://www.leighjournal.co.uk/news/23868205.firefighters-rush-scene-minibus-fire-atherton/
After banishing taxi drivers from having access through bus gates imposed as part of Exeter's controversial new low-traffic neighbourhood (LTN) scheme, Devon County Council (DCC) has finally relented and will allow them entry within the next few weeks.
According to DevonLive, the major U-turn follows a meeting with taxi operators in the city last month in which significant concerns were raised about the safeguarding of vulnerable passengers, some journey fares tripling in price due to long detours and traffic, and drivers being subjected to violence and abuse.
The amendment to exempt taxis and private hire vehicles within the bus gate restrictions of the Heavitree and Whipton Active Streets scheme - which was introduced on August 3 - is due to come into effect on Thursday, November 9. The change will also apply to the Wonford Road bus gate near the LTN area.
The change means that the council will now have to restart a new six-month statutory consultation period, but previous consultation responses will still be considered.
However, it does not change the end of the 18-month window within which the changes must either be removed or made permanent.
Changes were made to the road layout in Heavitree and Whipton to reduce traffic on residential streets, to make it safer for residents and pedestrians and to encourage people to walk and cycle more.
Bus gates were introduced, including Whipton Lane and Ladysmith Road, to enable access for buses, emergency services and certain other exempt classes of vehicle.
Representatives of DCC, Exeter City Council and chair of DCC'S Exeter Highways and Traffic Orders Committee (HATOC) - which brought in the scheme - met with Exeter taxi operators on September 26. It followed a declaration made by Apple Taxis - Exeter's largest PH company - that it was considering axing rides within the Exeter road trial zones due to the impact it was having on the business.
Graham Hockey, general manager of Apple Taxis, has welcomed the amendment to the scheme but says they will continue to campaign for the LTN to be abolished.
He said: "It has been absolutely horrific since the scheme was introduced. We told the council we would be looking at revoking services in the scheme areas if we did not receive a response from them by a certain date and then the meeting was called.
"Today we received an email to say that after our concerns were raised they will allow PHVs and taxis through the bus gates, which is amazing news for us and we don't need to take the action of cutting services now.
"Our concerns were around the safeguarding of vulnerable adults and children who use our services and are not able to access them anymore. For example, to get to and from schools, we have calculated drivers have gone from completing three jobs in a school hour to just one.
"Then there's also the monetary value of fares which have almost doubled and even tripled. The abuse of drivers has continued and is still continuing to this day, and vehicles have been damaged by angry passengers.
"The detours mean drivers have to take longer routes and traffic is being forced onto two main roads. It is affecting all school runs, not just those in the LTN area.
"The council pay for some of those runs so we pointed out that its bill for them will increase due to the changes made. Maybe that was a bit of a turning point.
"Although we welcome the new access we have been granted, our main goal is to have the scheme scrapped. It has been a tough battle for taxi operators. It feels like we are getting somewhere and we will keep going."
Jonathan Kellaway, a member of the Exeter St David's Taxi Association, has also welcomed the change.
He said: "This will help mitigate the negative impact of the LTN on vulnerable children and adults who rely on our services. We look forward to continued dialogue with the highways authority on this and other related issues affecting our trade."
The council says it has acknowledged the impact of the trial scheme on some taxi passengers, and particularly disadvantaged were those with disabilities, including children with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities who rely on taxi journeys to special schools.
To use the bus gates, private hire and hackney carriage vehicles must display the mandatory three bus lane stickers, available from Exeter City Council.
Feedback regarding the amendment to the LTN will be discussed at an upcoming taxi forum meeting on November 21 which representatives from DCC will attend.
An update on the progress of the trial will be given at the next meeting of Exeter HATOC on Monday, October 30.
Source: https://www.devonlive.com/news/devon-news/major-exeter-ltn-u-turn-8843437
A taxi driver from Shipston-on-Stour has had his licence revoked after refusing to take a disabled passenger in a mobility scooter.
The Banbury Guardian reports that Stratford-on-Avon District Council has revoked 69-year-old Mr Parker’s licence following a decision by the council’s licensing panel in March.
The driver had initially appealed the decision but withdrew his appeal before the hearing was due to be heard on October 9.
It comes after a complaint made in January from a member of the public in a mobility scooter, who said that Mr Parker refused to carry him in his hackney carriage vehicle whilst working in Stratford-upon-Avon town centre.
Cllr Lorraine Grocott, environmental and neighbourhood services portfolio at the district council, said: “Under the Equality Act 2010, licensed taxi drivers using accessible vehicles must not discriminate against disabled passengers, and they should also give them assistance when required.
“Actions such as these are inexcusable and certainly not the high standard that we expect from our licensed drivers, who all undergo disability awareness training to ensure they are aware of their legal obligation.”
Mr Parker is no longer a licensed driver with Stratford-on-Avon District Council and has been ordered to pay costs of £3,696 to the district council.
Cllr Chris Mills, licensing panel chairman, said: "We have a duty to ensure all taxi drivers in Stratford district comply with the terms and conditions of our licensing policy, which places paramount importance on the safety of the public.
"Taxi drivers hold a position of trust and have a duty of care, and when drivers fail in this duty, we have no hesitation in revoking their licence."
A private hire driver was pulled over in north Manchester after performing a reckless manoeuvre on an M60 slip road.
The M.E.N. reports that Greater Manchester Police says the private hire vehicle had been driven onto the entry slip road at junction 19, near Heaton Park.
The driver then seemingly changed his mind about where he was going, with the PHV being turned round on the slip road.
He then continued to head in the wrong direction away from the motorway and onto the Rhodes roundabout, between Higher Blackley and Middleton.
Luckily, the driver was able to stop on the roundabout unharmed, despite the risky manoeuvre.
But as he arrived at the motorway, officers from GMP's special constabulary were in place to stop him.
An image shared online by police shows the taxi stopped by officers, with the incident appearing to take place while heavy rain poured on Manchester.
A spokesperson for GMP Higher Blackley and Charlestown wrote on X (formerly Twitter): "The driver of this private hire 'taxi' decided to turn around... on the J19 M60 slip road!
"He then drove the wrong way up the slip road to leave the motorway & get back onto the roundabout where he was greeted by our passing @GMPSpecials patrol.
"Driver reported to the courts."
Falkirk taxi firms are hoping that higher fares over the festive period will entice drivers to work at Christmas and New Year.
According to the Daily Record, a shortage of drivers during the peak time for the trade led to calls from members of the taxi trade to allow them to double the usual £3 tariff for festive journeys.
After a public consultation, the proposals were finally agreed by Falkirk Council's executive on Tuesday 17 October.
Other public holidays will no longer have increased fares, while Christmas and New Year will be subject to a new rate. The new tariff will be £6.00, rather than the usual £3.00 for the first 880 yards, or £3.75 for journeys between 9pm and 6 am.
For every additional 171 yards or 57 seconds, or a combination of time and distance, there is a charge of 20p.
he new “festive” tariff will apply from 9pm on Christmas Eve to 6 am on December 27 and 9pm on December 31 to 6 am on January 3.
Members also agreed a big increase in charges that drivers can make for soilage, which will now be £100, despite concerns that the charge could affect parents travelling with children.
Chief Governance Officer, Colin Moodie, told members that it was important to note that it is "not a mandatory charge" but something that could be exercised with discretion.
He said there was a recognisable difference between an adult being sick in the back of a taxi, "after a long night out", and a child being sick during the day.
But he added that the substantial increase was felt to be necessary by the trade to act as a deterrent, as drivers stand to lose an entire shift if the taxi must stop operating until professionally valeted.
The changes approved by the council were the suggestion of the local Taxi Forum. However, the consultation highlighted that some drivers are unhappy at the prospect of losing extra payment on public holidays.
One said: "Public holidays are generally quieter so the tariff 2 makes up for any lost revenue.
"As for Xmas and new year a higher tariff won't make any more drivers come out and work as we all want to spend time with family like everyone else does at this time of year."
Some drivers were also concerned that it is already difficult to get a £40 soilage fee from passengers.
Source: https://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/scottish-news/falkirk-taxis-christmas-fares-hike-31221917
The crackdown targeted drivers operating across council boundaries to ensure public safety and compliance with regulations.
Lucio Valentino relies on his six-year-old Border Collie, Pixel, to help manage his mental health conditions, including depression and personality disorders.
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.