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Call Sign October 2011
Mailshot
Either write to Call Sign at
Dial-a-Cab House or email us
at - callsignmag@aol.com
Paying for Call Sign
he can get an answer from the Mayor about
limit. To the best of my knowledge, indi-
this?
vidual owners have not been
Hi Alan
approached to enquire as to their future
Dear Brian,
Many thanks for sending me Call Sign over
plans. I can understand your frustra-
Since the announcement of the 15 year
the years, it makes a very good read.
tions, however, initially the Mayor want-
rule, I have been looking at the fleet work-
Unfortunately the August issue was not deliv-
ed a 10 year age limit but settled for 15
ing around me in town on workdays. My
ered as there was no postage put on. We
when it was explained the trade could
cab is a `W' reg so I have a few years left
received a post office non-delivery card so
not afford the 10 year rule unless it was
before Boris destroys it for no good reason.
my wife went to the sorting office and was
financed with some sort of scrappage
The emissions on my cab were better before
told that they no longer knock on the door to
scheme. Of course the trade was
the new exhaust system was fitted at a con-
collect the unpaid postage for health and
informed there was not any money
siderable cost. I can't help but notice that in
safety reasons (they may get mugged)! She
available for that. Whether anyone
my opinion, at least half the day fleet will be
paid the demanded £2 but was not happy
agrees with this policy or not - and I
taken off the road by the time my final plate
and demanded the money back from me - fat
know many drivers do agree - it is a very
runs out. For that reason, I wonder if it
chance! I just thought I would let you know
difficult argument to convince the
would be possible for you to ask Boris how
as more drivers may complain. There may be
authorities that our taxi fleet should not
many cabs will be removed in years one,
a fault with the franking machine - or are you
have to be more modern and greener.
two, three, four and five of the impending
cutting back on postage!
Personally, I have never let myself get
legislation? And what would be the total
Keep up the good work on a very good
dragged into this argument because I
amount left ending year 5?
magazine...
believe I could give an extremely plausi-
For question two, has TfL consulted with
Alan Cohen MBE
ble argument for both points of view
the owners of these cabs to ascertain if the
Project Organiser, LTFUC
and what is more annoying, I partly
cabs will be replaced with drivers attempt-
I wish I could say that yours was the
agree with both parties as I can see both
ing to buy, hire or leave the trade? I have a
only complaint I had, Alan, but I was
sets of pros and cons! So it's not an ideal
theory that due to the impending allocation
inundated! Fortunately it was only the
situation. However, what is certain is
of minicab ranks being implemented, it will
courtesy copies and not the 2000+ dri-
that this legislation will not be changed;
not be long before TfL decides there is an
ver's copies that are sent directly from
consequently the trade will not have any
unmet demand (due to them forcing the
our printers. But they still number
alternative other than to comply.
scrapping of perfectly good taxis) and allow
around 90 or so. Yes, there was a fault
On your observation regarding mini-
these "ranked up, waiting for allocation of
on our franking machine and my only
cabs and ranks, I do not disagree with
jobs minicabs" to ply for hire off the rank.
consolation is that everyone on that list
you as I have been warning of this for
By decimating our trade, a unique selling
that I heard from seems to have paid the
many years. But for this to be the norm,
point for London will be lost, the disabled
£2 - even after seeing what the envelope
legislation would have to be amended as
community will lose thousands of wheel-
contained! As for the post office, they
it is illegal for minicabs to form a rank
chair accessible vehicles and I fear that
must have known that the strange mark-
and there would have to be some sort of
eventually the job will have prohibitively
ing was a franking that had gone wrong,
kiosk as they have to be pre-booked,
expensive overheads to attract new drivers.
but I guess they must need the money!
although some Operators now seek to
We will find ourselves in the same position
Apologies to all those affected and my
circumvent legislation with their satel-
as many major cities where cab driving will
sincere thanks for still taking the mag
lite offices. In the future, this could also
become a part-time vocation and the skills
...Ed
change again with the introduction of
of the licenced London taxi driver may
the App culture.
indeed cease to exist.
Texaco card
On a brighter note, I do believe that
Stephen Hassan (P95)
minicabs will never be allowed to legal-
Hi Alan
Brian Rice responds: After reading your
ly pick up off the street, that is due to
Last year you published details about how to
letter, Stephen, I am not sure whether to
the fact that our trade does not wish for
get a Texaco card that allowed you a dis-
cut my throat or jump out of the win-
this and probably more importantly,
count on each litre. Can you let me know
dow! Before I do, I'll endeavour to
neither do the major Operators. Why
how to get one please?
answer your questions!
would they want their cars picking up
Tommy McDonnell (T30)
It is likely there will be between 1500
off the street when they could be servic-
The
online
contact
is
and 2000 taxis that will be over the age
ing the corporate sector and members
www.blackcabfuels.co.uk and you can
limit in 2012, so will not be relicensed.
of the public alike and the Operator
do everything necessary there or you
In 2013 2015, there will probably be
could be `creaming off' his 40% share of
can call 0800 987 5701. You can also con-
around 1,000 per annum that will
the fare?
tact them on 0845 450 5755 ...Ed
exceed the age limit, which reflects the
Finally, I must say that some of the
large number of taxis that were original-
problems we now face and will face in
Fifteen year rule
ly licensed between 1998 - 2000. In 2016
the future were forecast years ago by
and a few years thereafter, it is expected
cab numbers...
some of us in this trade, however, we
there will be approximately 700 taxis
were accused of being `vested interests'
per annum that will exceed the age
Hi Alan, could you please ask Brian Rice if
