Page 33
Call Sign November 2011
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Westminster TaxiCard
so little left to smile about after my husband
result was dropped. As has been written
Norman died. Just as my treatment at
several times in Call Sign by different
account
Chelsea and Westminster Hospital keeps me
people (Brian Rice most often), Addison
alive, so do my little chats with your drivers.
Lee drivers do what they are told. We are
Dear Editor
They keep me going, they make me smile,
a different kettle of fish ...Ed
All Westminster TaxiCard holders includ-
they keep my spirits up. They are just the
ing me have been told that future usage of
most wonderful people and I pray my
the card may only be provided to those on
Eurostar exits
TaxiCard remains. This is most definitely not
disability benefits rather than as has always
Hi Alan
just a taxi ride to me...
been the case, an inability to use public
Several times late at night after picking up at
Mrs Carol Plaskett
transport. As those on Dial-a-Cab who have
bay 6 in the St Pancras Eurostar coach park,
London SW1
picked me up would testify, I can just about
I have had problems trying to leave. Just last
Thanks for the letter Carol and your
get into a taxi with a small amount of sup-
week I had a passenger who actually took
lovely comments. If you are on any dis-
port from your always helpful drivers, but I
his case out of the cab and headed out to
ability benefits, then the Westminster
would never be able to get onto a bus or
Midland Road to flag a cab down as there
cuts should not affect you ...Ed
train. But neither do I choose to claim any
was no one to open the barrier. Luckily
form of disability benefit and as a conse-
before an empty cab came past, a member
quence of saving some money for the coun-
Private jets?
of the station staff turned up and opened the
try, I will be penalised from using one of the
Hi Al
barrier. Suffice to say my passenger was not
most important things I have the freedom
I am not sure if you saw an article in The
happy about the situation.
my TaxiCard still gives me. It means I can
Sun pertaining to Addison Lee offering a full
A couple of months ago, I had some girls
still go out albeit not that far nowadays.
door-to door service, including a private jet
on board from a PR company (not one of
So if the worst comes to the worst and I
to the country of choice? A price of £36,000
our accounts but a `T' job) who had left St
do lose it, then let me take this opportunity
was mentioned. I'm not sure of the truthful-
Pancras on the first train out in the morning
of thanking everyone at Dial-a-Cab from
ness of the story, but it's well worth watch-
and had arrived back some 18 hours or so
your lovely call takers to your helpful
ing! We can only imagine the publicity if this
later. One of them began to get quite emo-
administration staff, but especially to the dri-
ever comes to fruition.
tional and distressed when it took well over
vers who are nothing short of wonderful.
Louie Christian (A48)
5 minutes to exit the coach park.
My friend has a TaxiCard in Camden,
No, I didn't see it Louie, however, if I
Then of course, there is the safety situa-
which is operated by ComCab, and she
may I'd like to offer a history lesson
tion. Should a fire or similar (God forbid a
often tells me how she envies the service I
regarding the subject. In November
terrorist attack) or even rioting, I'm sure the
get compared to hers. If I am now about to
1999, Board member Mike Son wrote an
station could be seen as a viable target with
lose it, then thank you Dial-a-Cab for all you
article in Call Sign informing sub-
its large number of up-market shops; drivers
have done and bless you.
scribers that DaC had agreed to pass
should be able to exit quickly.
Mrs Roma Stephens
over any client's requests for a heli-
I realise that there are security issues
St Edmunds Close, NW8
copter to a charter company that would
regarding the number of people knowing
Brian Rice replies: Dear Mrs Stephens,
represent this Society, although there
the codes that activate the exit barrier, but
thank you for your kind letter. I am sure
was never any intention of actually buy-
would it not be possible for our call centre
all staff and drivers will appreciate your
ing our own helicopter (or plane). But
either to have this number available to send
sentiments. I must say I do sympathise
according to Mike, we just needed an
to a trapped driver so they could activate it
with your situation and it does seem
association with a company who could
and then close it again once out, or for the
extremely unfair that people that wish
supply the service to our customers if
call centre to have the phone number of
to take less from society seem to be
they needed it. The company was
someone at St Pancras who could get the
penalised for doing so. Unfortunately, at
Thurston Helicopters who were based at
barrier opened quickly? Personally, I don't
the present time everyone is endeavour-
Redhill, Surrey (nowadays they are at
see why it should not be capable of being
ing to reduce their expenditure and
Headcorn Aerodrome in Kent). The idea
opened remotely using cameras and a call
Westminster Council is no exception.
was that if, for example, a client needed
button on the post that holds the control
Let us all hope they have a change of
to get to somewhere a bit out of the way,
panel.
heart and the situation improves in the
the Dial-a-Cab driver would pick up the
Eddie Lambert (V37)
future.
customer and take them to Battersea
Not sure about the terrorist aspect, but
Heliport and in due course, they would
you are quite right about the length of
...and again!
receive the invoice for taxi usage and
time it takes to exit at times, Eddie.
the helicopter service, plus of course
Operating a train that travels at 186mph
It looks like Westminster is to cut back on
our normal service charges. Dial-a-Cab
and which can get you to the beautiful
their subsidy of TaxiCard. I just hope and
would also have received a healthy com-
Lille in France for lunch in around 75
pray that this does not affect my usage
mission from Thurston Helicopters.
minutes, you'd have thought the matter
because it is not just a cut-price taxi ride so
Things have moved on a bit now and no
of travelling around 25 metres from
far as I am concerned. It is my life! Without
doubt we would have been using private
entrance to exit would not be too much
it, not only will I never get out again but I
jets from LCA under the same scheme.
of a problem. However, at around
won't be able to talk to those wonderful dri-
However, the idea was said by a DaC
0.5mph it seems to take the security
vers from Dial-a-Cab, the people who never
member to be against our rules and as a
guards forever! Allan Evans is currently
fail to make me smile at a time when I have
