Taxi fares in Newcastle-under-Lyme could increase by around 25 per cent following a request from drivers.
StokeonTrentLive reports that Newcastle is currently one of the cheapest places in the UK to travel by hackney carriage, with passengers being charged no more than £5.55 for a two-mile journey within the borough during the day.
But drivers have now asked Newcastle Borough Council to increase the tariffs for the first time in five years.
The proposed increase would see the cost of a two-mile journey during the day increase by 24.3 per cent to £6.90. And the cost of the same journey at night under the higher 'tariff two' would be increased from £7.40 to £8.75 - an 18.2 per cent rise.
Newcastle Hackney Carriage Drivers Association is also requesting that tariff two comes into effect at 10pm, rather than midnight.
The borough council's licensing and public protection committee decided whether to approve the changes when they met on Monday, April 29.
In a letter to the borough council, drivers association chairman Muhammed Murtaza Alam argued that since the last review, cabbies had been hit with rapidly increasing costs for things like fuel and insurance.
He says: "It has been almost five years since we had the last fair increase in 2019. Since then the cost of living has increased rapidly - fuel prices have increased, insurance premiums, maintenance cost, everything gone up.
"Also when it comes to replacing vehicles because of licensing requirements the new vehicles are very costly.
"The businesses in Newcastle-under-Lyme town centre close earlier at night time, during the week most of the businesses close before 12am and on weekends everything closes before 2am.
"Most of the neighbouring councils' taxi fares changes from tariff one to tariff two at 10pm. Therefore it's been a long going demand of the Newcastle-under-Lyme Hackney drivers to amend the tariff so they start at 10pm."
According to the PHTM taxi fare league table, Newcastle's current cheapest tariff is ranked 328th out of 344 local authorities in the country - the proposed increase would see it move up to 184th.
Taxis licensed by Stoke-on-Trent City Council currently charge £5.90 for a two-mile journey during the day, which is the 313th highest fare in the country. In comparison, in Manchester the fare would be £8.20, while in Nottingham it would be £8.
Newcastle's cabbies have asked for the tariff two period to start at 10pm on two previous occasions. But in 2015 and in 2019, the licensing committee voted against the proposal.
Other changes proposed by the drivers include increasing the soiling charge from £60 to £80, and for additional notes for customers to be added to the tariff sheet displayed inside vehicles. These notes would explain that out-of-borough journeys are normally negotiated with the driver in advance, rather than being metered, and that payment in advance may be asked for such journeys.
If the committee approve the changes, they will be subject to a consultation before going to cabinet for ratification.
Source: https://www.stokesentinel.co.uk/news/stoke-on-trent-news/end-cheap-taxis-huge-fare-9240235
A young couple suspected of repeatedly dining and dashing are under investigation by police after quick-thinking patrons prevented them from leaving a pub without paying their £62 bill.
EssexLive reports that the pair, recognised by staff and customers, are thought to have swindled local businesses in Southend out of hundreds of pounds.
Over ten taxi drivers in the area also allege that they've been victims of the couple's scam, claiming they've run off without paying their fares.
The duo, identified locally as a former solicitor and an electrician, were confronted at the Castle Inn in Little Wakering, near Southend in Essex.
On Tuesday, April 23, Landlord Ken Todd, 76, said the couple tried to leave without paying the bill for their two starters, two main courses and four drinks before staff and other customers intervened to hold them there before the police arrived.
He added: "The customers blocked the entrance and were checking who was coming in and out. The man tried to leave through the back door of the pub which I had already locked and apparently the woman tried to escape by the bathroom window."
Mr Todd, who has been landlord for the last eight years, said: "A waitress pointed out to me that they were people that had done a runner from other places when they sat down. Maybe I should have gone over to them at that point but we decided to keep an eye on the pair and, sure enough, they tried to leave multiple times by various routes.
The police arrived and took the couple's details but ultimately let them go as the landlord considered it "not worth pursuing for £60".
An Essex Police spokesperson said: "Details were taken from two people at the scene and enquiries are ongoing."
The duo are also suspected of scamming local taxi companies by claiming they don't have any money to pay or promising to return with the payment.
Patrick Pjetri, a driver for the '333444' taxi firm in Southend, was reportedly duped by the couple on February 4 of this year. Mr Pejtri, 44, revealed that he was alerted by his company's office about two individuals who had skipped out on a fare earlier that day, along with a description of the pair.
A couple fitting that description later entered his cab, and he recognised them as the 'dine and dash' culprits.
He recounted: "The man asked to get out the car earlier than the woman and when she asked to get out further down the road, she couldn't offer any payment.
"She offered me a phone charger saying its worth £20 when the fare was £19.20. When I refused, she started screaming and saying 'its false imprisonment' because I said they'd have to leave something behind or wait until they could come up with the cash.
"In the end I had to just let her leave because of her screaming and shouting."
He stated: "It's got to a point now where the police aren't doing anything so it must now be up to the small businesses to take matters into their own hands."
Ruzhdi Bushi, 46, had a similar encounter with the man last year and recognised him from CCTV footage. Mr Bushi revealed that he had picked up the couple on multiple occasions for the same taxi company and reported them to the police after they skipped out on a £20 fare.
He said: "I reported them to the police and they said 'are you willing to go to court? ', I thought 'no, not for the sake for £20'. They said they'd dismiss the case and now I realise the pair have been doing it to everyone - we know of at least ten drivers.
"The officer told me we know who it is and we have his details."
Zeeshan Hayder, another driver for the same taxi firm, has also been victim to the man's antics twice when he ran off without paying on both occasions. In his 18 years as a cab driver, Mr Hayder says this is the worst case of fare evasion he's encountered.
Mr Hayder, 39, said: "I've called the police and they say it's a civil matter but those two are taking advantage of that. They know people won't want to waste their time and money going to court for £10."
The woman in the pair is believed to be a former lawyer struck off after being previously convicted of failing to pay a £60.91 at a Harvester restaurant.
The man is believed to be an electrician whose former employer accused him of stealing £7,000 worth of equipment.
Source: https://www.essexlive.news/news/essex-news/dine-dash-couple-who-fled-9251515
The DfT has today released statistics on the number of publicly available electric vehicle charging devices in the UK for Jan-March 2024. Data is provided by the EV and charging point platform Zapmap.
As of 1 April 2024, there were 59,670 public EV charging devices installed in the UK, within which:
Charging Speed:
• 11,590 had 50kW of power or above = 19% of all charging devices
• 35,339 had a power rating of 3kW up to 8kW = 59% of all charging devices
Location:
• 27,583 were designated as ‘destination’ chargers = 46% of all charging devices
• 22,199 were designated as ‘on street’ chargers = 37% of all charging devices
Compared to 1 January 2024:
• total installed devices increased by 5,993 = increase of 11%
• there was an increase in the number of public charging devices in all regions of the UK
Compared to 1 April 2023:
• total installed devices increased by 19,520 = an increase of 49%
Across all speeds, there is an uneven geographical distribution of charging devices within the UK. Some UK councils have bid for government funding for charging devices, and others haven’t. Most provision of this infrastructure has been market-led, with individual charging networks and businesses choosing where to install devices.
London and Scotland had the highest level of charging provision per 100,000 of population, with 221 and 93 devices per 100,000 res-pectively. In comparison, the average provision was 89 per 100,000.
Northern Ireland had the lowest level of charging device provision in the UK, with 29 devices per 100,000, followed by the North West and Yorkshire and Humber, each with 53 devices per 100,000.
Meanwhile, the variation in 50kW and above device provision shows that Scotland had the highest rate of 50kW and above device provision at 24.2 charging devices rated 50kW and above per 100,000, whilst the average provision in the UK was 17.3 per 100,000. 50kW and above charging device provision was lowest for Northern Ireland with seven charging devices rated 50kW and above per 100,000. London was the second lowest region with 13 charging devices rated 50kW and above per 100,000.
The maps show the geographic variation in charging devices at 1 April 2024, with the number of devices labelled on each area of the map corresponding to a UK region or country.
Matas Buzelis, car expert at vehicle history checking service carVertical, comments: “More public EV chargers are becoming available every month, but their uneven spread around the country is holding back sales.
“While people who spend most of their time driving round a major town or city may find the move to an EV a logical next step, this is not the case for those who often do longer journeys.
“Availability varies hugely by region, and while London has 221 public devices per 100,000 people, there are just 53 in the North West and Yorkshire and the Humber.
“Not only does this directly impact people living in the parts of the country with fewer available chargers, it suggests that people would struggle to power their car during a long journey or while holidaying in a different region.
“It doesn’t help that many UK households are even unable to charge their cars at home because they don’t have a garage, driveway or dedicated parking space.
“This lack of infrastructure in certain areas hurts public perceptions of EVs and is playing a part in slowing down sales. Price also remains a barrier, although manufacturers are increasingly introducing more affordable models, and used EV prices are falling rapidly as this portion of the market expands.
“Unfortunately the rapid depreciation in EV prices means the monthly cost of leasing these types of vehicles is increasing, making them less accessible.
“Anyone enticed by falling prices and planning to buy a used EV should check the car’s history before parting with their cash to ensure they have not been clocked or damaged. Our research shows that EVs are more likely to have their mileage tampered with than any other type of car on the UK roads.
“Newer cars are often equipped with digital systems which can be easier to tamper with via special devices. Unfortunately, con artists are up-to-date with all the techniques that can let them sell cars for more money than they’re worth.”
A private hire vehicle has flipped over following a crash in Bournemouth Town Centre.
It is reported that the PHV crashed into a bollard outside Bournemouth Gardens.
The incident occurred at around 10.36pm on Saturday, April 27, on Bourne Avenue, next to the Upper Gardens.
According to a witness, the vehicle did not contain any passengers.
The witness said: “The car that flipped over was a taxi; luckily, no one else was inside.
“The driver must have lost control, maybe due to the weather or not paying attention. But he went straight into a bollard and flipped the vehicle over.”
The witness said that the police attended the scene, but the ambulance service did not.
It was reported that the driver was helped out of the car by another resident, and there were no serious injuries.
The witness said: “I heard a massive bang, and as I saw the car had flipped, another man helped him out of the car and then drove off.
“I did call an ambulance, but the driver fortunately came out uninjured.”
A Dorset Police spokesman said: "We received a report at 10.40pm on Saturday 27 April 2024 of a collision in Bourne Avenue involving a single vehicle that had collided with a metal bollard.
"There were no reports of any injuries and damage to the bollard was reported to the local authority.
"Recovery was arranged and officers left the scene at around 12.15am on Sunday 28 April 2024."
Source: https://www.bournemouthecho.co.uk/news/24283641.car-crashed-bollard-next-bournemouth-gardens/
New research has suggested that passengers think the capital's next mayor and TfL should be doing more to support the city's iconic black cabs as they are 'at risk of becoming extinct'.
MyLondon reports that the study by taxi app FREENOW UK has revealed that 65 per cent of taxi users feel that the industry needs more help.
It comes after the current Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, warned in December of an ‘exodus’ of cabbies as they could ‘go the way of the telephone box’. Now, FREENOW UK claims that there has been a drastic drop in the number of black cabs available, which has 'directly impacted' residents and visitors to the city.
The company adds that just over half (51%) of the 1,000 people surveyed in the UK who took a black cab ride in the last one to three months travel by black cab multiple times a week, with some as frequently as every single day. In addition, more than 40% are said to complement their black cab trips with public transport and by walking or cycling.
The business suggests that this 'highlights how black cabs are an integral part of London’s transport offer'. Its study also showed that:
FREENOW UK also says respondents think reform to the The Knowledge is 'essential', with almost 59% agreeing that it should be 'simplified'.
Mariusz Zabrocki, General Manager at the company, said: “Anyone visiting or living in London knows that black cabs are a cornerstone of the capital, and our research cements this as 40% of passengers like the peace of mind travelling in black cab guarantees, supplemented by the trust ability of drivers.
"To ensure their longevity, London’s next Mayor will need to pay close attention to the sentiments of passengers using black cabs, who feel they will always be around, ensuring the trade continues to thrive as a fundamental mode of transport for the city’s citizens."
A spokesperson for Mr Khan said: "Sadiq has always been clear that London’s black cabs are the envy of the world, with drivers’ unparalleled expertise and the high quality service they provide every day. That’s why Sadiq has continued to support black cabs – increasing the amount of the bus lane network they can use, funding their transition to net zero, exempting them from the Congestion Charge and ULEZ, and providing 100 more taxi ranks across London."
The Tory candidate, Susan Hall, says in her manifesto: "London’s black cabs are iconic. Not only are they steeped in history, but most of the fleet is electric and wheelchair accessible. Currently, black cabs are banned from using some bus lanes and bus gates. I will help black cabs get you from A to B quicker."
Green Party candidate, Zoë Garbett promises in her plan to 'upgrade' more of London's transport network with step-free access and 'give priority to disabled and older passengers taking non-emergency taxi journeys'. She would also support cabs and their drivers by expanding fast charging points into Outer London 'more quickly' and making sure more 'dedicated rest and toilet facilities' are provided in 'a network that provides for all drivers’ needs'.
There is no specific mention of cabs in Liberal Democrat, Rob Blackie's manifesto.
Source: https://www.mylondon.news/news/transport/next-london-mayor-tfl-told-29067275
Ways of increasing the amount of wheelchair-accessible taxis across the city are set to be explored to make it easier for those who need one to get one.
Cumbrian taxi drivers are fighting back against proposed licensing changes they fear will cripple their livelihoods.
Bolton taxi drivers are urged to sign up for free safeguarding and disability awareness training before the deadline on October 31st, 2024.
A Conwy Council meeting on Monday revealed a critical failing that allowed a taxi driver whose license had been revoked to continue transporting children to school.
Worcester City Council is seeking public opinion on a proposal to make safeguarding training mandatory for taxi and private hire drivers.
A proposal to increase driver, vehicle and private hire operator licences was discussed on Friday 19 July 19 at Sheffield City Council’s waste and street scene committee.
Through this collaboration, FREENOW willl provide additional benefits giving drivers up to 25% off pay-as-you-go rates across the entire bp pulse electric charging network and discounted fuel at all UK bp branded sites.
Wakefield Licensing, working alongside West Yorks Police Roads Policing unit, NPT, Off-Road Bike Team, Police Intercept Team, DVLA & DVSA, held a Partnership Day of Action at Thornes Park.
A pilot emissions reduction grant scheme providing financial support for hackney carriage drivers to upgrade to cleaner EURO 6 and fully battery powered vehicles has been launched.
The ride-hailing giant has submitted an application for an operator licence to Darlington Borough Council, with a decision expected in August.
Darlington could soon see Uber cars on its streets after the ride-hailing giant applied for a licence to operate in the town.
Stratford-upon-Avon District Council has revoked the licences of two taxi drivers following a series of speeding offences.
A Northampton taxi driver has been found guilty of trafficking cocaine between his home city and Milford Haven.
The move comes after concerns were raised by the taxi industry about the rising cost of purchasing new vehicles.
Guide Dogs charity has asked licensing authorities in England for their support in sharing guidance on the law on carrying guide or other assistance dogs with all taxi and private hire operators.
Reading Taxi Association (RTA) chairman Asif Rashid has slammed Reading Borough Council's proposed phase-out of older petrol and diesel cabs by 2028, calling it a financial burden for drivers.
Dorset Council is poised to review taxi fares across the region, excluding Weymouth and Portland which have separate regulations.
A North Belfast man, Ruairi Fintan Muldoon (31), has been sentenced to 12 months in prison with an additional 12 months on supervised release for a botched attempt to rob a taxi driver.
Passengers are been invited to take part in a survey aimed at finding out if the taxi trade in West Suffolk is accessible to all.
A Glasgow man, Darren Gray, 31, launched into a verbal tirade and racially abused a taxi driver on Paisley Road West on August 19th, 2022.