At least 200 taxi drivers staged a go-slow protest through Sheffield yesterday in a rage against the city council’s Clean Air Zone and the help available to buy compliant vehicles.
The Star reports that it has been three months since the ring road enclosing Sheffield city centre was designated a ‘Clean Air Zone’ [CAZ] where high-emission commercial vehicles now face fines in a bid to clean up air pollution.
It included a grace ‘exemption’ period for some drivers, such as those with hackney carriage licences, to purchase cleaner vehicles, with grants available from the council to help with the cost. The exemption period ends on June 4.
However, in an open letter reportedly signed by some 300 Steel City cabbies driving hackney carriages, Sheffield’s cabbies are demanding the extension is put back until June 2024.
They say they “want to see cleaner air in Sheffield” but believe Sheffield City Council “got it wrong” on how to achieve it.
Cabbies say the grants handed out by the council are arriving weeks later than advertised and far less than the £3,500 promised – while also complaining that the price of compliant vehicles has risen dramatically.
Some compliant cars that used to cost £10,000 on Autotrader are reportedly now going for £16,000.
The open letter, written by driver Hafeas Rehman, reads: “Our trade has still not recovered from Covid, and the cost of living crisis has made it worse. Taxi drivers are earning a lot less and are facing financial difficulties very similar to low paid workers.
“Taxi drivers worked throughout Covid and now provide a better public transport service than the buses. We provide access to wheelchair users, we take children to school and back home, we take individuals (including the vulnerable) to their hospital, dentist and GP appointments, we take them to do their shopping. We take people to work and we are the only reliable public transport service for the night time economy.”
The letter reads: “Taxi drivers are experiencing difficulties accessing the grant. It is taking weeks to get a response.
“Taxi drivers were told they would receive £3,500 but are being given a lot less. Why is this? SCC has received millions of pounds in grants and will be making millions in fines.
“SCC promised to work with us, it feels like they are working against us. SCC needs to listen and not ignore us.”
They backed up their angry calls by staging a ‘go-slow protest’ through Sheffield at around 4pm on Tuesday 23 May, at Sheffield Arena.
Hundreds of hackney carriages were reportedly spotted winding from Meadowhall into town and bringing traffic to a crawl in the city centre.
A second protest is being organised outside Town Hall at 1pm on Wednesday May 31.
Mr Rehman added: “We are also speaking to our members about ‘strike’ action and other ‘disruptive’ measures.”
He said drivers have been complaining to the council for the last three months.
A "thoroughly unpleasant" man who hurled drunken abuse at the staff of a taxi firm has been fined.
According to the Leader, Neil Bagnall, 37, appeared at Wrexham Magistrates Court on Tuesday 23 May.
After telling the court he did not have a fixed address, he admitted that he was guilty while drunk of disorderly behaviour in Abbot Street, Wrexham.
Prosecutor Rhian Jackson told the court that on May 5, at around 1.15am, police were alerted by security officers at Diamond Cabs in Abbott Street to Bagnall.
He was being abusive to staff, calling them offensive names and making obscene gestures at them.
Police told him to move on, but he answered that he wasn't 'going anywhere,' and approached the police car window to ask "or what?"
He was pushed back to create space and prevent him from making any attempts of assault but continued to approach the officers.
Bagnall then stood in the middle of the road and refused to move, leading to his arrest.
Defending himself, Bagnall was asked whether he wished to say anything to the court about the offence.
He did not, but added: "I'll take the fine on the chin."
The defendant, labelled a "thoroughly unpleasant individual" by Deputy District Judge Lee Davies, was ordered to pay a £60 fine, £85 costs and a £24 victim surcharge.
Source: https://www.leaderlive.co.uk/news/23541345.man-fined-drunken-abuse-wrexham-city-centre/
A drunk taxi passenger repeatedly pulled a cabbie's face covering causing him to lose control of his car at 70mph.
The Dunfermline Press reports that culprit, Lyndsay Craig, 39, from Cowdenbeath, has now been sentenced at Dunfermline Sheriff Court.
She was being taken home from a wedding when she committed the offence.
Craig admitted that on September 12, 2021 on the A92 between the Halbeath and Cowdenbeath junctions, she culpably and recklessly grabbed the face covering of the taxi driver whilst he was driving, causing him to be pulled away from the steering wheel and pedals.
This resulted in him losing control of the vehicle, exposing him and other road users to serious injury.
Depute fiscal Amy Robertson said the taxi driver was wearing a face covering because of Covid restrictions.
He had gone to Charlestown to pick up two men and Craig from a function. He dropped off the men at Pattiesmuir then continued on the journey, taking Craig to Cowdenbeath.
However, on the way there she started lunging forwards from the back seat and grabbing the driver’s face covering when he was travelling at 70mph.
This happened on three separate occasions. When he told her to stop, Craig shouted: “Don’t you tell me what to do.”
The driver “felt like he was being choked” said the depute.
He managed to complete the journey and dropped her off.
He later reported the matter to the police and Craig told officers: “I’m sorry. I don’t even remember doing it.”
Defence solicitor Callum Harris said: “She’s got a very limited recollection, if any at all. She’d been at a wedding and was in a state of intoxication at the time.
“She’s extremely ashamed and remorseful for her actions.”
Depute fiscal Francis Gill told Craig: “There could have been catastrophic consequences for you, the driver and other road users.”
He fined her £570.
Source: https://www.dunfermlinepress.com/news/23540679.taxi-driver-choked-drunk-female-passenger-70mph/
Taxi fares in areas of Dorset could soon become more expensive if an application for change is accepted.
On Wednesday May 24, Dorset councillors are being asked to consider a rise in maximum fares in Weymouth and Portland as well as minor changes to the way waiting times are calculated together with the use of automatic meters linked to a calendar and time function.
Making meters automatic has not been recommended by council officers who say there is case law which does allow taxi operators to charge less than the local maximum rate, or to decide to set a lower rate on their meter, if they choose.
Similar fare increase applications have been successful in recent months in the neighbouring Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole Council area.
Outside the BCP area, Dorset has two taxi zones with Weymouth and Portland having its own designated area, slightly different from the rest of the county.
Fares south of the Ridgeway were last changed in April 2022, along with the rest of the Dorset Council area. A report to the licensing committee reads: “The Weymouth Private Hire and Hackney Carriage Association has requested a further small rise this year, as they believe that smaller annual increases are accepted by the travelling public better than infrequent larger ones.”
Most of the hackney carriage operators who responded to the proposals backed the request, although not all, one arguing that many clients will not be able to afford the increase and, at the moment, fuel prices have been falling, reducing operating costs.
The effect of the proposed rise for a five-mile journey from 7am to 11pm would see an increase in the maximum charge from £16 to £16.70 and for the same length trip between 11am and 7am from £18.60 to £19.30.
Higher charges apply, ranging from 50 per cent more to double, depending on which public holiday it is, with variations in charges for the number of people, pets and luggage being carried.
One of the operators has also asked that the higher, night rate, be applied from 10pm rather than 11pm, which will also be considered by the committee.
If the Licensing Committee agrees to set the maximum tariff as requested a public consultation lasting two weeks will take place – with the item brought back to the committee should any public comments be received.
If no comments are forthcoming it is recommended that the new tariff comes into effect on 1 July 2023.
Source: https://www.dorset.live/news/dorset-news/taxi-fares-across-weymouth-portland-8460046
Police are appealing for information, witnesses and dash cam footage following a report of an assault on a teenage boy in Stevenage on Friday night, 19 May.
HertsLive reports that at around 7.30pm, the victim - a 14-year-old boy - was reportedly travelling in a taxi with friends when they arrived at The Pavillion car park at King George Playing Fields. A group of males allegedly approached the taxi and kicked and punched it before chasing it as it tried to drive away.
It is reported that they then pulled the victim from the vehicle and assaulted him. The victim was left with reddening and grazes on his face.
Detective Constable Kirsty Rusbridge, from the Stevenage Local Crime Unit, said: "We have arrested a 16-year-old boy and a 17-year-old boy, both from Stevenage, in connection with the incident and they remain in police custody at this time.
"Our investigation is ongoing and we are appealing for any witnesses or anyone with information about what happened to get in touch. We’d also like to hear from anyone who was driving in the area and may have caught the incident on dash cam.
"If you were travelling in the area and have one fitted, please check it and let us know if it captured anything that might be useful to our investigation. Please get in touch by emailing me at kirsty.rusbridge@herts.police.uk."
Anyone with information is asked to contact police using the online reporting tool, the online web chat or by calling 101, quoting crime reference 41/40288/23.
Alternatively you can contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.
Source: https://www.hertfordshiremercury.co.uk/news/hertfordshire-news/teenage-boy-14-dragged-moving-8457066
Dramatic CCTV footage has captured the moment a hooded figure set a taxi alight on a residential driveway.
A Drongan taxi driver has been convicted of sexually assaulting a female passenger after offering to waive her fare in exchange for sex.
Artur Nowostawski has been jailed for six years and nine months after he attacked a taxi driver earlier this year.
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.