Addison Lee has announced the acquisition of Green Tomato Cars, a London-based car service that has led the industry in sustainability over the last ten years.
Having now added over 1,000 electric vehicles to its fleet, following its commitment in November 2021 to transition its standard fleet to electric, the partnership will be invaluable in supporting its customers achieve their sustainability and net zero targets.
Addison Lee and Green Tomato Cars have been operating in London for a combined 100 years.
The deal strengthens Addison Lee’s market leading position as the capital’s largest private hire, taxi and same day courier business. It also includes the acquisition of executive car providers, Brunel and Travelhire.
This deal follows Addison Lee’s strong financial results for 2022 alongside the acquisition of ComCab London in July 2021, which gave its customers access to private hire, taxi and same day courier services all on one platform.
This additional supply of vehicles takes the Addison Lee fleet to over 7,500, ensuring the firm is ready to meet growing demand for reliable and professional transport across the city.
Commenting on the acquisition, Addison Lee’s CEO, Liam Griffin, said: “I’m pleased to see Addison Lee unite these great London companies with shared values focused on quality, reliability, and sustainability. The London private hire market is thriving, and this acquisition supports our growth and ability to meet every Londoner’s transport needs.
“With London businesses now wanting their employees back in the office more frequently, demand for corporate travel is increasing. And as London’s economy continues to bounce back, Addison Lee is in a stronger position than ever to offer safe, quality, and sustainable transport services.”
A man has been arrested after police spotted a suspected drug deal taking place in Nottingham.
Officers from the city’s knife crime team were on patrol in the Radford area on Sunday 25 June when they spotted a known drug user loitering on the corner of Independent Street and Clifford Street.
Moments later, a taxi pulled up alongside the man. The driver then spotted the officers and quickly drove off, rousing suspicion.
Officers stopped the taxi in nearby Argyle Street and carried out a search of the vehicle under Section 23 of the Misuse of Drugs Act.
They found bundles of cash and a quantity of suspected crack cocaine and heroin.
A 66-year-old Nottingham man was arrested at the scene on suspicion of possession with intent to supply Class A drugs.
He was later bailed with conditions by the force’s prisoner handling team pending further inquiries.
Sergeant Matt Daley, of Nottinghamshire Police’s city knife crime team, said: “Drug dealing and drug related crime is a blight on our communities.
"That’s why we conduct these kind of proactive patrols to disrupt the activity of local dealers and reduce the associated risk of violent crime.”
A speeding Audi driver who caused a private hire driver's death has been slammed for trying to shift the blame onto his victim.
The Manchester Evening News reports that Krishan Patel, 24, was doing more than twice the speed limit on Trafford Road, in Ordsall, Salford, when he hit a Renault Megane in 2020.
The Megane's driver, William Welsh, 46, suffered multiple injuries and died two days later.
Patel was convicted by a jury of causing death by dangerous driving following a trial at Manchester Crown Court.
Prosecuting, Brian Berlyne earlier said that just after 9am on September 10, 2020, Mr Welsh was driving with no passengers along the duel carriageway, which has a 30mph limit.
He moved into a filter lane to turn right onto Phoebe Street. "As Mr Welsh began to approach the junction, danger was approaching from the opposite direction," Mr Berlyne added.
As Patel approached the junction, Mr Welsh appeared in the opposite direction, preparing to turn right.
"Mr Welsh began to make that right turn and [Patel] was driving so fast he was unable to stop on time. Mr Patel collided with Mr Welsh’s vehicle," Mr Berlyne said.
Mr Welsh was thrown from the car into the road. Patel, who was initially trapped in his car, was able to get out. He stayed at the scene.
PC Paul Terry, a forensic collision investigator, concluded Patel was driving at 65mph - more than twice the speed limit. There were no mechanical faults with either vehicle, he said.
Mr Welsh's seatbelt was fastened, but he was sitting on top of it at the time, the court heard.
In a statement read to the court, Mr Welsh's partner Rachel Palmer wrote: "My babe. That's what we called each other.
"Our daughters, Logan and Chloe, were ready to leave home and start a new chapter in their lives. Myself and William were so proud. This meant it was our time to start a chapter we were both looking forward to - growing older with each other.
"William was only 46, and had lots to look forward to. He went to work as normal and as a result of Krishan Patel, he never came home.
"He always said it was a skill to drive 30mph. Idiotic people drive too fast, William paid the price and he never came home."
Daughter Logan said she had 'not been [herself] since the collision'. Daughter Chloe said Mr Welsh was 'the best dad anyone could ask for'. She added: "While he [Patel] can carry on with the rest of his life, showing no remorse and putting us all through this trauma, we can only hope justice will be served for taking our dad away from us."
Mr Welsh's sister Jane Welsh said: "I'm just so thankful that William didn't have any passengers in his car. The only thought that has kept me sane for the last 33 months is that all actions have consequences, and I hope the judicial system does take into account Krishan Patel's inability to accept blame.
"To the world, William was a 46-year-old taxi driver. To his life partner, he is the love of her life and the person she should be growing old with. To their daughters he was their protector, advisor, friend and cash man when they needed a little extra.
"It's devastating that he will not see them grow and experience life, not be able to walk them down the aisle or have children. To our mum and dad, he was their baby brother who helped complete the family.
"To his friends, colleagues and customers, and those in Salford who knew him, he was 'Welshy' - the friendly, cheeky, gentle giant. To the rest of his family, he was simply our world."
Patel has no previous convictions on his record.
Mitigating, David Birrell accepted his client was driving at 'greatly excessive speed', but claimed that because the incident happened during a Covid lockdown, the roads were quieter and the 'risk was reduced'.
"The mitigating factors, in our submission, are that William Welsh did contribute significantly to both the collision and the death," he said.
"There was the manoeuvre, and most important, the seatbelt. It is no exaggeration the outcome would have been different.”
In response, Judge Elizabeth Nicholls said: "There wouldn't have needed to be an outcome if the collision hadn't occurred."
Mr Birrell added that his client was 'hardworking and studious’' and had to drop out of university as a result.
Sentencing, Judge Nicholls said: "Had you been driving at the correct speed, this collision would not have happened. There are speed limits in place for a reason, so we can avoid collisions such as this.
"I wonder, if a child had run into the road, would you have sought to blame them as you blamed Mr Welsh?
"It is tragic he was not wearing a seatbelt, not that that killed him - it was the collision at speed that killed him."
Patel, from Preston, was jailed for four years and six months. He was banned from driving for seven years and three months.
A change in law, which came into force on 1 July, means the maximum sentence for causing death by dangerous driving will go up - from 14 years to a life sentence. That maximum sentence applies to offences committed after June 22, 2023.
A taxi driver was suspended from working immediately following a roadside spot check in Cleethorpes. The joint operation between North East Lincolnshire Council’s licensing team and Humberside Police saw 11 random inspections on local taxis on June 9.
GrimsbyLive reports that a council licensing officer checked all drivers and the general conditions of the vehicles, while Humberside Police checked DVLA licences, insurance, tyres, lights and vehicle tax.
The enforcement evening found the following issues:
Drivers have been spoken to and the issues will be monitored until they are resolved. The suspension on the taxi has now been lifted and the issue has been resolved.
Councillor Ron Shepherd, portfolio holder for safer and stronger communities, said: “I’d like to thank the officers from both the council’s licensing team and Humberside Police for carrying out these spot checks. It’s important that the standards of our taxis are the highest that they can be and that they are safe for local residents.
"This work is about making sure these standards are being adhered to. I’m pleased to say that the majority of drivers do uphold these standards and I thank them for that.”
Roads Policing Constable Chris Brown added: “Over the course of the week, we carried out a number of spot checks on licensed vehicles across the Humberside region. Whilst the vast majority of drivers act responsibly and adhere to the regulations, a small minority did have their licences suspended.
“Those who break the law behind the wheel are putting lives at risk and by participating in operations like this, alongside our partnering agencies, we hope to have contributed in making the roads of our region safer for everyone.”
Source: https://www.grimsbytelegraph.co.uk/news/grimsby-news/cleethorpes-taxi-spot-check-sees-8554785
An Uber driver has hit out at the new low-emission zone in Glasgow, saying that the new rules are costing him hundreds of pounds.
The Scottish Sun reports that the scheme was introduced on June 1 in an effort to improve air quality in the city, and support wider climate change targets.
The council has previously said the main cause of Glasgow's nitrogen dioxide levels was traffic. But private hire drivers claim they have been left to pay the price.
New rules mean motorists can be slapped with penalties from £60 to £480 for bringing non-compliant vehicles into the LEZ.
Petrol cars and vans will need to have engines at the Euro 4 standard, which generally applies to vehicles registered after 2006.
Diesel-powered cars and vans will need to be at the Euro 6 standard, mainly applying to vehicles registered after 2015.
Glasgow based Uber driver, Saleem Dean, 60, spoke to the Scottish Sun about the huge financial burden these new restrictions have placed on him.
He has to shell out thousands of pounds for a new car that will comply with the LEZ rules so he can keep on working in the city centre.
He said: "It cost me £39,000 to change my car so I had a new one that worked for the LEZ zone. I work for Uber, they don't help with the expenses, I have to pay it myself.
"It has affected me a lot. I'm worried about the repayments which are £620 a month. Then again cars for rent are £200, so we're stuck.
"What can I say? We are stuck. We have to comply with the regulations. If I don't do that, I can't work."
Colin Dodd, the lead GMB union representative in Scotland, also spoke out on behalf of cab drivers who have been affected by the new shake up.
He said although he believes the city council is aiming to make changes that would be possible in a perfect world, it will lead to business being driven out of Glasgow city centre.
The trade union rep thinks punters will start shopping and partying outside of the LEZ areas to avoid fines that come with driving into Glasgow, which will also affect trade for taxi drivers.
He said: "I know there are a number of drivers who actually had to give up their cars and hand the plates back because of the situation.
"I’m a hackney driver but I don’t want to buy a 70 grand vehicle, which is really a hybrid – it’s not even electric. Especially after Covid, you really don’t want to take a chance on making that purchase because of the risk involved.
"We didn’t get much help from the Scottish Government during the pandemic. That’s why so many probably don’t want to go and purchase a 70 grand hackney. It’s too much money to invest.
"I drive in Glasgow and Edinburgh and although you see one or two people cycling, it’s not the amounts they say it is. Even in this nice hot weather, I’ve seen four people cycling. Where are these masses of people jumping on a bike?
"They’ve used the money for infrastructure and they’ve used it all wrong on the way they’ve designed the cycle lanes. They’ve rushed it and wasted a lot of money on it.
"LEZ will actually force people to move outside of the zones for business.
"A lot of people will start shopping at the Fort and Braehead because they can park there without getting fined.
"Somebody sent me a photograph of the city centre and it looked deserted even during the day."
Source: https://www.thescottishsun.co.uk/motors/10864838/taxi-driver-lez-glasgow-costing-hundreds/
Taxi drivers in the city are facing significant financial losses after a series of electric vehicle charging point failures left them unable to operate.
Police are appealing for help to trace a man who disappeared after getting into a taxi bound for the Otley area of Leeds.
The company’s operator licence includes a condition ordering all drivers to undergo the same training as those from other companies.
Police have stopped a private hire driver who was driving the wrong way on the M1 close to Junction 8 at Hemel Hempstead.
Newcastle City Council is set to introduce strict new measures to tackle illegal and inconsiderate parking near Newcastle International Airport.
West Mercia Police is appealing for information following a rape that took place in Malvern's Priory Park early on Sunday, August 4th.
Glasgow taxi users could be facing a near-10% fare increase and extended night-time charges.
At least 14 cars have been damaged since June, with drivers suffering financial loss and emotional distress.
The attack happened at around 12.45pm on Etruria Vale Road, Stoke, when the victim, driving a Toyota Avensis, was punched in the face by one of the men.
Cumberland Council has taken decisive action to protect public safety by revoking the licence of a taxi driver charged last week with a serious racially aggravated offence.
A historic bridge has been closed indefinitely after an Uber car became wedged on Saturday morning.
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.