A Stansted drivers' union has said they plan to take action against what they call a "greedy" operator following a rise in its commission charges.
According to EssexLive, drivers for StreetCars Stansted, who described themselves as "the leading taxi firm", say they have effectively taken a pay cut when the company announced in June it was increasing its commission charges from 40 to 45.5 per cent.
Drivers have indicated they will protest StreetCars' commission charge changes.
The GMB union, which represents drivers at Stansted Airport's official car service operator, says its members are already working "excessive hours" and were struggling to make ends meet.
A GMB member and driver said: "It is tough for us, 45.5 per cent commission for every job makes it hard to earn a living.
"We have no alternative but to work more than ten hours, but that is if the jobs are there.
"When the airport is quieter it's quite possible that drivers cannot earn the equivalent of the National Minimum Wage. Car insurance, maintenance costs, fuel, and for some drivers car rental, must all be paid regardless of how little we have earnt.”
Steve Garelick, GMB London Region Officer, said: "Like many workers on low pay struggling to cope with living costs, StreetCars drivers are being crushed by these ‘greedy’ charges.
"45.5 per cent is an extortionate commission rate in comparison to other operators which take considerably lower commission.
"Some drivers are working excessive hours to make a living, meaning their health and safety and that of passengers is at risk, this is a concern for passengers and GMB.
“Manchester Airports Group officials seem to have little power to ensure that StreetCars is a fair and law-abiding employer therefore on the face of it, Streetcars can impose these high rates without any backlash from MAG or any other body.
"Our members have had enough and will take action.”
Source: https://www.essexlive.news/news/essex-news/stansted-drivers-taking-action-against-8666051
A man from Kilkenny has been ordered by Lisburn Magistrates' Court to pay £520 in fines and compensation after he admitted assaulting a taxi driver, damaging his vehicle, and making off without paying.
Northern Ireland World reports that Shane Leahy, 22, appeared before Lisburn Magistrates Court on Thursday, August 10, 2023, charged with criminal damage, common assault, and making off without paying.
The court heard that on Friday, April 28, 2023 at 1am, police attended Applegreen service station in Lisburn and spoke with a taxi driver, who was the injured party.
He reported that two males were being transported to the Premier Inn in Lisburn. During the journey, one of the males was sick in the car.
The driver said they would have to pay to have it cleaned and they refused.
The males, one of whom was the defendant, then kicked and hit the vehicle. The police stated that they had observed several marks on the vehicle.
The injured party also alleged he had been grabbed by the tie and lanyard.
The police attended the Premier Inn in Lisburn and arrested the defendant, as well as the second male, who has already been sentenced,
Both men were conveyed to Musgrave Custody Suite and made no comment during interview.
District Judge Rosie Watters imposed a fine of £100 on each of the three charges.
She also ordered the defendant to pay £100 in compensation on the charge of common assault, and £105 for the criminal damage and making off without paying charges.
Ms Watters also imposed an offender’s levy of £15, bringing the total to £520.
Private hire drivers in Leicester have been left angry and confused after signs were put up at Leicester Railway Station seemingly banning them from entering its drop off and pick up point.
LeicestershireLive reports that the signs were installed last month by the station operator East Midlands Railway (EMR) which said 'no private hire vehicles' could enter the taxi rank accessed from Station Street and many were handed fines for doing so.
The drivers have said they had never been stopped from going into the station before and the signs have had a "huge effect" on recent business.
EMR has since admitted the signs were "misleading" but confirmed that the vehicle access rules have not changed and all taxis are entitled to drop off and pick up inside the rank.
Karmjit Sahota, 50, from Birstall has worked for local taxi service Swift Fox Cabs for the last 25 years and was one of the drivers who was handed a ticket.
He alleges he was stopped and given a £70 parking fine on Wednesday July 26 by a warden after he entered the station to drop off passengers.
He claims the warden pointed to the 'no private hire vehicles' sign after he asked what the fine was for. But the ticket issued to Mr Sahota, seen by LeicestershireLive, said the issuing reason was because he was 'causing an obstruction'.
He said: "This has been ridiculous, our company [Swift Fox Cabs] has the contract to take railway drivers to stations and we have done so for years, but then suddenly we weren't allowed in the station at all.
"I have appealed the ticket and have asked them to provide me evidence with what I have actually done wrong, as I didn't park.
"Multiple drivers have told me they got fined for going into the station early last week and I can understand if you actually park in the disabled space, you deserve to be fined. But I didn't do anything wrong, I just went into the one way system.
"I've been a private hire driver in the city for nearly 30 years and never had a problem before. It's crazy."
Muhamed Arif Cassam, a fellow private hire driver from Leicester, added the signs have caused "significant disruption".
He said: "This has caused real trouble for the people of Leicester. With all this rain we have had recently, we were scared about dropping people off close to the station but passengers kept asking us can't you drop me any closer?
"If Station Street was really busy, we would have to park so far away or stop on the double yellow lines, which is extremely dangerous.
"Or what about when we had disabled passengers - what were we supposed to do there? The station is one of the most common drop off points and it has really affected business. I really can't understand any of it, it is not fair."
The signs have since been taken down, according to local taxi drivers, and private hire vehicles have started to re-enter the station. Drivers can be fined for improperly using the taxi rank by committing offences which include staying for more than 20 minutes or for parking incorrectly in a disabled bay.
A spokesperson for EMR said in response to the drivers: "We can confirm that vehicle access to Leicester Railway station hasn’t changed, however we are aware that signage advising restrictions for private hire vehicles is misleading and we are making the necessary changes to ensure this is clearer for permit holders and private vehicles who access the station.”
EMR also told LeicestershireLive it could not confirm whether all the fined drivers would have fines rescinded or refunds paid.
The rail company did clarify that all those who were fined can appeal the tickets and the details of how to do so are on the back of the ticket. If a ticket was issued by the Rail Pay app, the appeal process is on the bottom of the printout, EMR added.
Source: https://www.leicestermercury.co.uk/news/leicester-news/taxi-drivers-fume-after-being-8653646
A private hire vehicle was seized in Bradford over the weekend.
According to the Telegraph and Argus, police said the driver of the vehicle was stopped for not wearing a seatbelt on Charterhouse Road, Idle, on Saturday August 12.
They said they then discovered the vehicle was not registered to any keeper and had not been taxed since April.
The Steerside Enforcement Team tweeted: "A private hire vehicle was stopped as the driver was not wearing a seatbelt with no passenger.
"The vehicle was not registered to any keeper and had no VEL since April 2023.
"Despite protests from the owner, the vehicle was seized on behalf of the DVLA."
Source: https://www.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk/news/23720560.private-hire-vehicle-seized-police-road-idle/
A taxi driver aiming to save lives by kitting his car out with a defibrillator has now set his sights on doing the same for his local pub.
The Ross-shire Journal reports that David Purvis, who has been trading under the name DP Taxis since 2015, serves the areas of Tain and Dornoch using his two vehicles – a taxi and an eight seater private hire minibus.
Taking inspiration from the events of Euro 2020, the 53-year-old from Fearn has been crowdfunding to enable the purchase of the vital life-saving equipment.
Mr Purvis said: "I had been pondering the idea for a while. I first had the idea when watching football the day Christian Eriksen collapsed on the field and I thought that having a defibrillator in the car would be a good idea.
"I could be flagged down at any point in the case of an emergency as my vehicles are on the road seven days a week for 10-12 hours a day sometimes."
Originally setting out to raise a sum of £520, Mr Purvis watched in amazement as donations exceeded £630, allowing him to purchase two defibrillators – one for each of his vehicles.
But having already raised the funds he needed, he was then approached by Keiran's Legacy, an Elgin-based charity which raises money to provide defibrillators to local communities in the north.
After hearing about the project, the charity generously agreed to donate a mobile AED (automated external defibrillator) to be installed in one of Mr Purvis' cars.
Mr Purvis says the donation has now allowed him to purchase a third AED, which he plans to donate to his local pub – the Star Inn in Tain.
Scott Crombie, who co-owns the Star Inn with Caroline Henderson, said: "Its something Caroline and I believe should be common place in most businesses, especially a pub such as ours where the majority of our patrons are from an older generation.
"We were delighted when David came up with the idea and we were only happy to contribute to his crowdfunding page. We were humbled to be asked to have one placed in the Star and it was an easy decision to accept.
"Better to have it and not need it, than to need it and not have one. It will be available to the general public outside the pub too, of course."
A local councillor has sparked a debate on passenger safety after claiming that using locally licensed taxis is safer than hailing an Uber.
A taxi driver was attacked and subjected to racist abuse after two brothers refused to pay him up front.
Christopher Hilling, 64, admitted to engaging a child in sexual activity at Chelmsford Crown Court on Thursday 8 August.
Abdigani Ebrahim, 38, of Grangetown, admitted charges of affray and criminal damage following the incident in Northcote Street, Roath, last July.
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.