The main taxi rank at Leeds Station is set to relocate as two big projects to improve the station hit the ground.
NetworkRail reports that from 18 May at 19:00, customers will no longer be picked up on New Station Street, which is closing to all road traffic as Network Rail engineers work to strengthen the structures beneath the road that support the Station.
This essential work is being carried out in parallel with the Leeds Station Sustainable Travel Gateway Scheme, which will transform the station gateway and is being delivered by Leeds City Council on behalf of Network Rail and in partnership with the West Yorkshire Combined Authority.
The taxi rank on New Station Street will relocate to Princes Square (off Aire Street) in the short-stay car park, next to Wetherspoons. Short-stay parking will move to the multi-storey car park on 10 May.
Maxine Joicey, Station Customer Experience Manager, said: “These two crucial projects to further enhance Leeds Station are great news for the city.
"We’re working closely with our partners, in particularly Leeds City Council, to make sure the relocation of the taxis to Princes Square will be clearly communicated both in the station and online to passengers, businesses and the general public so that planning journeys to and from the station remain as simple and smooth as possible.”
Taxi drivers are to be asked their views on plans to raise fares by as much as 14 per cent.
Stirling Council’s planning and regulation panel has agreed to seek the views of drivers and others in the trade on the proposed rise in fares, which is said to reflect recent inflationary pressures and other costs.
Stirling Council commissioned a Taxi Fare Review from independent traffic consultants, Licensed Vehicles Survey and Assessment (LVSA), which was undertaken in March this year.
LVSA has reported back to the council, with the findings discussed at a panel meeting on Tuesday 2 May.
Proposals in the consultation include:
Under the proposed new fares, the minimum fare for Tariff 1 would rise by 13.3 per cent from £3 to £3.40, a five mile journey would increase 14.4 per cent from £11.10 to £12.70 and a 10 mile journey would rise 13.9 per cent from £20.10 to £22.90.
Officers said: “The fare review considers changes in costs associated with operating a taxi, including the price of a vehicle, servicing, fuel, insurance, vehicle excise duty, licensing cost and average national earnings.”
Council officers are expected to report back to the planning and regulation panel around June/July - with the outcome of the taxi trade consultation and next steps for consideration.
The taxi fares were last fixed and came into effect in December 2019 and a subsequent change set by the council was later successfully challenged in an appeal to the Traffic Commissioner.
Karen Ferguson, owner of A1bion Taxis, based in Fallin,said: “We haven’t had a proper tariff increase in quite a few years. It’s about time – everyone else is getting pay rises. The increase would encourage more drivers to want to work and get more folk driving taxis because recruiting drivers has been a real problem.
“The tariff would make a big difference to drivers and businesses with the costs of cars, fuel, the cost of living and that’s before you factor in the cost of repairs to the cars as well.”
The LVSA report has been published on the Stirling Council website.
Source: https://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/local-news/stirlings-taxi-fares-could-increase-29870833
A Northampton private hire driver who ran over a woman’s foot after failing to ensure that she had got in the vehicle has been fined.
The Northampton Chronicle reports that Mohammed Dilal Miah, 49, pleaded guilty to causing serious injury by driving a Mercedes without due care and attention in Brampton Lane last October.
Miah was fined £498 by magistrates, ordered to pay £309 towards prosecution costs and a victim surcharge and had his licence endorsed with seven points.
A taxi boss has called for Kidderminster Hospital to offer emergency treatment overnight after finding an unconscious teen who overdosed on painkillers.
Worcester News reports that Neale White, who runs Bewdley Taxi, came across a car in a hedge when driving back to Bewdley on the switch-back in the early hours of Sunday 23 April.
He saw a young man who flashed a torch at him to get his attention before being told that his friend was unconscious in the car.
The 61-year-old then called an ambulance but was told the wait may have been up to three hours.
Mr White, who was driving an eight-seater taxi at the time, initially drove the 18-year-old to Kidderminster Hospital, believing someone would be at hand to help, however, the hospital was closed.
Unsure over the severity of the teen's condition, he drove to Worcestershire Royal Hospital where he was treated and made a recovery.
Mr White has now called for medical staff to be on duty at Kidderminster Hospital overnight.
He told The Shuttle: “It was a terrible situation. We were lucky. That hospital being shut could have cost somebody their life.
"It needs a doctor of some description there 24 hours a day so if there is an emergency someone can be treated.
"Something like that was time sensitive. When it's life-threatening, you need to be able to speak to a doctor more or less straight away."
The teen's stepdad, who did not wish to be named, has spoken over his shock at the incident.
He said: "Thank God it wasn't too serious. We didn't know that at the time".
He added that he was "let down" that there was no help at hand at Kidderminster Hospital in the first instance.
Well done to Mr White for coming to the rescue of the teenager. PHTM - proud of our trade.
The following public notice for Swindon was recently published as reported by the Swindon Advertiser:
Town Centre - Swindon Borough Council has made a new traffic order (reference ST/TRO/Temple Street) to revoke the 'no waiting at any time' restriction on Temple Street and will replace it with a taxi rank where stopping is prohibited 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
The local authority intends to appoint a hackney carriage stand in accordance with Section 63 of the Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1976 on public highway on Temple Street.
A second order (reference ST/TRO/Kimmerfields) will introduce a 'No Waiting at Any Time' restriction on Carfax Street, Carfax Close, Turl Street, and Merton Street.
A former paratrooper turned pet taxi driver is in the running for an Animal Star Award for his work in Wakefield and Pontefract.
Tariq Rehman, 75, from Stechford, had his licence removed by Solihull Council in November last year following a complaint from a passenger.
A taxi firm boss has branded the criminal justice system "broken" after new figures revealed almost a third of offenders in the town reoffended within a year.
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.