A taxi rank in Oldham town centre is being closed as part of the redevelopment works taking place in the town.
The Oldham Times reports that Oldham Council has said that the Dan Fold taxi rank, based behind the former Snipe Inn pub and across from Oldham Bus Interchange, will be closed down as the former pub is set to be demolished.
The 130-year-old pub, which closed down in December 2022 after it was bought by the council, will make way for a landscaped public realm which will connect Oldham Bus interchange to the Tommyfield Market area.
In a social media post, the council said the taxi rank would have to be closed as demolition works are carried out.
The council did say that extra cabs will be available outside The Tommyfield pub on nearby Henshaw Street.
It added that it was "sorry for any inconvenience" that the extra capacity would, along with the other town centre taxi ranks, would offer plenty of options for people looking to catch a cab.
The demolition of the former Snipe Inn was approved by the council's planning committee in February.
In honour of the pub, the space will be named ‘Snipe garden’ and feature designs inspired by the snipe bird.
It will connect the bus interchange to the future Linear Park, which will be named the Jubilee Park in memory of Queen Elizabeth II.
The redevelopment of this area of the town centre will aim to make it more attractive and better connected for pedestrians and cyclists.
Source: https://www.theoldhamtimes.co.uk/news/24257094.taxi-rank-oldham-town-centre-set-closed/
A taxi firm has been ordered to pay more than £400 in costs for keeping a vehicle which does not meet insurance requirements.
According to the Gazette, Five Sevens Taxis faced the accusation after the charge was reported by the DVLA.
Magistrates in Swansea considered the case on Monday 15 April.
Five Sevens was not represented at the hearing, and magistrates proved the charge in the firm’s absence.
Magistrates imposed a £220 fine on the taxi firm and ordered a further payment of £188 in costs.
Source: https://www.gazette-news.co.uk/news/24255570.colchester-five-sevens-taxi-firm-fined-magistrates/
A taxi driver took advantage of a drunk passenger by stealing his mobile phone and using it to buy a wave of expensive items.
The Liverpool Echo reports that Edward Marshman preyed on his customer who was on his way home from a gig at O2 Academy Liverpool, taking two £50 payments for the ride before leaving with his iPhone to go on a £1,500 shopping spree.
Liverpool Crown Court heard on Tuesday, April 16, how Andrew Gibson attended a concert on December 1, 2022. He was described as being "very intoxicated" and soon left to go to the bathroom when the "next thing he was aware of" was being driven home by Marshman in his taxi, .
Sarah Gruffyd, prosecuting, described how Gibson paid his £50 fare through Apple Pay after getting to his home in St Helens. However, Marshman, from Walton, "told him that the transaction had not gone through and asked him to pass him his phone".
After Gibson handed it over, Marshman "shouted at him to get out of his taxi" and drove off. The victim awoke the next morning, realising what had happened to him.
Meanwhile, the thief used the phone to make 13 separate fraudulent transactions, equating to £1,568. Among the purchases was a second £50 fee for the journey, a purchase from Tesco, two Polaroid TVs, a pair of Adidas trainers, a Ninja blender, a pair of headphones, alcohol, and a meal from McDonald's.
However, the taxi fair was paid into an account that was under Marshman's name and the 49-year-old was caught on CCTV purchasing the goods.
Police officers attended his home on February 10 last year, where they discovered the televisions, trainers, and blenders alongside two bags of cannabis and a quantity of cocaine.
During an interview, he provided a prepared statement which claimed the TVs were "not linked to the offence" and said the white powder was "not Class A drugs".
Marshman was also due to be sentenced for an incident on February 16 this year after he was stopped by police patrols while cycling on Hazelhurst Road in Walton where he was found in possession of a further amount of cocaine inside a man bag.
Marshman has a total of 15 previous convictions for 33 offences, including for drink and drug driving.
Tom Watson, defending, told the court: "This is a man with many problems and many difficulties, most of which relate to his rather troubled mental health."
Marshman admitted to fraud, theft, possession of cannabis, and two counts of possession of cocaine.
Jailing him for 58 weeks, Judge Neil Flewitt KC said: "Whilst you were working as a taxi driver, you collected a fare who was clearly very much under the influence of alcohol and you quite dishonestly took advantage of his vulnerable condition and abused the position of responsibility you occupied.
"This was a despicable series of offences.
"I accept that you have issues, but you have shown a complete lack of interest in or willingness to work with the probation services to address them."
An Uber driver killed a passenger in a hit and run in Glasgow city centre last August 5.
GlasgowLive reports that Kunathilinghan Mohanthas fatally struck Christopher Hanton after the cabbie had told the 40 year-old mortgage advisor to get out of his Mercedes Vito just moments after picking him up.
The 48 year-old deliberately hit Mr Hanton as he then drove off leaving the dad of one for dead. Mr Hanton never recovered after hitting his head on the ground and passed away in hospital days later.
Mohanthas now faces a lengthy jail-term after he pleaded guilty on Tuesday 16 April, to a charge of culpable homicide at the High Court in Glasgow.
He was remanded in custody and will be sentenced in May.
Prosecutor Alan Cameron KC told how Mr Hanton, of Chryston, North Lanarkshire, had been on a night out with friends. He then ordered a taxi home on the Uber app around 10.30pm.
Mohanthas was allocated the pick up and drove to the city's George Street where Mr Hanton was. Mr Hanton went in the back before the cabbie then got out and asked him to leave his vehicle, which he did.
Mohanthas then began a three-point turn - Mr Hanton approached the Mercedes meantime and slapped the back of the vehicle. He ended up in front of the taxi with the car now stationery.
Mr Cameron then explained: "To complete the three-point turn, Mohanthas would have steered to the right. Instead, he made a sudden turn to the left towards Mr Hanton, who was struck by the front of the vehicle.
"This caused him to fall backwards and strike his head on the road. Mohanthas did not stop - he continued steering to the right again, completed his turn and drove off."
Passers-by went to help a bleeding Mr Hanton. He was rushed to hospital, but he passed away on August 9 due to the head injury.
Mohanthas walked back to the scene 15 minutes later. He approached a police officer and admitted he had "hit" Mr Hanton.
Mohanthas, of Glasgow, stated he had refused to take the dad and claimed Mr Hanton had then started "punching" his car. He later added: "I have not done anything to anyone deliberately."
Mr Cameron said Mohanthas had previous convictions for dishonesty and a public order offence. Lord Clark deferred sentencing for reports until May 13 in Kilmarnock.
The judge told Mohanthas: "You have pleaded guilty to killing a man by deliberately driving your car at him. You hit him causing him to fall backwards striking his head on the road.
"This was an extremely serious act of violence which has had devastating consequences."
In a tribute following the tragedy, Mr Hanton's family spoke of a "devoted and dedicated husband" to his wife as well as a "loving father" to his young son.
Source: https://www.glasgowlive.co.uk/news/glasgow-news/glasgow-uber-driver-killed-devoted-29005960
LEVC has debuted new information and images of the luxurious and innovative interior of its L380 Multi-Purpose Vehicle (MPV), the first of a new range of smart, spacious, fully electric models, which will see the brand accelerate its transition from a high-end taxi manufacturer to a leading provider of e-mobility solutions.
At a design event held in Yishang Town, Hangzhou, China, LEVC revealed more about the aesthetic inspirations of its new luxury MPV, the first model in its new range to be underpinned by its Space Oriented Architecture (SOA) pure EV platform, revolutionary technology which enables L380 to offer an unprecedentedly spacious and luxurious experience, whether for families or business users.
Blending airy, sophisticated space with premium materials, L380’s inspirations come from the world of luxury airline travel with seating for up to eight and flexible first class-style chairs, clad in soft, delicate semi-aniline leather – which can be flipped down for sleeping – contrasted with Alcantara fabrics, bright chromes and crystals for the rest of the opulent cabin.
Other stand-out details include an organic, floating dashboard and a 2.18m-sq panoramic glass roof, which bathes the cabin in natural light or shields the occupants via intelligent dimming, along with a host of exquisite elements that reflect L380’s integration of international cultures, from traditional Chinese Ruyi shaped air vents to a meteor shower cabin lighting effect, which integrates London icons such as Tower Bridge and Big Ben.
On the outside, L380 pushes the boundaries of MPV design with a simple yet technical and elegant shape inspired by aircraft aerodynamics and accentuated by precisely honed details such as a floating roof and wheels influenced by the iconic London Eye. The bold, powerful aesthetic is further underscored by a palette of four strong, dynamic body colours: Pearl White, Ink Jade Black, Sapphire blue and Emerald Green.
The L380’s focus on the intersection between luxury and optimum space has been led by LEVC’s Global Chief Design Officer, Brett Boydell and his team, based at LEVC’s Design & Innovation Centre at its Ansty facility. Bringing together leading designers from many countries around the world, this diverse, international group has rich experience from multiple renowned luxury car brands and is focused on the design of future SOA-based LEVC vehicles.
Brett Boydell, LEVC Global Chief Design Officer, commented: “Our exceptionally talented team is committed to developing innovations in automotive design across the themes of luxury and space optimization. The L380 MPV, the first of a new wave of pure electric LEVC products based on our SOA platform, truly breaks new ground, inspired by sectors such as luxury air travel and our international cultures, brought together by space-efficient and highly flexible cutting-edge technology, creating a high-level and luxurious atmosphere.”
Alex Nan, CEO of LEVC, commented: “As we accelerate our transition from manufacturing the world’s most advanced and iconic taxi to becoming a leading e-mobility technology company, I am delighted to reach another important milestone, revealing more details on our new L380, which sets new standards in the luxury MPV sector.
“As with all our products, L380 takes inspiration from the company’s rich history, combined with the vast resources and technical innovation of the Geely Holding Group. It is full of exquisite details and delightful touches, combining space-efficient design with premium quality, raising the bar for multi-purpose vehicles.
“The innovative SOA technology on which L380 sits spearheads our exciting new strategy that will see the business take a global approach, growing our footprint across the world. We aim to have a presence in over 40 countries in the coming years, with multiple new models based on the SOA platform leading the way.”
With more than a century of ‘mobility’ in its DNA, LEVC has always focused on meeting the needs of society by transporting people around urban areas. From the beginning, LEVC’s vehicles have been designed with one core principle in mind: purpose-built solutions.
LEVC’s new L380 model builds on this unrivalled heritage and propels the company into an entirely new market, delivering smart, green, safe, and accessible luxurious mobility, raising the bar for interior flexibility. The L380 will initially launch in China, with the MPV set to arrive in the UK within the next two years.
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.