Page 12
Call Sign July 2011
Peter Straiton (F31) is a former police officer
from the Met, but retired in 2002 since when
he has been driving a taxi full time. One year
later, in March 2003, he decided to join Dial-
a-Cab. Call Sign isn't sure how he got the call
to assist US Secret Service Agents before and
during the time of the State visit by US
President Barack Obama and First Lady,
DaC driver, US Secret
Michelle, but it certainly gave Peter the most
exciting two weeks of his taxi driving career
so far!
The drivers Peter was one of twenty
Service and the Prez!
including a number of other taxis were
recruited by a former special branch officer.
Peter never actually saw the President,
although he was within a few hundred yards
of him on several occasions. He was, though,
close enough to Michelle to see her but not
close enough to speak to her whether those
Secret Service Agents would have allowed him
to in any case is another matter, but no doubt
given the opportunity he would have tried to
get her to open an account with DaC!
Peter also went to Christ Church College
MAYOR'S AIR
QUALITY
STRATEGY
Exemptions Consultation
Peter at Christ Church College Oxford. In the background, the closest we could get
to secret service cars...
in Oxford when the First lady visited. At that
DaC logo on whilst photographs were taken
time the President was meeting David
and unsurprisingly, he certainly wasn't
Cameron at 10 Downing Street.
allowed to photograph the Agents!
Peter and his Vito taxi were at the beck and
One particular journey included carrying
call of the Secret Service agents for most of the
members of the US Secret Service Counter
In December 2010 the Mayor's Air Quality
two weeks as they went around London,
Sniper Unit, together with their luggage!
Strategy was published and contained a wide
including being part of President Obama's
They travelled to Mildenhall RAF base which,
range of initiatives aimed at reducing harmful
high speed motorcade procession as it trav-
despite its name, primarily supports United
emissions in London. The actions outlined in
elled from the US embassy in Grosvenor
States Air Force operations. They told Peter
the strategy included initiatives focused on
reducing harmful emissions from licensed
Square to the Ambassador's residence at
that the Vito was the preferred choice for trav-
taxis and private hire vehicles.
Winfield House where he stayed for his first
el of the Secret Service Agents. He asked Call
You can find a full copy of the Mayor's Air
night having come in early due to the
Sign to pass that message over to the Editor
Quality Strategy on the GLA website at:
Icelandic Grimsvotn volcanic eruption. Sadly
and mentioned something about putting it in
www.london.gov.uk/publication/mayors-
for Call Sign, he wasn't allowed to keep his
his pipe...!
air-quality-strategy.
The air quality initiatives for taxis (and PHV)
included the following age limits:
From 1 January 2012 a 10 year rolling
The Flower Mill
age limit will be introduced for private
hire vehicles and a 15 year rolling age
limit for taxis unless exempted
Creating Beautiful Flowers For Weddings
From 1 April 2012, unless exempted, all
newly licensed private hire vehicles must,
as a minimum, meet Euro 4 standards for
emissions and be no older than 5 years
Tel: 07854 738895
and all newly licensed taxis must, as a
minimum, meet Euro 5 standards for
Web: www.theflowermillessex.co.uk
emissions
LTPH are now consulting on a limited num-
ber of proposed exemptions to these age lim-
Email: theflowermill@yahoo.co.uk
its and a full copy of the consultation docu-
ment is available on the TfL website: at
Covering Essex & The Surrounding Counties
tfl.gov.uk/tph.
The closing date is 18 July 2011 and
responses to the consultation should be
"It is at the edge of a petal that love waits"- William Carlos Williams
emailed to tph.consultation@tfl.gov.uk
before the closing date.
