More readers

than the rest

TAXI put together

c Ask any driver!

d
No.216 |20 April 2010

RICKSHAW
UPDATE

SEE PAGE 3
LTDA
JOIN THE LTDA’S FIGHT AGAINST RMT TACHOGRAPHS
www.ltda.co.uk
2 TAXI 20 APRIL 2010
Is it thirteen
or fourteen?
feature in a recent edition of
FROM THE
EDITOR’S DESK
Stuart Pessok A TAXI featured the locations
of the 13 cab shelters still in
existence along with their
hours of opening. Following
this, I received a letter from a cab driver
who regularly uses the café at what I
have always known as ‘The George’ in
Haverstock Hill.
Writing on behalf of fellow regulars,
who, he pointed out, “Revive their
weary minds (and tummies) on a daily
basis at the ‘Wharrie cabman’s shelter
often referred to as the George rank’.
He went on to describe the food on
offer as the usual cabman’s fare
including a freshly cooked selection,
tea, cakes etc, etc, served up by Gail
and Agi. The Wharrie is open from 7
am to 4 p Monday to Saturday and, in
the opinion of the letter writer and his
c
fellow regulars, should be added to the
list of surviving cab shelters bringing
The George is a the total up to 14!
While I am happy to advertise the
well-known, well-used George rank or the Wharrie and tell the
watering hole for cabbies readers how good the food on offer is,
that has served the trade I cannot concede that it is a cab shelter
d
in the true sense of the word.
for many years There was a cab shelter erected in
Haverstock Hill in 1875 and may have
stood somewhere near where the
George rank is today, but, if it had
survived until today it would have been
‘timber framed, tongue and grooved
timber panels; felt-clad timber roof; 7
bays by 3 bays; entrance to centre of
north side; windows to upper wall in
second, fourth and sixth bays. Stump
of fleche to roof and decorative rafter
ends to eaves. It would also be a
Grade II listed building.
Unfortunately, the Wharrie Cabmen’s
Shelter falls well short of this and I
can’t see how it could be considered
number 14 on the list of surviving
shelters; unless, of course, someone
knows different.
Nevertheless, the George is a well-
known, well-used watering hole for
cabbies that has served the trade for
many years. It doesn’t have to be a true
Cabmen’s Shelter to satisfy the needs
of all the drivers that use it.
Catalytic converters
It appears that for some thieves,
welding the bolts on catalytic
converters slows them down but still
doesn’t stop them removing it from the
cab. This unit is expensive to replace
but for those unfortunate to become a
victim, here’s a little bit of good news
– Leyton Taxi Parts! The cost of one of
their replacement converters is £120,
which is a lot better than the £450 I
reported in the last issue.
Leyton Taxi Parts can be found at
Unit 6, Acacia Business Centre,
Leytonstone High Road E11 3PL. Let’s
hope you don’t have to use them.
Licence renewal
In my last editorial I told of the
problems faced by a driver trying to
renew his licence via the Post Office’s
Check and Send service which,
according to the latest info from
TfL/PCO (see elsewhere in this issue),
is being extended to include more
Post Offices.
Unfortunately for another driver
who called me, it wouldn’t have
mattered if ALL Post Offices
participated because his paperwork
got lost. He asked for a temporary
permit to be sent to him while things
were sorted but that got lost as well!
The last I heard he was working as an
unlicensed taxi driver hoping he
wouldn’t be pulled over! With all the
changes being made at the PCO
things will get better - won’t they? TAXI

TOP NEWS
STORY
Bob Oddy
LTDA Gen Secretary
rooper Christopher O’Kane
T was killed on 4 April when
travelling in a rickshaw which
he had hired for a trip around
the tourist centre of
Edinburgh. The soldier, on leave from
Afghanistan, had apparently fallen from
the moving vehicle and died after
striking his head on the roadway.
This accident is reminiscent of
many similar incidents which, during
recent years, have caused serious
injury to rickshaw passengers in
London but fortunately have not
resulted in fatalities.
Significant Risk
It is 12 years since rickshaws first
appeared on the streets of our Capital;
throughout that time the LTDA has
campaigned relentlessly to introduce a
Previous supporters of LTDA’s campaign
Gwyneth
Dunwoody MP
Stephen Linda
Pound MP Perham MP
JOIN THE LTDA’S FIGHT AGAINST RMT TACHOGRAPHS
Rickshaw
Update
total ban on the activities of rickshaw
operators and their lager-swilling
cowboy riders, many of whom openly
boast of the rip-off fares they have
conned out of their last tourist victim.
In 2004 the LTDA commissioned the
Transport Research Laboratory (TRL)
to undertake an Independent Safety
Evaluation of the model of rickshaw
most commonly observed in operation
on the streets of the Capital.
TRL concluded that rickshaws
provided “little or no protection in the
event of almost any accident” and
posed a significant risk of passengers
being “dragged along in direct contact
with the road surface”; findings which
forced TRL to ban its technicians from
testing the vehicles at speeds above 9
miles per hour!
In practise, rickshaws commonly
race around the streets of London at
excessive speeds, which prompted the
LTDA to commission a second study
to enable the handling and stability of
the inherently dangerous vehicles to be
assessed by means of computerised
simulation, thereby, eliminating the risk
of physical injury to TRL technicians.
Stephen
Hammond MP
20 APRIL 2010 TAXI 3
NEWS ...FROM PAGE 1
£100,000 investment
The combined cost of both evaluations Recent supporter
exceeded £100,000, an investment
which provided the Association with
the necessary ammunition to de-rail
the Public Carriage Office plans to
license rickshaws as ‘pedal powered
hackney carriages’.
Transport for London has recently
urged the Government to introduce
“clear legislation” to deal with the
rickshaw problem, but the form of
legislation required may take years to
progress through Parliament and there
remains a significant risk that MPs may
eventually elect to license rather than
ban the three-wheeled death traps.
Lee Scott MP who, in
Landmark Prosecution November last year, tabled
In 2003, in a bold attempt to rid the an early day motion in the
House of Commons:
Capital’s streets of rickshaws, the LTDA
launched its own landmark private
“That this House notes with
prosecution (Oddy v Bugbugs). The
concern that pedicabs are
Association’s case eventually
inherently dangerous; further
progressed to the High Court where
notes that there is a high risk of
Justice Pichford ruled that, due to a
serious injury or death for the
loophole in the law, the antics of
rider and passenger in the
rickshaw operators and riders are
event of an accident; further
regrettably entirely legal, despite the
notes that many pedicabs have
risks which they pose to unsuspecting
inadequate or no insurance;
passengers.
and calls on the Government to
The LTDA has fought a long and very
make the touting for public hire
expensive battle against the rickshaw
of pedicabs illegal.”
cowboys, receiving absolutely no
support from the PCO or any trade
organisation during that period.
The Association has no intention of
giving up the fight and following advice
from leading counsel we are currently
considering which of two legal options
to pursue in our ongoing battle against
the rickshaw menace.
Editor’s note: Westminster City
Council is attempting to progress a
Bill through Parliament which will
enable the Council to issue Penalty
Charge Notices to the owners of
rickshaws who flaunt waiting
regulations, the Bill is NOT an attempt
to license rickshaws. For a review of
LTDA’s campaign, see centre pages.
www.ltda.co.uk LTDA
4 TAXI 20 APRIL 2010

Hands Up! Are you

promoting your trade?
TOUT AND o far, over 130,000 LTDA Square, St Johns Wood, Hanover

ABOUT
Steve McNamara S receipt pads displaying the
tout/minicab warning have
been distributed, yet there are
still drivers who have been
unable to obtain any. The vast
majority of punters prefer these
‘proper’ receipts to the print roll
Square, Temple Place, The Pier
and the All Nations.
Starting from this week they will
also be at many garages including:
LP Motors Dunbridge Street,
Richmond Road Cab Centre, A1
Taxis Sidmouth Street, Hexagon
variety, so it’s a good idea to ensure Garage Lukin Street, Taxi Media
that you have a sufficient supply in Fitting Centre in Dunbridge Street
your cab. and G &L Taxis Crayford Road.
The LTDA has just taken delivery of Taxi House has also been re-

c
another 30,000 receipt pads and
these have been distributed around
The LTDA have just taken the trade and can be picked up at the
following cab trade eateries: Astral
delivery of another 30,000 receipt Café Regency Place SW1, most of the
stocked with the Hands Up seat
back adverts and if you are still
driving around with the original set
that came with your cab when you
bought it why not change them for

d
pads and these have been shelters including: Pont Street, ones that promote your trade. Pick
distributed around the trade Warwick Avenue, St Georges Square, up a set the next time you are near
‘Tout warning’ receipt pads Northumberland Avenue, Russell Woodfield Road. TAXI

Receipts available at many taxi garages...

LONDON CABBIES
FAVOURITE GARAGE
~ TAXI-CAB RENTALS ~ ... as well as at most of the cab shelters

CRICKLEWOOD CARRIERS
020 8452 5461
GOD SAVE THE KING Tony, owner of the Astral Café, is fully
behind the LTDA’s Hands Up campaign

Bus Lane
Confusion
he introduction of a
THE
MASSETT
FILE
Richard Massett
LTDA Executive
T contra-flow bus lane in
Bloomsbury Way has led
to confusion amongst
many taxi drivers because
of the use of inappropriate signage.
While work has been in progress to
Chairman, London install the bus lane, the section
between Red Lion Street and Old
Cab Ranks Committee North Street has raised a number of
queries due to changes in the
signage, which for most of the time
was incomplete and therefore
unenforceable.
When the works were completed
a few weeks ago and the new
contra-flow bus lane opened, the
Red Lion Street stretch had signs
showing ‘buses only’. Having been
involved in meetings with TfL’s
Route 38 team during the planning
stage, I was surprised to hear that
taxis had been excluded from the
bus lane as this had not been part
of the plan.
I then received a call from an
LTDA member who had taken the
trouble to telephone Camden and
had been told that as far as the
Council was concerned taxis
should not have been omitted. I
contacted TfL who immediately
came back stating that the signs
would be removed straight away
and then replaced, in due course,
with new signs that would permit
entry to the bus lane by taxis.
As you can see from the lower
photograph on this page, a visit to
Bloomsbury Way – who can tell us the site confirmed that all the
exactly what this sign means? existing signage had been
The Theobalds Road bus lane where all signs have been removed
JOIN THE LTDA’S FIGHT AGAINST RMT TACHOGRAPHS
20 APRIL 2010 TAXI 5
removed. TfL also confirmed to me
that its enforcement arm had been
asked not to issue any PCNs to
taxi drivers found using this
bus lane.
The LTDA also received a
number of calls from members who
Stop Press
are confused by the signage that
has cropped up along the
EMBARGO
eastbound bus lane in Bloomsbury
Way. The question raised was
CLUB
whether taxis are still permitted to Representatives from LTDA,
use this lane. LCDC and Unite Union recently
The answer is a very definite met with officers of the Met’s Cab
YES, but as the other photograph Enforcement Unit (Safer Travel
on this page shows, I can certainly Command). Topics discussed
understand why some people may included the activities of staff and
be confused, so I will be speaking touts at the Embargo Club, King’s
to TfL about this puzzling signage. Road. TAXI is pleased to report
The signs are in fact correct but if that the clipboard Johnny has
professional drivers are getting now been arrested.
confused by them what chance does
the ordinary motorist have? TAXI
c
I was surprised to hear
that taxis had been excluded
from the bus lane as this had not
d
been part of the plan
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To find out more please call Helen Laycock of Griffin Mortgages.
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the Financial Services Authority. Openwork Ltd offer insurance and investment advice on products from
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www.ltda.co.uk LTDA
6 TAXI 20 APRIL 2010

NEWS
Penton Street Counter Closure
ince 4 January 2010, TfL has internet to further improve accessibility applications in person, TfL have also provided with your application

S operated a reduced counter

service at Penton Street with
services only available
between 10 am and 3 pm,
Tuesday to Thursdays. This
arrangement was introduced as part
of a wider development programme
to existing drivers and new applicants
to information, and the ability to apply
and renew licences on line.
As part of a TfL wide
accommodation programme the
Taxi & Private Hire directorate will
shortly vacate Penton Street to
been working closely with the Post
Office to further develop and
improve the existing ‘Check and
Send’ service.
A number of Post Offices across
London will be able to check and
accept new renewal taxi
pack. Renewal applications must be
submitted at least 6 weeks in
advance of the expiry of your licence
to allow sufficient time for processing.

to improve licensing services and
enable applications and related
services to be dealt with more quickly
and effectively by email, telephone
and post.
In addition TfL continues to explore
other initiatives to improve services
such as more effective use of the
premises where counter facilities will
no longer exist.
With effect from Friday 30 April
2010 the taxi counter services at
Penton Street will no longer be
available.
In preparation for this change, and
for those drivers who prefer to submit
applications for a small fee.
Knowledge appearances will not
be affected by this change and
appointments will continue to be
booked as normal although it may
be necessary to amend the location
of appearances that may have
been booked.
Further information
If you have any queries or need to
submit additional information,
please e-mail the information
where possible to avoid postal
delays. If you have any questions
please visit tfl.gov.uk/tph or call
on 0845 602 7000 Monday –

c
From 30 April for applications or
renewals TfL recommend the
TfL appreciates that the counter services provided in the past following:-
from Penton Street have been well used and popular with new Driver application packs
applicants and existing drivers. These can be requested online at
However, in order to deliver the long term improvements needed to tfl.gov.uk/tphservices
the services we deliver and to enable TfL to realise its accommodation Driver licence renewal
strategy, the closure of counter services is unavoidable. TfL would like applications
to thank you for your co-operation and understanding whilst we The quickest, most efficient way is
Friday 8.00 am - 5.00 pm.
For taxi vehicle licensing
appointments please call SGS on
0845 378 2345.
Email addresses
General enquiries
tph.enquiries@tfl.gov.uk
Taxi drivers
tph.enquiries@tfl.gov.uk

d
to use the Post Office Check & Send
implement this change and deal with any issues arising Service, details of which (including Taxi vehicles
John Mason Director Taxi and Private Hire participating branches) are available tph.taxicontract@tfl.gov.uk
online at tfl.gov.uk/tphservices, and

Licence Fee Changes for 2010/11

Taxi and Private Hire licence 2009/10 2010/11
fees are reviewed annually Description
Fee Fee
to reflect the basic legal
principle that the costs of Taxi licence
providing the licensing £111.00 £101.00
application/inspection
service and operation are
recoverable through the
fees payable by licensees Taxi annual licence £53.00 £53.00
and licence applicants and
that these fees should be
Taxi inspection re-test n/a £50.00
kept under review.
A review of the licensing
fees for 2010/11 has been Taxi driver –
0.15 £15.00
undertaken and the replacement badge
following fees have been
revised as set out in the Knowledge appearance –
table below. Revised fees Suburban (yellow badge) £150.00 £200.00
take effect from Tuesday 6 taxi driver applicants
April 2010.

Over 1,000 touting arrests

Since 1 August 2008, when they re-apply. Court convictions
licensed private hire Cab Enforcement involving licensed
drivers convicted of Unit made 1,230 private hire vehicle
taxi touting lose their arrests for touting drivers. Of these
licence for a minimum between 1 August drivers, 234 have had
of one year. Their 2008 and 28 their PHV driver’s
fitness to hold a February 2010. To licences revoked, with
licence will then be date, this has led to the remainder being
assessed by TfL if and 344 Magistrate’s processed.
 20 APRIL 2010 TAXI 7

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JOIN THE LTDA’S FIGHT AGAINST RMT TACHOGRAPHS www.ltda.co.uk LTDA

8 TAXI 20 APRIL 2010
Victims of
efficiency?
could be accused of being a
HOOPER’S
VIEW
Barry Hooper
LTDA Executive
I ‘glass half empty’ kind of
person, or perhaps negative, or
even cynical, and in fact I have
been accused of all those things
and much worse if I’m honest. Sadly
I feel I must plead guilty as charged!
Not surprisingly, given my
negative, perhaps suspicious nature,
when someone tells me that their
drive for efficiency will be in my best
interest, I immediately look for the
‘small print’ or ‘hidden agenda’.
Something that’s described as being
an ‘initiative to improve service’
inevitably ends up costing me
money one way or another.
There is an old saying that goes
‘you can take two steps forward and
one back’ when describing
innovation or progress. The
announcement from John Mason,
c
Director of Taxi and Private Hire
(once again without consultation)
When you talk to as that ‘Transport for London Taxi and
many cab drivers as I do, you Private Hire’ (the entity formally
known as the PCO) would be
realise that forms and documents closing it’s counter at Penton Street
sent to the ‘PCO ’ have a bad
d
is, I believe, one step back and
habit of going missing maybe half a step forward!
There are of course some good
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things that will
come out of this
move. For a start
you won’t get a
£60 fine for over
running the meter
by 2 minutes
because there was
a queue at the
counter! You won’t
be treated to the bored, ‘matter of
fact’ expression at the counter, or
the patronising attitude of staff
because you forgot to dot an ‘i’ or
cross a ‘t’. That’s about the end of
the good news!
Now for the bad! When you talk to
as many cab drivers as I do, you
realise that forms and documents
sent to the ‘PCO’ (now to be known
as TfLT&PH (why use 3 letters when
6 will do!)) have a bad habit of going
missing. Many disappear before
they arrive at Penton Street. Who
knows why?
Some might say that someone
somewhere, perhaps even in the
postal service, realises that any
envelope heavy enough to carry a
‘renewal’ bundle, will almost
certainly contain such things as
driving licences and personal details.
It has even been known for
documents to disappear after arrival
at Penton Street. Hence my previous
advice to LTDA members to take
their renewal documents to the
counter in person. This enabled staff
to photocopy the driver’s licence and
return it, along with a receipt for
payment and a cover note to show
good reason to anyone who asks
why you don’t have your ‘bill’ with
you. By far the better way to do a
renewal; safe, secure, and you have
not lost anything (unless you
overstay that bloody meter).
You are now (from 30 April) left
with two choices. Firstly you can
post it. You will certainly need to
register it otherwise it could
disappear into a black hole in
Blackfriars never to be seen again.
Imagine the hassle? You will have to
explain to them where your renewal
application has gone! You will
certainly need proof of delivery
otherwise it will all be down to you,
mate. New driver’s licence, more
photographs etc!
The second option will be to use
the Post Office. This is already in
place, although I have no personal
experience of this system. They
check documents, and presumably
give you back your driver’s licence
before sending them off. There is a
charge, I think its seven quid, but at
the time of writing I couldn’t get hold
of anyone to confirm.
The downside is that only three
(yes 3) Post Offices can carry out
this task. Apparently 15 will be
available, but again I am unable to
confirm the number or the
whereabouts of these offices.
So, what does it all mean? Well it
doesn’t mean that the system will
improve from your point of view. It
does mean that you will have more
aggravation finding and parking at
an approved Post Office (forget what
I said previously about saving on
parking fines!). It means that you will
not have a bill or cover note, whilst
the ‘system is in progress’.
What could the TfLT&PH do to
help. Well, if they had consulted I
would have suggested that they
send out a ‘cover note’ with the
renewal pack, and also either waived
the need for your DVLA licence to be
sent, or accept a photocopy. There
may have been other things that the
trade could have suggested IF they
had consulted. As I said, one step
back, and half a step forward. I
think its called making decisions
on the hoof!
Pestana Hotel,
Chelsea Bridge
I have been told by more than one
driver that the hotel staff at this
Portuguese chain does not want
taxis. Fair enough, don’t give them
any. When the staff are looking for a
cab in the rain, let them look!
Box clever at Berkeley
Street and Piccadilly
If you are turning left into Piccadilly
from Berkeley Street make sure that
the box is clear. Westminster’s
cameras are raking it in at the
moment and you will become
another victim. Be warned!
Diet update
Slim drivers need read no further!
For those interested, my new regime
has seen another 6 pounds gone,
that’s 18 and a half altogether. Not
bad in the first month and only
another 18 or so to go! Do yourself a
favour. If you put your mind to it you
can exercise and diet. In the kind of
job we do you can’t really afford to
just sit around and do nothing.
Bye for now, don’t forget to keep
them doors locked and if in doubt
keep them out!! TAXI
 20 APRIL 2010 TAXI 9

LIES UPDATE!
Officials of the Communist lead RMT and the trade blogs which support them are continually
spreading lies and misleading innuendo regarding the Officers and policies of the LTDA,
Unite Union and LCDC. TAXI will continue to expose these lies and half truths until this
uncalled-for smear campaign, prompted by the recently formed RMT Taxi Branch, ceases.

FACT ONE: LTDA membership currently exceeds 8500, which is an all time high. Members are welcome to inspect
the Association records at any time in order to verify this figure.
The RMT statement that LTDA membership has: “fallen to an all time low” is yet another RMT lie. (QUESTION: Why
are RMT members repeatedly prevented from examining the RMT Taxi Branch membership list?)

FACT TWO: The RMT Taxi Branch is not recognised at Heathrow Airport or the PCO. The RMT was not party to the
United Trade delegation which successfully defeated Addison Lee’s attempt to infiltrate the airport. All RMT
statements issued to the contrary are a lie.

FACT THREE: RMT officials continue to deny that they have joined forces with the GMB Minicab Union in its
campaign to introduce taxi type partitions into minicabs. This denial is another RMT lie, in fact the GMB Minicab
leader who is spearheading the minicab campaign has proudly boasted that he “will fight to the death” to get
minicabs into bus lanes!

FACT FOUR: On 9 February 2009, shortly after forming the new RMT Taxi Branch, the Communist-led RMT boasted,
in relation to a restriction on drivers working hours, that: “The RMT and our sister unions in the European Transport
Workers lobbied Members of the European Parliament to vote to support the inclusion of self-employed drivers (in
the Working Time Directive) from March 2009”

FACT FIVE: On 13 October 2009 the RMT stated, in its response to the UK Government Consultation on Domestic
Drivers’ Hours Rules: “The RMT’s view is that all drivers who carry passengers should be covered by rules governing
maximum driving time and rest breaks. There is therefore a case for considering extending the rules to cover
taxis/private hire vehicles….the mandatory use of tachographs would be positive”

FACT SIX: The PCO commenced

licensing satellite minicab offices in night
clubs without any form of Trade
Consultation. These offices remained
undetected until exposed by an LTDA
undercover team. The LTDA has since
campaigned relentlessly to overturn the
PCO decision. All statements to the
contrary are lies.

FACT SEVEN: The PCO permitted

Shamsul Haque, a minicab driver with a
conviction for manslaughter, to sign onto
the Knowledge. Lies are circulating that
the LTDA condoned this action and had
been aware of the PCO decision for over
a year. This lie is so absurd that it
beggars belief, but it highlights the
depths to which the RMT supporters will
stoop in their efforts to divide our trade!

JOIN THE LTDA’S FIGHT AGAINST RMT TACHOGRAPHS www.ltda.co.uk LTDA

10 TAXI 20 APRIL 2010
Uncertain Times
Ahead for our Trade
or as long as I can remember
TAXI-TALK
Alf Townsend
F the ‘faces’ and the mobile-
mob have been bunging hotel
porters for the airport rides
and, for as long as I can
remember, I have been banging on
about the possible dangerous
consequences of this practice to
our trade.
Firstly, everyone knows that this
practice is morally wrong, but more
importantly, I have always believed
that once the opposition got its act
together it would eventually gobble up
this cream work by paying all the
hotels a commission for their long,
pre-booked jobs. And now, it would
seem, my predictions are sadly
proving to be correct.
My sources inform me that two major
London hotels - not a million miles from
Marble Arch and popular venues for the
‘faces’, have instituted new booking
procedures. The porters are forbidden
c
to take guest’s luggage outside to the
taxi-rank anymore because now, all
This so-called ‘new pre-booked fares - or fares of any
dawn’ could well turn out to be consequence, have to come via the
d
concierge.
the ‘sunset’ for their trade! The concierge first telephones, guess
who, a PH company who have done a
deal with the hotel, then hands out
four pounds to the porter as his cut!
So the hotel get a regular cut; as does
the concierge and the porters while
the poor old cabbies sitting outside on
the ranks gets the locals - or sweet FA!
Some of my more cynical readers
may be saying to themselves that
anyone can appear wise after the
event, so please allow me to quote
from my latest book Heathrow Cabbie
that I first started to write some two
years ago.
I wrote:- “Playing Devil’s Advocate,
which is a great way to access any
future scenario, if I was the marketing
man of a major PH company my first
step would be to be build up a solid
customer base in town. Then I’d move
into the corporate market and
undercut the licensed radio circuits’
lucrative account customers.
“My next major step forward would
be to ‘lock up’ all the Central London
hotel chains by offering set price deals
for their guests to all four airports or
elsewhere. This would appeal to the
hotel chains because they would
receive a small regular sum in
‘appreciation’ of their compliance and
a car would be readily waiting outside
for their guests. Consequently, the
poor old cabbies sitting hopefully on
the ranks outside would eventually be
reduced to doing just the local fares
that PH aren’t interested in covering!”
Now, two years down the line, it
would appear that my predictions
were about right and the PH
companies HAVE built up a solid
customer base in Central London and
they HAVE made inroads into the
licensed radio circuits’ lucrative City
accounts; and now it would appear
that they are working on the next
stage of their campaign, to ‘lock-up’
all the major hotels in Central London
Again, quoting from my book, “the
final part of their plan would be to
make inroads into the lucrative
Heathrow customer base. Firstly set
up your stall in all five terminals and, as
long as you pay the going rate, then
the cash-strapped BAA will do
business with you with no moral
obligations to our trade.
“But now you need somewhere to
park all your vehicles because your
business is flourishing. The licensed
taxis have their own feeder park and as
a good paying customer, why
shouldn’t the BAA grant you the same
privilege? If you look at it from their
side, it’s a valid argument.
“The BAA will say that there’s simply
no more space available on the airport
for all these private hire vehicles. But
the shrewd PH operators - having
done their homework - will reply, ‘But
the taxis have two feeder parks,
surely you could find room for us to
share with them?’ Again a valid
argument if you look at it from their
perspective?”
I go on to say: “We presently share
the PCO with PH and we presently
share SGS with them on our annual
overhauls. What are the odds that we
won’t be sharing the Heathrow Feeder
Park and the Airport canteen with them
in the future?”
Again, many of my more cynical
readers, who tend to live in cloud-
cuckoo-land, may well accuse me of
spouting purely hypothetical clap-trap.
These cynics are invariably those who
have plenty to say, but unfortunately
never do anything to support their
trade; even to the point of joining a
trade organisation!
For sure I could be spouting clap-
trap, but only time will prove me right
or wrong. In the meantime I would
suggest that these people join a trade
organisation to help fight their corner
because we will need a united front
in the future.
Thankfully many of the new guys and
gals coming into the trade have been
voting with their feet by joining the LTDA
and raising the membership to an all-
time high of almost 9,000. That’s the
way to fight the opposition my friends!
Me Join The RMT Union?
I Think Not!
Some of my golf gang are winding me
up and saying that I should join the
RMT union seeing as though I don’t do
too many hours on the cab anymore.
They reckon I would benefit from their
mandatory policy – which means
compulsory tachographs in the
vehicles of all of their drivers and
limited working hours!
I think it’s an excellent policy if you
drive a train or a bus, but certainly a
no-no if you are a self-employed
taxi-driver!
I must confess to having some
sympathy for the few dozen
disenchanted Heathrow drivers who,
sensing a new dawn, blindly rushed to
join the RMT following Bob Crow’s
passionate rallying call in the Taxi
Feeder Park last year.
How they must be ruing their
impulsiveness now they are forced to
approve this mandatory policy,
especially as the ‘limited hours’ includes
waiting time as well. The Heathrow
regulars could well find themselves
losing over half of their allotted driving
hours in waiting time alone! This so-
called ‘new dawn’ could well turn out to
be the ‘sunset’ for their trade!
I suspect they must feel like a herd of
cattle just waiting outside for the doors
of the abattoir to open!! By all means
join a trade organisation, but one that’s
been fighting this EU edict for many
years, and yes, I do mean the LTDA!! TAXI
 20 APRIL 2010 TAXI 11

PROTECT YOURSELF
DON’T NEGLECT
YOURSELF! Look at what the LTDA Gold
Membership Scheme offers:
• Up to £450 per week in the event of hospitalisation
(payable up to four weeks)
The LTDA Gold Membership Scheme
is the winning package for • £50,000 for permanent total disablement
protection against personal (accidental injury only)
accident and illness. • up to £250 per week for temporary total
disablement, including illness
Don’t make the mistake of thinking (payable up to 50 weeks following a two week
it will never happen to you – it just deferment period)
might!
• £10,000 for death by natural causes
Why put it off for tomorrow?
It could turn out a day too late!
• £60,000 for accidental death
• £50,000 for accidental death of spouse
" Not only is the LTDA " I don’t know how I
the biggest cab driver would have survived if
organisation, it also offers I hadn’t been in the
a first class sickness and ‘Gold’ scheme, joining
accident scheme, which it was one of the best
was a lifesaver for me " decisions I ever made "
ently
Chris Allum – As an LTD
A Gold Sean Harris – Sean rec
believes ed from being a ‘Gold’
Scheme member, Chris benefit
membership is a essent
ial scheme member

To find out how to PROTECT yourself

and not NEGLECT yourself,
contact PAULA on 020 7286 1046
LTDA Gold Membership Scheme is available to new and existing members subject to terms and conditions

JOIN THE LTDA’S FIGHT AGAINST RMT TACHOGRAPHS www.ltda.co.uk LTDA

12 TAXI 20 APRIL 2010
 20 APRIL 2010 TAXI 13

JOIN THE LTDA’S FIGHT AGAINST RMT TACHOGRAPHS www.ltda.co.uk LTDA

14 TAXI 20 APRIL 2010

Massett’s
Camera Hotspots
BEWARE: All of Westminster Council’s Parking
Enforcement Cameras are back in action! 195 Richmond Road, Hackney, London E8 3NJ
TEL: 020-7275 7589 FAX: 020-7254 8976
E-mail: hackneycabs@aol.com
Osborn Street/Brick Lane Yellow lines

Elden Street Do not set down on Zig-Zags

DRIVERS WANTED
Yellow lines. This is a WCC special
Regency Place
enforcement action area.
No vehicles in front of church.
Due to upgrade on our fleet we now
St Clement Danes
Enforcement to re-commence have TX11 taxis for rent, 02 to 54 reg
Clapham High Street Zig-Zags
While other fleets are reducing
All loading bays around Smithfield in size we are expanding
Smithfield are enforced by camera – yellow lines
without loading restrictions are not
Why not hire from one of the largest garages in London
Bishopsgate Wide red lines outside station AA back-up, always spare cabs available

St Paul’s Over-ranking We are getting ready for the proposed age

restrictions maybe your garage is not?
Shaftesbury Avenue Yellow Box Junctions

Rathbone Place No right turn into Oxford Street

Gerrard Place No right turn

OWNER DRIVERS
Wilton Road and Giving up owning a cab, talk to us,
Wide red lines at bus stops
Buckingham Palace Road Full or Part time hire
Cavendish Square Over-ranking Also double team’s welcome

Savile Row Turn left at Conduit Street We also have parking on site
for part time drivers
Limehouse Link 30 mph speed limit

Southampton Row U-turns

Other facilities include:
Taxi Pre-Tests, Overhauls and Crash Repairs

Electronic and Visual Inspection

£70.00 inc.vat. Menu Pricing on Mechanical
Parts & Labour following inspection.
 20 APRIL 2010 TAXI 15

LICENSED TAXI
DRIVERS ASSOCIATION

£16.80 BUT £12.80

PER MONTH IS ALLOWABLE
AGAINST TAX

[ CAN YOU AFFORD

NOT TO JOIN? ] LTDA

Phone 0207 286 1046 NOW!

LTDA Policy Statement FREE FOR ALL DRIVERS:
It is more essential than ever for drivers to be fully appraised of • Air Line • Diaries
the various trade organisations’ policies. In order to clarify the • Receipts • Heathrow Maps
LTDA’s position on the important issues facing the industry, the
• ‘No Smoking’ Signs • Canary Wharf Maps
Association reaffirms:
• Badge Lanyards • Toilet Facilities
1. Its determination (despite opposition from certain trade organisations) to exclude

AT TAXI HOUSE WOODFIELD ROAD, W9 2BA

taxi drivers from any form of restriction on working hours or the compulsory fitting
of tachographs in cabs.
2. Its total opposition to the proposed computerised Knowledge testing system (Behind the Harrow Road Nick!)
(Quickie Knowledge), which is intended to speed up and churn out new licences.
3. Its support for a regular review of taxi usage in London in order to provide
effective management of the cab fleet which will prevent the streets of London
being flooded with empty cabs.
4. Its support for the introduction of ‘rest ranks’ to enable drivers to legally leave
their cabs unattended whilst visiting adjacent toilet facilities.
5. Its support for a complete ban on pedicabs.
6. Its insistence on meaningful consultation with Transport for London.
7. Its support for an effective minicab enforcement team, trained
to eradicate illegal touting by minicab drivers.
8. Its campaign for taxi access to all bus lanes.
9. Its insistence that taxis continue to be exempt from
congestion charges.
10. Its policy to recruit, support and represent licensed
taxi drivers only.

If you require clarification on these or

other important issues, please:
POLICY
Call the LTDA on 020 7286 1046

JOIN THE LTDA’S FIGHT AGAINST RMT TACHOGRAPHS www.ltda.co.uk LTDA

16 TAXI 20 APRIL 2010
Tongue In Cheek:
Foot in Mouth
TWO always promised myself that if I
FINGERS
Al Fresco I ever won a decent few bob I’d get
me ‘ampsteads sorted and I’d get
a set of Hollywood-style gnashers
- the sort that are so dazzling,
they’re guaranteed to activate
‘Reactolite’ lenses. Instead, on my last
visit to the dentist I was advised to get
a crown fitted on one of my molars.
Private was about three hundred
quid; NHS was free. So being a
potless pensioner, I settled for NHS.
The difference? Private - the finish
was as close to the original white
enamel as you could get. NHS? - the
cap was a garish bronzy-gold colour,
so when you opened your norf an souf
it looked like you’d been chewin' a

caramel toffee and it was stuck to
your tooth!
For that, I had to have a mould done
The cap was a of my teeth. Wot was that about ‘first
garish bronzy-gold colour, impressions count?’ When I came
back the second time, the mould was
so when you opened your ready. I was shown a plaster cast of
norf an souf it looked like my upper and lower teeth (God forbid
you’d been chewin' a anything nasty happens to me, the
forensic scientists will have it easy).
caramel toffee and it was


I couldn’t believe how jagged and
stuck to your tooth! uneven my teeth were. The casts
looked like a relief diagram of the
Unit 443 Joesph Street
Off Ackroyd Drive, Bow, E3 4JY
Tel: 020 8983 9868
Website: www.taximechaniclondon.com
 Timing chains from £300
(conditions apply)
 Brake pads Fairway to TX11 £25
 Brake pads TX4 £35
 Rear shoes all £55
 Rear shoes and drums £110
 H/brake cable £55
Free mini valet with every overhaul
Servicing as per manufacturers schedules from £50
BODY SHOP & CAB HIRE TEL: 020 8980 4477
VAT REGISTERED FOR WARRANTY SERVICING
© LTI Limited reproduced with permission. Fairway and TX shape is a registered design. Fairway , TX , the LTI device, the LTI and the London Taxi International logos are all trademarks of LTI Limited
TM
seating arrangements for the Coliseum
in Rome.
To get the cap fitted I had to endure
an hour in the dentist’s chair. First he
numbed the tooth with an injection in
the gum. Then, he poked a tube that
gushed water into one side of my
mouth, and on the other, a gadget that
could have acted like the bilge pump
on the Titanic, which drained out bodily
fluids and sounded in my head like
someone taking the plug out of the
North Sea. Within moments, my
tongue went numb and felt like a
sponge football; my puffy cheek taking
on the consistency of a congealed
blancmange.
The headache, stiff neck, swollen
tongue, puffy cheek and buzzing in my
ears eventually wore off and I was back
to munching matzos like there was no
tomorrow. In fact, the morrow was
reflexology day - something I really
looked forward to.
When I’m relaxed I tell Emma, my
reflexologist, everything - and I mean
everything. Thank goodness she’s so
discreet (or, like my late wife Carole,
just doesn’t really listen).
Anyway, I recounted my dentist’s
chair story and passed on the oral
 Top wishbone bushes £40
 Top ball joint 1 side £35
 Lower ball joint 1 side £40
 Radiator TX1 and TX2 £140
 Fairway/TX1 w/pump £100
 TX4 servicing and timing belts
 Free anti freeze check
G Cab hire available from £120 per week
TM
hygiene tip he’d imparted...floss
regularly, use a mouth wash and scrape
your tongue...and that I’d remembered
him telling the same thing to Carole. So
much so, that Carole had gone out and
bought the stuff he’d suggested and
which I consequently found in the
bathroom cabinet and used it.
Emma must have been listening, cos
she stopped massaging the sole of my
left foot to suddenly ask me...
“What’s a tongue scrapper?”
I laughed. “A thing for scraping your
tongue, of course.”
“What’s it look like?” she enquired
from the region of my big toe.
“Well,” I mused, “it’s a metal thing,
with a plastic handle; a bit like a
miniature cheese grater.”
“And...,” she started laughing
hysterically, “you scrapped your tongue
with it...? Ha ha ha, hee hee hee.”
I was bemused. “Why, what’s so
funny?”
She controlled herself. “That’s not a
tongue scraper, Alan (ha ha, hee hee),
that’s a scraper for taking hard skin off
the heel of your foot! And you stuck it
in your mouth and scrapped your
tongue with it - hee hee hee, ha ha ha -
I hoped you washed it first...” TAXI

THE BIG ONE!
The membership of the LTDA is 30 times greater
than some other driver organisations!
HERE'S WHY...
CAUTION
The LTDA legal service is the
only trade scheme which
defends members for ALL
alleged offences (traffic,
hackney or criminal), anytime,
anywhere in the UK. Non
members are advised to
check carefully the exceptions
and exclusions contained or
imposed by other legal
protection schemes
circulating in our trade.
BADGESAFE SCHEME
The LTDA retains experienced barristers
with specialist knowledge of the London
cab trade. Normally when drivers
accumulate 12 points on their licence
they receive an automatic 6 month ban,
but in the case of LTDA members over
90% of those represented by our
barristers receive a ban of just 1 month
or in most cases no ban whatsoever.
LEGAL CASE FILE
Each month our specialist legal team
deals with dozens of cases where a
driver's licence and livelihood are under
threat. Recently, a member was out
shopping with his family at a local
supermarket. As he manoeuvred his
private car out of a parking place there
was a minor collision with another
vehicle, the driver of which became very
aggressive, causing our member to
defend himself before leaving the scene
and returning home.
A few days later he was woken early in
the morning by four police officers. He
was arrested and charged with assault
and criminal damage! Apparently several
"independent" witnesses had appeared
To learn more about LTDA benefits and current joining offers
call: 020 7286 1046 or visit www.ltda.co.uk
JOIN THE LTDA’S FIGHT AGAINST RMT TACHOGRAPHS
out of thin air, all of whom alleged that
our member had been the aggressor.
Fortunately, he had the full backing of
the LTDA in-house legal team, who
immediately set to work preparing
statements and gathering evidence on
his behalf Subsequently, at the trial, the
LTDA barrister was able to prove our
member's version of events and he was
acquitted on all charges. Outside the
Court he stated "it would have cost
me an arm and a leg to fund that
quality of legal team, but as an LTDA
Member it was absolutely free."
YOUR FUTURE
The LTDA remains the only trade body
resolutely opposed to the
computerisation of the Knowledge of
London testing system. (No to the
quickie Knowledge).
INLAND REVENUE
ASSISTANCE AND ADVICE
Many drivers and accountants refer to
the LTDA for specialist advice on
Inland Revenue investigations. (Free
to members).
SICKNESS AND ACCIDENT
PROTECTION
When trouble strikes it's comforting to
know that you've got the strength of the
LTDA Gold Scheme around you.
(Scheme available to members only).
LTDA HOLIDAY CLUB
Many members have saved thousands
of pounds by taking advantage of special
offers and prices (members only).
WIN £5,000 EVERY
MONTH IN THE
LTDA LOTTERY
12 big prizes every year, but you have
to be in it to win it (members only £5
per entry).
ACCESS TO ‘SIMPLY
HEALTH’
Great value health care from the LTDA.
The Association pioneered this scheme
in the taxi trade and it still offers the
cheapest rates. (Special rates for LTDA
members only).
HEATHROW OFFICE AND
REPRESENTATION
Call in to the LTDA office at Heathrow,
first door on the right in the canteen
block. Jimmy and the boys will give you
a warm welcome. (Open to all).
WELFARE DEPARTMENT
LTDA officers make home visits to
members who are in severe distress or
with special needs and authorise
contingency payments where
appropriate.
RANKS AND HIGHWAYS
REPRESENTATION
The LTDA has negotiated taxi access to
most bus lanes and leads the way
negotiating on issues that affect you,
the licensed taxi driver.
GENERAL ADVICE
If you are new to the trade and you
don't know your `roader' from your
`legal', give us a call. We're always here
to help. (Tel: 020 7286 1046 - non
members are welcome to call).
24 HOUR TOUT LINE
Seen a tout in action? Take the details
and phone them in, we will do the rest.
(Tel: 020 7266 4769).
HEALTH AND SPORTS
PROMOTION
We regularly run promotions with
leading health and sports companies
resulting in big savings to members.
20 APRIL 2010 TAXI 17
LEISURE DISCOUNTS
Huge savings on weekend breaks at fine
hotels and holiday centres. You will not
believe these prices! (Members only).
VEHICLE
MANUFACTURERS
Continually representing members'
interests in disputes with vehicle
manufacturers and suppliers.
AUTHORITIES AND MEDIA
The LTDA is the largest and most
respected driver organisation in the
trade. We lead the way when
negotiating with the Government,
GLA, PCO, TfL, Police, Mayor's Office,
Heathrow, Rail Authorities, Local
Councils and when dealing with all
sections of the media.
MEDICAL ASSISTANCE
Many cab drivers are discovering to
their cost that their licences are at risk
due to the PCO's interpretation of the
new DVLA Group 2 Medical Standards.
The LTDA has successfully challenged
many decisions by the PCO to revoke
members' licences on medical grounds.
FANTASTIC VALUE
LTDA subscriptions have not increased
for 9 years! It costs just 4 quid a week
to join the trade's biggest organisation
and 3 quid of that is tax deductible!
(Payable monthly).
www.ltda.co.uk LTDA
18 TAXI 20 APRIL 2010

The Mercedes Vito-Taxi

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Can you afford NOT to have one of these?

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 20 APRIL 2010 TAXI 19

JOIN THE LTDA’S FIGHT AGAINST RMT TACHOGRAPHS www.ltda.co.uk LTDA

20 TAXI 20 APRIL 2010

LETTERS
Star letter: Unintentional bilker Boy racers!
My wife came home expecting I fully agree with RW -

Worth every penny me to be there to get some

money from me to pay the cab
fare. I wasn’t home so she began
Throwing light on a
problem (Letters 23 March),
in which he states the
I would like to thank Barry Hooper for not only dealing with a bilk I had but to look for some cash but at first difficulty in seeing cabs
for getting the money owed to me! Here is an outline of the bilk. couldn’t find any about the house with sidelights on at night.
I was coming home through Downham, Bromley when two respectable and by the time she did find However, what causes
women stopped me and asked to be taken to Cobham in Surrey. When I some the driver had gone and me some amusement is
eventually got to where they wanted to be dropped off, the meter showed obviously thought he had been seeing the plonkers driving
£90. They both admitted to having no means to pay and insufficient funds in knocked. around in their cabs at night
both of their bank accounts. I want to pay this driver but I with their sidelights as well
I took them to Esher police station but found it closed. On dialling 999 I don’t know who he is or where he as their fog lights on trying
was told that since it was classed as a civil dispute nobody would be sent is from. He picked her up from to look like boy racers!
out to deal with the complaint. On hearing this, one of the women refused to somewhere in the City and took
provide her details. Fortunately the other woman her home to Narrow Street. She S. Thomas
gave me an address in Cobham. LTDA was very drunk and can’t Via email
On contacting the LTDA I spoke to Barry remember where she got the
Hooper. He promised to deal with the matter cab from.
and as a result I received full payment of Whoever the driver was I want
the fare which I once again thank him for. to apologise to him and
I would like to point out how essential it reimburse him for the lost fare.
is to be a member of the LTDA as it is
worth every penny of the monthly D Allen
subscription. London E14

J Williams Ed says: If the driver would like

Kent to contact me I will arrange for
him to get paid

Main dealer service facilities...

with a fast turn around!
Specialists for:
Electrical faults, breakdowns *** TX4 Servicing ***
Engine repairs, auto transmissions 10k £92.20 12k £92.20
20k £92.20 24k £92.20
Scheduled maintenance of all LTI vehicles 30k £101.95 36k £207.95
Diagnostics 40k £198.20 48k £92.20
50k £101.95 69k £92.20
Air-con servicing and repair 60k £101.95 72k £207.95
Taxi steering geometry and tracking 70k £388.95 84k £388.95 All prices are + vat

TXII Servicing Small £63.33 Major £98.50 TXI Servicing Small £43.60 Major £73.28
Brake pads TX2 £48.75 TX4 £53.75 Brake discs pair £99.75
A/C Standard service £50.00 (exc. filter) A/C Full service £75.00
TXII Timing Chains Kit £420.00 All prices are + vat

HOLD TIGHT VEHICLES... GIVING YOU THE QUALITY LTI

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As well as LTI Warranty repairs, we also carry out repairs for extended warranty policies (**conditions apply**)
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Phone Lee or Steve 01322 277755 www.htvtaxis.co.uk

Opening times 8:30am to 5:00pm Mon - Thurs 21 Applegarth Drive, Questor Hawley
8:30am to 4:30pm Fri
8:30am to 12:00pm Sat Road, Dartford, Kent. DA1 1JD
 20 APRIL 2010 TAXI 21

NEWS
Kiev-er move!
he excitement has Cheyne International Market

T been building in
Ukraine with the
imminent arrival of
the newest car on
the road. Not long from now
the streets of the nation’s
capital will see the famous
lines of the legendary
London taxi as Kiev
becomes one of the first
cities around the world to
introduce the iconic vehicle.
The iconic London taxi is
built in Britain and China by
the same company who
designed it over 60 years
ago. “We know more about
taxi design and manufacture
than anyone,” said Matthew
Development Director, “and
it’s that expertise that we
are bringing to Kiev.”
The current version of the
famous taxi is built in China
to British standards by LTI
and their joint venture
company Geely and will be
operated by both individual
drivers and limousine
companies to introduce a
new London style service.
Drivers will be trained in
customer care techniques
and given lessons on
sightseeing tours so they
can point out places of
interest to their passengers.
Hotels already want to


The iconic London
taxi is built in Britain and
China by the same
company who designed it
take advantage of the
unique service as they
extend the facility to their
guests to make their stay
even more enjoyable. Local
companies and businesses
will no doubt want to utilise
and using the taxis in Britain
and other countries.
Matthew said “we have
been working for a long time
to produce a cost effective
vehicle that doesn’t lose any
of the values that the taxi
but is a lower cost
“We know it is going to
prove popular here in Kiev
as we have had numerous
advance enquiries about
how to buy the vehicle.
Now we are looking for a
sales back up.
This is a unique
opportunity to gain an
advantage over your
competitors and we are
sure that very soon we can
have a full launch of the

the taxis for when foreign has in the UK. It is the same partner who will import the vehicle over here and start
over 60 years ago business people visit as design and is as robust as vehicle into Ukraine and seeing the taxi being used
they are so used to seeing the one we build in Britain provide sales and after- on the streets of Kiev.”

Memorial Police officer wishes

Cup Match to say thank you
The 2010 football match for the
Mehmet and Seyhan Ali Memorial
Cup is taking place on Sunday, 16
May 2010 from 1800-22.00 at West
Ham United FC’s Boleyn ground.
This annual even raises funds for
the Bone Cancer Research Trust.
It’s a day of fun although the
teams taking part, many of them
cab drivers, fiercely contest every
tackle and referee’s decision. It’s
for a very worthy cause and in
memory of the untimely deaths of
two young brothers, so go along to
the Boleyn ground to help raise
funds for a very worthy charity.
Witness Appeal
At the junction of Hyde Park
A metropolitan traffic officer is Godalming in Surrey. I am Corner and Constitution Hill,
seeking a London licensed taxi convinced that if she had continued on 25 January 2010 at 16.40
driver to thank him for his this journey a serious accident hours, a Storm Grey TX4 -
vigilance in reporting a drunk would have occurred. In pulling registration No. LS59 YLX -
driver in Roehampton Lane, over to report her to police, this was involved in an incident
SW15. cabbie probably saved her life and with a Yamaha motorbike.
At approx 12.15 hours on 12 that of others that night.” Anyone who witnessed this
March, police constable Andrew The woman pleaded guilty to incident or has any useful
Duncan was conducting a routine driving whilst unfit at South information, please contact
speed check on a vehicle. A cab Western Magistrates Court. She David on 07793 742048
driver pulled over to speak to PC was fined and banned from driving
Duncan and told him he believed for 18 months.
that the driver of a Peugeot
behind him was drunk. PC
Duncan was able to stop the
drunk driver but was too busy
with the driver to take the
cabbie’s details to let him know
what happened.
The officer found that the
cabbie was correct - the female
driver was too drunk to even take
a roadside breath test. Two hours
later at the police station, this
woman gave a breath test that
showed she was three times over
the legal limit.
PC Andrew Duncan told TAXI: “I
really want to thank this driver for
his actions. The woman has been
celebrating a business deal in
London and was driving home to

JOIN THE LTDA’S FIGHT AGAINST RMT TACHOGRAPHS www.ltda.co.uk LTDA

22 TAXI 20 APRIL 2010

UBIQUITOUS
 20 APRIL 2010 TAXI 23

JOIN THE LTDA’S FIGHT AGAINST RMT TACHOGRAPHS www.ltda.co.uk LTDA

24 TAXI 20 APRIL 2010

CAMPAIGN
LTDA’s previous and ongoing

Several examples of the

many London billboards
used to support the
LTDA campaign
 20 APRIL 2010 TAXI 25

fight to ban rickshaws

LTDA’s advan leads the fight

with its mobile billboards
ensuring the campaign
message reaches as large
an audience as possible

JOIN THE LTDA’S FIGHT AGAINST RMT TACHOGRAPHS www.ltda.co.uk LTDA

26 TAXI 20 APRIL 2010
NEWS
A good looking bunch!
t the beginning of March,
A an impressive fleet of 650
taxis, all promoting the
world’s leading flower
delivery experts, Interflora,
took to the streets of London!
The first two weeks of the
advertising campaign, called,
“Because Mum Deserves the Best”,
appropriately promoted Mother’s
Day. This specific campaign meant
that on 15 March, the Mother’s Day
copy had to come to an end and all
650 taxis were recalled in
order to have fresh
graphics applied for
the remainder of the
campaign.
Chief Executive of
Taxi Media, Asher
Asher Moses,
Taxi Media’s Chief
Executive
Moses, commented, “This short
campaign powerfully demonstrates
the flexibility and dynamism of
taxis as an outdoor medium. The
logistical arrangements for this
campaign relied upon the Taxi
Media Operations Team going
above and beyond the normal
call of duty and pulling out all
the stops!”
Working from Taxi Media’s new
Operations Centre in E2, the fitting
bays were a buzz of frenzied
activity all day and all night during
production. In order to
successfully make this important
copy change, fleets and drivers
co-operated by accommodating fit
and refit slots to a very tight
schedule to help ensure a
seamless transition from the
‘Because Mum Deserves the Best’
Mothers Day creative, to the new ‘Rear window’ advertising format introduced by the LTDA
graphics that replaced them.
The team set a record! In the London for the second half of the (Licensed Taxi Drivers Association) in
history of taxi advertising and Interflora campaign. December 2009. This new format
production, no operations team In addition, the Interflora highlights how the world of
has ever managed such a huge campaign was also the first to advertising continues to expand and
and efficient copy change! All 650 incorporate the brand new “Rear how taxi advertising is proving to be
taxis were successfully re-fitted Window” advertising format, one a successful and innovative method
and were ready to hit the streets of that was only licensed by the LTDA of communication.
Special offer to LTDA Members
Pre-tests £46 including VAT - no strings attached
 20 APRIL 2010 TAXI 27

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JOIN THE LTDA’S FIGHT AGAINST RMT TACHOGRAPHS www.ltda.co.uk LTDA

28 TAXI 20 APRIL 2010
In Search
of London
Phil Brown
MAYFAIR – PART 4
April is the month when nature’s
influence propels its magical spell on
the capital and London begins to
reveal its lush green foliage. The
deep sleep of hibernation is over and
the awaking of flora and fauna once
again bursts into life.
How fortunate we Londoners are to
have such splendid parks in the
middle of our capital. Hyde Park and
Regents Park provide inhabitants
with a haven of solitude, away from
the confines of a busy city.
These serine places of tranquillity
have become the favourite resting
places for London cab drivers.
Driving through the congested streets
of the great metropolis needs a
strong mental aptitude for London’s
Knights of the road, and it’s advisable
to take a break during the course of
your working day. A stroll through
the great parklands of the capital will
re-energize your mind and body and
prepare you for the second half of the
working day.
We now continue our well-trodden
path through Mayfair’s illustrious
quarter and resume the Search for
London.
Musicians in Mayfair
Brook Street is associated with high-
class retailers and London’s premier
hotel, Claridge’s. However, at
numbers 23 and 25 Brook Street, two
English heritage blue plaques adorn
the facades of adjoining residences.
These tokens of remembrance signify
that Jimmy Hendrix (1942-1970) and
George Friderick Handel (1685-1759)
lived in neighbouring households.
Louis outside the Piccolo Bar
The closeness of these two great
musical icons from different centuries
was probably coincidental, although I
can reveal an eerie feeling came over
me as I carried out my research in
Brook Street.
George Friderick Handel was a
German émigré who came to London
as a court musician attached to the
Royal House of Hanover. At the age
of eleven the young maestro could
play the organ, harpsichord, violin
and oboe, startling his music teaches
by composing his own music at such
a tender age.
The young prodigy’s natural talent
inspired King George I (1714-1727) to
regularly seek his audience. The
relationship between the King and
court musician was at most times
acrimonious. The quarrels always
subsided as the great composer
presented the King with a preview of
his new oratorios.
Remembering Handel
Handel’s legacy lives on; he is best
remembered for his Water Music, first
performed on the River Thames for a
royal water party. The Messiah is
probably Handel’s most famous
masterpiece, this oratorio - (Biblical
theme) is an annual seasonal event
performed at the Albert Hall prior to
Christmas day. The coronation
march, Zadock The Priest, was last
performed in Westminster Abbey at
the coronation of our present Queen
Elizabeth in 1953.
The least known factual account of
the great musician life is that Handel
was involved in philanthropy on a
grand scale. The musician was an
George Friderek Handel
lived at 25 Brook Street
advocate of the former Foundling
Hospital for children in Bloomsbury.
His regular recitals performed in front
of society aristocrats at the hospital,
brought much-needed funds for
London’s outcast children.
For these great deeds of kindness
Handel is remembered at the
Foundling Museum in Brunswick
Square WC1. This hidden London
treasure is a most inspiring place of
the capital’s antiquated past and will
touch your emotions upon visitation.
At the death of Handel, a place in
Westminster Abbey was bequeathed
in his honour.
The Sound of the Sixties
The 1960s has always been revered
as the period in which London’s youth
embarked on liberal attitudes and
distanced themselves from their
authoritarian parents. Adolescent’s
could no longer tolerate the simply
lives that their mentors had in store
for them.
There was excitement to be had
and the new generation were eager
to be a part of the action. This was
the age that fashion, music and
hairstyles changed the face of the
capital forever.
Perhaps the musician who mostly
emphasised this psychedelic age was
the archetypical anti-hero of the
swinging sixties - Jimi Hendrix, (1942-
1970) a legend in his own lifetime.
His short life encapsulated a free
spirit and a personal crusade to
abolish a regulated society. His
influence on the youth culture of the
60s was immense and the lyrics of his
music sent the kaleidoscope
teenagers into frenzy.
The Jimi Hendrix
Experience
Hendrix came to London from the
Caribbean in 1966, forming a band
‘The Jimi Hendrix Experience’ in the
same year. The glitzy musician’s
methods of playing the electric guitar
had his fans mesmerised when he
appeared on stage. His slender frame
could manoeuvre the guitar behind his
back whilst he carried on playing.
The colourful musician teased his
audiences by playing his instrument
with his teeth. In 1967 Hendrix
achieved his greatest hits – Purple
Haze, Hey Joe and The Wind
Cries Mary.
The musical icon mixed his music
At 23 Brook Street Handel’s
‘neighbour’ - Jimi Hendrix
with drugs, which kept him in a
hallucinated state at most hours of the
day. These newfound substances
provided an escape into a virtual
world. Whilst high on drugs, Hendrix
said, “I can touch paradise”.
The demise of Jimi Hendrix came
after a usual drug-fuelled weekend. An
extra large cocktail of alcohol and hard
drugs caused the musical genius to
loose consciousness and then pass
away at the age of 38.
Hendrix short life had achieved great
fame, wealth and notoriety. Arriving in
capital as an unknown singer he truly
took centre stage and made his mark
on the swinging sixties.
Shepherd Market
Usually referred to as Shepherd’s
Market, creating the illusion of green
fields where livestock once grazed;
indeed the Hay Hill Farm was located
in nearby Farm Street. However, this
locality is named after Edward
Shepherd, a developer and builder
who constructed the warren of narrow
passageways and courts in the 1730s
surrounding the south-western corner
of Mayfair. It is an area that gives an
impression of old village London
where the inquisitive visitor is
transported back to 18th century
Georgian London.
In former times this was a place
where the heirs of the moneyed
classes were drawn too like a magnet.
The excesses of inebriation, gambling,
and in particular a gentleman’s lapsed
defences quite often caught the eye of
the notorious ladies of ill repute, who
frequented the Market in their droves.
Whilst the joyful gentleman was in a
state of merriment the courtesan
would escort her catch back to her
nearby boudoir. Today alfresco dining
spills onto the pavements in all
directions and it’s a hotspot for
specialist retailers, coffee bars,
restaurants and wine bars.
Amongst the labyrinth of small
streets, and familiar with most taxi
drivers, is the Piccolo Bar in Hertford
Street. This favourite haunt for cab
drivers has been fuelling their
appetites for at least two decades and
Louis and his staff are recognised
characters in the taxi trade.
If you are contemplating a tourist-
guide course or have any
unanswered questions on
London’s heritage, contact me on
journeythroughtime@hotmail.com
 20 APRIL 2010 TAXI 29

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30 TAXI 20 APRIL 2010

The MOLE in the MERC
verything is still good here in
E the land of the three pointed
star and I genuinely think it's
the Merc that's protecting
me from the worst of the
current downturn in work. It's only
“Digging away to bring you the facts”
The Spy in the LTI
have just had my tariff change
I done at Digitax down at the
Millwall FC ground and
impressed is the only word to
describe it; they start on the
button of midnight and go right
though the night on the
Friday/Saturday and then run all day
again Sunday.
It's so refreshing to see a company
that recognises that the taxi trade is a
24-hour a day business and is
committed to providing a service
when taxi drivers are actually out
there working rather than forcing us
to fit in with their 9-5 office hours.
I got there about 4 am on the
Saturday morning and the long line of
cabs just kept moving right the way
to the front where there were an army
JOIN THE LTDA’S FIGHT AGAINST RMT TACHOGRAPHS
20 APRIL 2010 TAXI 31
FEATURE
because of the cab I drive that I get In between these jobs, especially
most of my repeat business and
even though normally they can be a
pain, my regular school runs and
corporate run-arounds are paying
the bills at the moment.
on week days, the work levels are
just atrocious and it doesn't seem
to be getting any better so without
the little comfort zone of work
created by the Merc, I know I would
be struggling.
I would also miss the odd shared
pin it makes absolute economic
sense as well.
I am often baffled to see Merc
drivers picking up single pins when
job I pick up from Paddington or the shared rides are running;
Euston in the mornings when the capitalise on your advantages is
extra seat and space make a six my motto!
hander an absolute pleasure, and at In short, I am starting to view my
around twice the price of a single cab as much more of a business

and I am looking at every way
possible to utilise the cab’s
I am starting to view my advantages and minimise my
empty time and working hours,
cab as much more of a business and rather than just concentrating on
I am looking at every way possible getting the next job in the cab.
to utilise the cabs advantages and Only time will tell if my plan


works out but one thing is for sure,
minimise my empty time without my Merc I would lose my
biggest commercial asset! TAXI
RANDALL & AUBIN
LOVES
LONDON CABBIES
ON SUNDAYS!
Bring your friends and family to
Randall & Aubin in Soho.
Show your badge to receive a
complimentary glass of
of engineers working away; I was
back to work at 4.10am! If it's a top
service you want from your meter
company, and the best price, I
cannot recommend them enough.
Going back to what i am
supposed to be writing about - my
new(ish) TX4, once again there's not
champagne / house wine
for every main meal ordered.
Sunday’s only.
Offer ends 6th June 2010.
a lot to report and I am still very
pleased with the cab. In fact as I am Sunday’s 12 noon to 10pm.
getting more and more confident
with its reliability so I am going to
temp fate and say it's the best cab I
have ever owned! 14-16 Brewer Street
Hopefully when I get it serviced in London W1F 0SG.
the near future I am also going to be
able to report that M & Os have also www.randallandaubin.com
upped their game and their customer
service was the best it's ever been; 020 7287 4447
keep reading - I'll let you know. TAXI
www.ltda.co.uk LTDA
30 TAXI 20 APRIL 2010
32 TAXI 20 APRIL 2010
 20 APRIL 2010 TAXI 33

JOIN THE LTDA’S FIGHT AGAINST RMT TACHOGRAPHS www.ltda.co.uk LTDA

34 TAXI 20 APRIL 2010
 20 APRIL 2010 TAXI 35

JOIN THE LTDA’S FIGHT AGAINST RMT TACHOGRAPHS www.ltda.co.uk LTDA

36 TAXI 20 APRIL 2010
 20 APRIL 2010 TAXI 37

PUZZLER
£50 and a Heathrow Cabbie!
T
he winner of this crossword
competition will not only
receive a cheque for £50 but
a signed copy of Alf Townsend’s
latest book Heathrow Cabbie.
What a prize! There is also a
signed copy of Heathrow Cabbie
for the runner-up!
This is book number five for Alf
and follows the success of The
London Cabbie; Bad Lads; Blitz
Boy and Black Cab Story. It is a
mixture of the history of the
development of this huge complex
and a selection of Alf’s stories.
He tells of his meeting with Her
Majesty The Queen; the antics of
the ‘Omelette and Chips Gang
and the taxi feeder park with all
the characters that go with it. It’s
a book that gives a real insight
into Heathrow Airport and the
taxi drivers who work there.
If you would like to get your
hands on a copy of this
excellent book, published by
The History Press, its available
at all good bookshops for £9.99.
Or, you could complete
Crossword on this page and
send it, with your contact details
to: Crossword No. 216, TAXI,
Taxi House, 11 Woodfield
Road, London W9 2BA.

ENTRY DETAILS

Crossword No. 216

ACROSS
1 Sandwich filler (6)
4 Entertained (6)
8 Proportion of a whole (7)
9 Brainiac (7)
11 Peach for example (5, 5)
12 Instrument for Orpheus (4)
13 Sanctify (5)
14 Lumbar support (8)
16 Colour and a name of a
flower (8)
18 Charges (5)
20 Wound covering (4)
21 Amiable and friendly (10)
23 Ridge built up by the
action of tided (4, 3)
24 Endorse (7)
25 Build up in a hearing
organ (6)
26 A lie (6)
DOWN
1 Silvery fish (5)
2 Grant permission to
legally sell alcohol (7)
3 Policy (9)
5 Power (5)
6 Academic (7)
7 Mark used to indicate a
special pronunciation
for a particular vowel (9)
10 Machine used to remove
water washing (6, 3)
13 Blockade (9)
15 Type of particle
accelerator (9)
17 Principal bullfighter (7)
19 Stumble over words (7)
21 Public square (5)
22 Measurement of
liquid (5)

SOLUTION TO CROSSWORD 214

Across: 1 Headfirst, 6 Rasta, 9 Mundane, 10 Reddish, 11 In

situ, 12 Familiar, 14 T-bar, 15 Fly-by-night, 18 Donkey-work, 20
Show, 23 Lambskin, 24 Maniac, 26 Subtext, 27 Hibachi, 28 E-
mail, 29 Decorator.

Down: 1 Ham-fisted, 2 Amnesia, 3 Fealty, 4 Reef, 5

The deadline date is Friday 7
May 2010 and the first correct
entry drawn at random after this
date will win £50 and a signed
copy of Heathrow Cabbie, the
latest book from Alf Townsend.
The second entry out of the hat
will also win a copy of Heathrow
Cabbie. Usual competition rules
apply. Be Lucky!
Threadbare, 6 Red giant, 7 Sailing, 8 Abhor, 13 Slow-witted,
16 Town-crier, 17 Newsreel, 19 Namibia, 21 Haircut, 22 Barber,
23 Lisle, 25 Chic.
Winner: D Burton. Surrey

JOIN THE LTDA’S FIGHT AGAINST RMT TACHOGRAPHS www.ltda.co.uk LTDA

38 TAXI 20 APRIL 2010
FEATURE: THE GROWLER
Playing fast
and loose
By Chris Gibson
'm on another of my diets. None
I of them seem to work but you
reach a point where, if you
continue eating excessively, you
know you will be mistaken for an
American - and we can't have that. So
the result is the occasional purge.
As I totally lack will-power, pussy-
footing about means I lose a few
pounds over a few weeks before
getting bored, throwing the towel in
and returning to my normal routine,
putting it all back on again.
So, I decided I must be more
positive, even drastic. I started by
going 48 hours without eating anything,
which, though hard work, was quite
effective. The first 24 hours were
relatively easy but the second day
was tough.
It left me convinced that, should the
circumstances arise where, for
whatever reason, I were deprived of
food for any period, I could cope better
than I ever thought I would. I also
learned that it’s far too drastic to
consider such action on a weekly basis.
Automatic
Gear Box Centre Established in 1977
We provide factory rebuilt
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Call Walter on:
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0208 6651435
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69 Wortley Road,
Croydon CR0 3EB
Having accepted 24 hours is
feasible, that is the diet I adopted -
with a bit of fine tuning though. I call it
my Fast and Loose Diet and it involves
24 hours of light fluids along with
several items of fruit. I have a couple
of pieces of fruit at mealtimes and
drink fluids as and when.
Although it might be considered
cheating I accept this as fasting -
hence the ‘fast’ part of the diet. When
the twenty-four hours has passed I
revert back to a 'normal' diet. You
won't need a massive intake of food to
compensate. Eat as little as possible
and you’ll benefit. You can normally
lose 2 to 3 pounds on the fasting day.
The following day, thanks to all the
fruit you have eaten - you discover
what the ‘loose’ part of the diet is.
And lead us not into
temptation
No wonder we’re all getting fatter;
these days it's impossible to escape
from food. You open a newspaper and
virtually every page in the front half of
Plus:
 Servicing
 Diagnostics
 Quick turnaround
the paper has a mention of food or
one of many major supermarkets
vying for your money.
Every four minute cycle of adverts
on the telly seems to have an advert
for food. Jump in a car and you can't
travel five minutes without passing
some fast food outlet. The Monty
Python sketch where the fat man
explodes is becoming more and
more credible.
My wife, though not exactly Cordon
Bleu, loves watching Masterchef.
When I saw on Easter Monday that it
was the final of the competition I
breathed a sigh of relief. It was finally
over for another year. Then I noticed it
was in three parts spread over three
days, which led me to observe the
plethora of cookery programmes
available.
On Tuesday 6th - a day by the way
that was taken at random - we had
Masterchef, Great British Menu, The
Delicious Miss Dahl, Daily Cooks
Challenge, Heston's Chocolate
Factory, Supersize vs. Superskinny
EASYRENTACAB
LIMITED
Taxi Sales from:
£5000.00
Taxi Rentals from:
£150.00
(which related to the food we eat),
Family Recipe and Chinese food in
Minutes. That was just on the
terrestrial channels.
Last word before the election
I thought I’d avoid politics for the
duration although I’m taking the
opportunity to repeat an amusing
anecdote that might be the only thing
about this election to smile about and
the limit of my observations on the
matter.
When Nancy (Lady) Astor was
standing for election in Plymouth it
was felt she needed a chaperone and
was allotted a senior naval officer to
look after her while going from door to
door canvassing. When they knocked
at one house a little girl answered. “Is
you mother or father home?” asked
Lady Astor.
“No,” came the girl’s reply, but
mummy said if a lady comes to the
door with a sailor I must tell them to
use the upstairs front room and leave
half-a-crown on the table.” TAXI
London Taxi Company has
selection of TX1/ TX11
for SALE or RENT
All vehicles passed and plated
ready for IMMEDIATE use
For all enquires please
contact Lee or Howard
0207 739 0210
07984 182 230
 20 APRIL 2010 TAXI 39

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JOIN THE LTDA’S FIGHT AGAINST RMT TACHOGRAPHS www.ltda.co.uk LTDA

40 TAXI 20 APRIL 2010

OUT AND ABOUT

Theatre
The Pirates of Penzance
Wilton’s Music Hall
Graces Alley, Off Ensign Street, E1
The Pirates of Penzance is one of
the most popular Gilbert &
Sullivan operettas. The story
concerns Frederic, who, on
reaching 21, is released from his
apprenticeship to a band of
tenderhearted pirates. He meets
Mabel, the daughter of Major-
General Stanley, and they fall
In this unique all-male production
directed by Sasha Regan, which was
a sell-out at the Union Theatre in July
2009 (a theatre she founded in 1998),
Fred Broom is the Major General,
Alan Richardson is Mabel, Ricky Box Office
020 7702 2789
Rojas is the Pirate King, and Russell
Whitehead plays Frederick. Other (no booking fee) or Online -
www.piratesisback.com
members of the cast include Michael
Burgen, Stewart Charlesworth, Lee (a small fee is charged)
Greenaway, Samuel J. Holmes, Joe Dates
Maddison, Chris Theo-Cook and Now until Sunday 16 May 2010
Christopher Wheeler.


instantly in love.
Frederic finds out, however, that he Times
was born on February 29, and so, 7.30 pm (Tuesday-Saturday)
technically, he only has a birthday each
A unique all-male Matinees (Sat & Sun) 2.30 pm
leap year. His apprenticeship states production directed by Sasha
Tickets
Regan which was a sell-out at the

that he remains apprenticed to the
£22.50, £17.50 (concessions), Ricky Rojas, Russell Whitehead
pirates until his 21st birthday, and so he
must serve for another 63 years. Mabel
Union Theatre in July 2009 £15 (every Tuesday) and Samuel J Holmes
agrees to wait for him faithfully.

Next to the taxi feeder rank in Sloane Square is Sloane Square, and being a licensed driver

Reader offer a flower stand and the owner, Danny Maclaren,

is offering all cab drivers, on showing their
badge, 20% discount on all purchases.
himself he is happy to offer cab drivers a
discount. He is open 7 days a week, very useful
when you discover you’ve forgotten your wife’s
Cut (price) flowers! Danny told TAXI that he has only just taken
over the pitch, appropriately called Flowers of
birthday, and his flowers are value for money,
especially with 20% off.

You don’t have to be young…..

The latest in a long, long, long line
of LTDA Lottery winners is Stephen
Young, whose ticket was the first
out of the spinning drum in the
March draw and is now £5,000
better off.
An Association member for ten
years, Stephen, who hails from
Herts, considers this win as a bonus
to add to his LTDA membership. He
is a strong believer in having the
strength of the LTDA behind him Stephen Young happily accepts his
and has never regretted becoming a winning cheque from LTDA Gen.
member. Secretary, Bob Oddy
He urges those still not members
of any trade organisation to take a do for them. You may not win the
visit to Taxi House and see what a LTDA Lottery but you can still be a
real professional organisation can winner with the LTDA behind you.

Join the Taxi Safari to Woburn

The London Taxi Drivers Fund for
Underprivileged Children is asking
taxi drivers to help 300 ‘special
needs’ and disadvantaged children to
enjoy a wonderful day out at Woburn
Safari Park on Tuesday 25 May 2010.
No need to worry if you have a
liveried cab, carry radio circuit logos
or your cab is an unusual colour, the
Fund welcomes you all. As well as
giving a great deal of pleasure to so
many children, you are guaranteed a
fun-packed day out for yourself.
Remember, without drivers there
are no outings!
More information
Please contact Susan Angel –
07958 280881 – or enter your
details on the volunteer page of
www.ltfuc.org.uk. The Hon.
President, Hon. Chairman and all
the committee look forward to
you joining them On Safari!
 20 APRIL 2010 TAXI 41

JOIN THE LTDA’S FIGHT AGAINST RMT TACHOGRAPHS www.ltda.co.uk LTDA

42 TAXI 20 APRIL 2010
The above offers include free sandwich and cup of tea or coffee
Free car parking
Aqua driving range
Golf lessons for all standards
Base of Essex & England golf coach Chris Jenkins
Free USGA Spec short game practice areas
Function hall / Bar available
Driving range deal of “120 balls on the range for £5.00”
Looking for your copy of TAXI
Here’s just a selection from our
numerous distribution points:
 A1 Taxis, Sidworth Street E8
 Abacus Accounts, Westcombe Hill SE3
 Astral Café, Regency Place SW1
 Bubbles Car Wash, E2
 C & S Taxis, Dunbridge Street E2
 Cabsurance, Seven Kings
 Camberfield Taxi Services
 Computer Cab, Mitre Way W12
 Coney Allen, Dunbridge Street E1
 CP Beehive Service Station, Beehive Lane,
Gants Hill
 Cricklewood Carriers, Cricklewood
 Dial A Cab, City Road N1
 Edgware Station Rank
 Euston Station Rank
 G & L Taxis, Crayford Road N7
 Globe Transmissions, Cudworth Street E1
 The Ham, Brentford
 Heathrow Airport Canteen
 Hexagon Garage, Lukin Street E1
 Jet Garage, Clipstone Street W1
 Knowledge Centre, Caledonian Road
 KPM, Hemming Street E1
 London City Airport Canteen
 LP Motors, Dunbridge Street E2
 Martin Cordell, E3 and Stanmore
 Paddington Station Rank
 Public Carriage Office, Penton Street N1
 Putney Bridge Taxis, The Arches, Putney
Bridge Station SW6
 Richmond Road Taxi Centre, E8
 Safewise Supermarket, College Road, Harrow
 South Bank Service Station, Great Suffolk
Street SE1
 TAXI HOUSE W9
 Temple Place Shelter
 Tent Street Taxi Centre E2
 Turbo Accessories, Three Colts Lane E2
 Wimbledon Station Rank
 WizAnn Knowledge School, Watts Grove E3
Published by
LTDA
Taxi House 11 Woodfield Road,
London W9 2BA
T: 020 7286 1046 | www.ltda.co.uk
MANAGING EDITOR
Stuart Pessok
T: 0207 121 0508,
F: 0207 286 2494 M: 07885 065552
E: taxinewspaper@ltda.co.uk
INTERNATIONAL NEWS EDITOR
Wim Faber
MOTORING Steve McNamara
THE GROWLER Chris Gibson
AROUND THE WORLD Cyril Collins
IN SEARCH OF LONDON Phil Brown
THEATRE, FILMS & VIDEOS
Brad Ashton
PRODUCED BY
Century One Publishing ltd
Alban Row,27-31 Verulam Road
St Albans, Hertfordshire, AL3 4DG.
T: 01727 893 894, F: 01727 893 895
E: enquiries@centuryonepublishing.ltd.uk
www.centuryonepublishing.ltd.uk
CHIEF EXECUTIVE Nick Simpson
DESIGN & PRODUCTION Tanya Kant
ADVERTISING SALES EXECUTIVE
Oliver Kirkman
T: 01727 739184
E: ollie@centuryonepublishing.ltd.uk
PRINTED BY Visa Press Ltd.
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be
reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted by any
means electronic, mechanical or by photocopying without prior
permission of the publishers. The views and opinions
expressed in this publication may not necessarily be those of
the publishers. Please note that the last day for inclusion of
Classified lineage advertisements is five working days prior to
publication. No liability is accepted by the publisher should
advertisements not appear in the requested issue(s). Whilst the
publisher will take every care to ensure accuracy, no liability
can be accepted for loss or damage resulting from errors.
 20 APRIL 2010 TAXI 43

CLASSIFIED
Accountants Cabs For Rent

Cabs For Rent

CABS TO RENT F/W/Ds, TX1,

CABITAL TAXIS Two TXII autos and
three TX4 autos to rent.
TX2, TX4

Prices from £185pw with no

FOR RENT
increases for one year, BEXLEYHEATH/
RAC Cover. Garages in West WOOLWICH/WELLING
London and North London.
PLEASE CALL TONY/PAUL
Ring David 020 8953 8706
Mobile Hotline – 07940-021014 or 07786 359565 0208 312 2224
Email: Cabataltaxis@btinternet.com
Great incentive for new drivers “FIRST WEEK FREE”
TX1, TX11, TX4 or Fairways Cabs For Rent
Example: TX1’s from £150 per week
TX2’s from £170 per week
TX4’s from £200 per week
Fairways £135 per week
CUDWORTH TAXI
TXI, TXII, TX4 TAXIS FOR RENTALS
GARAGESS IN:: CUDWORTH H STREET
D INSTITUTEE PLACEE E8
AND
ALL LTI PARTS SUPPLIED AND FITTED
T E1

STARTS FROM £160 p.w.

Call 07940-021014 24 HOURS BREAKDOWN SERVICE WITH
FULL BACK UP.
AA membership and 24hr private breakdown
Spare cabs always available 24hrs FREE CHROME HUBCAPS WITH EVERY
OVERHAUL. PRE-TEST FREE OF CHARGE!
FREE CAB RENTALS UP TO 2 DAYS WITH
Look no further you CANNOT go wrong with EVERY OVERHAUL
TX4 SERVICES STARTING FROM £75
DIFF SPECIALIST
CRASH REPAIRS UNDERTAKEN:
• FAULT AND NON-FAULT ACCIDENT
CRASH REPAIR CENTRE
• MEDIUM/HIGH BAKE OVEN FOR
BEST RESULTS
• FREE ESTIMATES GIVEN

CABITAL TAXIS RECON GEARBOXES FOR TXI, TXII STARTS

FROM £700 WITH 1 YEAR WARRANTY
• FREE COURTESY CAB WITH NON-FAULT
ACCIDENT CLAIMS

07940-021014 ask for Tom or Charles ADDRESS: 16A Cudworth Street,

Bethnal Green, London E1 5QU
HAVE YOUR FULL ENGINE, OIL & GEARBOX SERVICE WITH
US AND GET MINTEX BREAK PADS FREE OF CHARGE!
Established 1970 TEL: 020 72479157 FAX: 020 72479162
EMAIL: cudworthtaxi@hotmail.co.uk WWW.CUDWORTHTAXIS.CO.UK

Cabs For Rent

Quality Taxis For Rent SB TAXI RENTALS

(Fulham based) Great Quality TXII and
TX4 cabs to rent
Fairways / TX’s Very Competitive Prices
From £140pw / £200pw Full Back Up and
Immaculate cabs / Breakdown Cover
regularly serviced Friendly Office 5 Mins
from the PCO
AA backup / Spare cabs
Call Us on 020 7837 8083
Ring 078 8937 8639 www.sbtaxirentals.co.uk

JOIN THE LTDA’S FIGHT AGAINST RMT TACHOGRAPHS www.ltda.co.uk LTDA

44 TAXI 20 APRIL 2010

CLASSIFIED
Cabs For Rent

Fairways / TXI’s / TX2’s / TX4’s

24 hour back-up

Spare cabs

Competitive rates for full flat and double teams

Pay at local bank. Special rates for monthly payers

Special offers for new knowledge graduates

Buy cabs for cash
Call Christos on 07711 418734 or Paul on 0208 312 2224
or Keith on 0207 733 3228

Cabs For Rent Commissions

The Fielding Hotel

£10 Commission
per room paid in Covent Garden
at The Fielding Hotel
Garages in Ealing / White City / Bethnal Green / Hainault Broad Court, Bow Street.

Single £90, Double/Twin £115

All have en-suite shower/toilet

Tel: 020 7836 8305

 Guaranteed 24 hour  Use of any garage

access to spare cabs
in security guard
patrolled yard
 Spare Cabs: Ealing
Bethnal Green & White City
for repairs LTDA Branch Meetings
 Driver delivers your taxi
to your door SW and SE
 Get a newly plated cab First Monday of Jan and
when you start renting third Tuesday of March,
May, June, Nov

NW and NE
First Tuesday of Jan and
last Monday of April,
CALL DIL ON 020 8840 0202 / 07786 025814 June, Sept, Nov

Cabs For Sale

 20 APRIL 2010 TAXI 45

CLASSIFIED
Cabs For Sale

CORONATION BLACK CABS CORONATION BLACK CABS

Sales, Overhauls,
Coronation Black Cabs Ltd O No Quibble Warranty, ANYTHING

Servicing, Bodywork
We now sell
Unit 6 Mitre Bridge
Mitre Way, Off Scrubbs Lane W10
Goes Wrong In 12 Months We'll Fix
O Free Servicing For 12 Months Inc
inc Accident Claims superb used

Next Door to Com Cab Brake Pads And Discs
O Tax Disc For 12 Months
020 8969 4255 cabs with O Roadside Assistance 12 Months,
Inc Free Cab If You Need It
07719 454 606 the following! O Cheap Finance

Cabs Wanted Drivers Wanted

E3 4DP

Services & Repairs

JOHNNY’S AUTO
TRANSMISSIONS LTD
Specialized in London Taxis including TX4’s
Diagnostics/Repairs
09 A Anton Street, Hackney, London E8 2AD
T: 020 7923 1439 M: 078 8306 5460 E: jn.brown@talktalk.net

Services & Repairs

Advertise here
in TAXI magazine
and reach over
Fed up with travelling back into town to
24,000 readers
have your taxi repairs? Then don't!
We can carry out all your repairs Please contact
• servicing • diagnostics Century One Publishing
• brakes • and much more

Call for a quote 01923 239 460

Call Ollie on
01727 739 184
96/98 Cecil Street,Watford WD24 5AP

JOIN THE LTDA’S FIGHT AGAINST RMT TACHOGRAPHS www.ltda.co.uk LTDA

46 TAXI 20 APRIL 2010

LINAGE
account work from conversion, 300,000 miles £7,000. FAIRWAYS AND TXIs taxis wanted,
Accountants www.londonblacktaxis.net. Contact Tammie 07780703111 instant decision - cash paid
Ring 07779 33 66 12 Tel: 07973 335739 or 01253 407500
CHARTERED ACCOUNTANTS TXI FOR SALE, choice of 4 (not fleet
specialising in the taxi trade. TXI V,W aircon full back up £160pw, cabs) R-reg to W-reg. Passed in your TXIIS WITH low mileage wanted
Accounts and tax returns £295inc. call 07958 549462 name, meter and 6months tax, 07973637839
Based in North London. Home visits. between £6-8,000 07711640740
Call Andy Belej 02083631070 / TXII 04-REG £160pw and 52-reg
07967444687 £155pw, RAC cover and back-up cabs TXI SILVER W-reg Black VGC low Drivers wanted
available, pay at any Halifax bank. mileage 180,000 Plated till June, one
please call 07930202709 owner driver retiring. £8,200. REDBRIDGE & ROMFORD taxis to rent,
Air con services 07986758502 full-flat, part-time, casual and semi-
TXIIS AND TX4s from £180pw. Pay in retired welcome. Full back-up & good
MOBILE AUTO air conditioning service at any Lloyds TSB. Well maintained TXI SILVER 1999 236,000 Plate & Tax rates. 07733107733 or 07790710390
and repair for taxis, London and fleet by first class garage in Bow with end of May, Meter, Printer end June
beyond, telephon Nick on easy access from A2/A12/A13/M11. Built in VDO Dayton sat nav Cabvision SMALL WELL MAINTAINED fleet.
07785900006 7 days Call John on 07535924370 or Paul on installed paid Bi monthly A/C, Fairway drivers TXI and TXII, full
07508423769 CD/Radio £4,995 07956277446 workshop facilities, 24 hour back up,
spare cabs available. 02085505522 or
Appealing for witness TX4 SILVER. £190pw no ads. TXII GOLD 04, 6 months tax 1 year 07946076469
AA/Garage back-up spare cabs meter 12 months plate 156,000 miles
WITNESS REQUIRED for accident on available 07892709800 gearbox under warrantee Recaro seat SUTTON BASED TXIIs available from
4th April at 9.40pm in Shaftesbury plus free tomtom £10,250. £190 green badge drivers only. Call Bill
Avenue. Please call 07956385235 TX4S FULL garage and AA back up, 07850950960 on 07980931462
comcab, from £199pw 07983759222
TX4-57 Silver plate/tax September TXI, TXII FROM £165pw Neasden AA
Cabs for rent 85,000 miles £20,250 offers. back-up 07956422658, 02084528791
Cabs for sale Finance possible. 07745342634
A RELIABLE TXI for rent AA and full
back up, comcab fitted (can be A BURGUNDY TXI S-reg Silver TX4-59 SILVER 6 months old, Black Vehicle reg for sale
stripped out if not required) £165pw, Overhaul not due until November 2010 FSH 13,500 miles £27,000
07961117429 £5,750 07960291378 07877122727 REGISTRATION for sale Y1 D00, £4,000
Call Mark on 07832353154
BROMLEY – Taxis for hire – TXI, TXII METRO TTT-02 plated to 31/08/10, 53-TXII LOVELY condition all black
and TX4 good rates, full back up, £5000. Call 02086894705 or 141,000 miles taxed and plated till
telephone Andy 07956350169 07956403415 December, Radio/CD £7,500,
01372744086 or
For all of your
FAIRWAYS TO RENT 24 hour back, P REG FAIRWAY, 2.7 Nissan engine, 07774770695 (Epsom) advertising requirements
24 hour garage easy payment options plated until September meter until
from £140pw call John 07939054352 November, taxed, lovely cab, ready for 58-REG TX4 £205pw full aircon please contact
work (Barnet) £3,250 077114759545 full back-up choice of North or East
NORTH/WEST area cabs for rent. garages. Phone Sean on Century One
Fairways/TXI's from £100 p/w 24 hours S REG BLACK TXI (silver) plated until 07533823778
backup, spare cab. 0754 9 10 20 30 July, 1 year meter, tax until May, A1 Publishing
condition. First to see will buy, £5,000
SILVER TXII-54 reg. 1-week rent free Call 07958270122
Cabs wanted Call Ollie on
£185pw. Black no adverts, excellent
condition, full back-up and support, SILVER TXI T-reg, lady owner VGC, DAYMAN WANTS cab to rent half-flat 01727 739 184
AA cover, full flat. Receive priority Taxed till June, plated July, turbo Cheshunt/Herts area 01992620405

To advertise in TAXI please write your linage here and post to:
Ollie Kirkman, Century One Publishing, Alban Row, 27-31 Verulam Road, St Albans, Hertfordshire AL3 4DG
Alternatively, email your linage to: ollie@centuryonepublishing.ltd.uk

Linage (£1.50 per word plus VAT):

Payment Details:
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,
Card type:
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Please note we do not accept American Express
 20 APRIL 2010 TAXI 47

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 The No.1 Choice

Official fuel consumption figures for the TX4 in mpg (l/100km): Urban 25.5 (11.1) - 28.0 (10.1), Extra Urban 38.2 (7.4) - 41.5 (6.8), Combined 32.0 (8.8) - 35.2 (8.0). CO2 emissions: 211 - 233 g/km.

No.1 for New Taxis No.1 for Used Taxis

No.1 for Service No.1 for Deals No.1 for Parts

LTI dealers will never be beaten, to find out why visit your local LTI dealer

For a list of LTI Authorised Dealer and Service Agents in your area visit
www.lti.co.uk/dealer-locator/servicing/ or call us on 02476 572000
Mann & Overton - Manchester & NI tel: 0161 831 3434 Taxifix Ltd - Liverpool tel: 0151 482 5101
Mann & Overton - Birmingham & West tel: 0121 322 0700 Conders Garage Ltd - Peterborough tel: 0870 850 5457
Mann & Overton - London tel: 020 7700 0888 KPM UK Taxis PLC - London tel: 020 7377 2182
John Paton Ltd - Edinburgh tel: 0131 558 8005 Smith & Humphrey Ltd - East Sussex tel: 01424 210 746
John Paton & Son Ltd - Glasgow tel: 0141 553 4000

*Business Users Only. At participating dealers only. Finance Subject to Status.

© LTI Limited reproduced with permission. Fairway & TX shape are registered designs. FairwayTM, TXIITM, TX4,
the LTI device, the LTI logo and the London Taxis International logos are all trademarks of LTI Limited