Call Sign October 2009 - Page 17 - DIAL-A-CAB FLASHBACK

*Every issue of Call Sign takes a look back at ODRTS history through the pages of the magazines of the time with a Flashback…* DIAL-A-CAB FLASHBACK
*This month’s Flashback returns to 1993 with a Call Sign* Editorial by former editor Jery Craig celebrating DaC’s fortieth anniversary…** From Call Sign, November 1993… 40 years of public service Having the Transport Minister, Steven Norris, attending our 40th birthday celebration at the Guildhall turned out to be an unintentional coup for Dial-a-Cab, considering it was just one day before that the government had published the important Green Paper containing their ‘inclinations’ on taxis and PHVs. In more ways than one, it was interesting having such an important government member at our exhibition. Aubrey Siteman, our incumbent chairman, proudly guided the minister around our various exhibits. He had explained to him all about the advances in technology that our Society had made over the past 40 years. Mr. Norris appreciated the excellent service we give to the public, disabled passengers and female card users. He saw this as a very important part of a modern taxi service. The minister was equally intrigued by our unique customer invoice service and liaison with the London's emergency services. Mr Norris came over as a very	*Steven Norris poses with ODRTS Board and staff at the Guildhall*
	personable man who is willing to listen and understand our trades' problems. He is in fact the consummate politician, with a lot of patience. His job at the Transport Ministry is not an enviable one. lf all that he has conveyed to us as a trade comes about, then we hope his commonsense prevails regarding our future as a licensed taxicab trade. That not withstanding, this, our great day at The Guildhall, went off very well indeed. Drivers, customers and passers-by came to see what Dial-a-Cab were displaying. Mr. Norris spoke to a great many of them, also giving a great deal of his valuable time to us as a licensed radio taxi society. The media and trade press who were straining to speak to him got their turn later. And to all our members: You would be advised as cab drivers to read the Green Paper that Mr Norris spoke about at our show because it contains much that	could affect the next 40 years of our radio society and trade in general. Let us hope that Mr Major’s government can get the economy right so our country will return to a more prosperous and vibrant business state than it has been in the South-east of England for the past four years. If this happens, our trade will be the first to see the long awaited changes that are so desperately needed by us. Green Paper on Taxis and PHVs: This paper is intended to be a discussion paper. Mr Norris wished to hear from everybody in our trade who are sufficiently interested to make their comments known to him. Buy a copy, discuss it with other cabmen and maybe there will be something really worth writing to Mr Norris about. In the meantime, here's to another 40 years of the ODRTS. Cheers! Jery Craig, Editor

LTI URGE DRIVERS TO BUY NOW

Before Scrappage scheme ends…

   LTI Vehicles is urging taxi drivers to take advantage of the Government’s scrappage scheme, which is widely expected to end this month.
   The news came as the Department for Business announced that over 200,000 vehicles have been sold under the scrappage scheme and the Government’s budget is expected to run out by mid-October, as car owners take advantage of the subsidy on offer. Over two-thirds of the Ł300 million budget set aside for the scheme has already gone. The scheme gives drivers a Ł2,000 incentive towards a new vehicle if they scrap a vehicle over 10 years old as part of the deal. Rob Laidler, Sales Director at LTI Vehicles, told Call Sign:
   "The scrappage scheme has been a real success for LTI and the taxi trade, with many drivers taking advantage of the Ł2000 incentive. It will end shortly and we are advising drivers looking to participate in the Scrappage scheme to take advantage of this deal and purchase a new TX4 before the funding runs out."
   This must be the best time ever to purchase a new TX4. In addition to the Ł2000 scrappage incentive, there are also strong offers from LTI and a 15% VAT rate until 1 January 2010.
   In the meantime, John Russell, CEO of Manganese Bronze Holdings, is asking the government to consider extending the scheme.
   "The Government’s Car Scrappage Scheme has provided real help for business over the last few months, accounting for over 20% of London Taxi sales during the period of the scheme and has supported sales volume through one of the deepest recessions in living memory. As a British manufacturer based in Coventry, with dealerships across the UK, we are calling on the Government to extend the Scrappage Scheme while the automotive market remains fragile. While other countries are moving out of recession, the OECD have released data to show the UK economy will shrink more than the Treasury has forecast this year and our exit from recession will be slower than the US or European recovery. Given the position of the UK economy and British manufacturing, it would appear prudent to extend the Scrappage Scheme to support the British automotive sector.
   "LTI Vehicles is an excellent example of the success of the Government’s Scrappage Scheme and a reason to extend its operation in the current economic conditions."
   Predictions show that the Scrappage Scheme will run out of funds in October. The automotive sector will also be hit by a return to 17.5% VAT on 1 January 2010 and a new Road Fund Licence regime in April 2010, which will introduce a new first year rate, adding Ł740 onto the cost of a new taxi at the point of sale.
   No other support packages announced by the Government for the industry this year have achieved the same success as the Scrappage Scheme.

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