Issue 283 - TAXI Newspaper

HIGHLIGHTS THIS ISSUE
P2
PCSO MINICAB DEATH APPEAL
Police keen to quiz passenger
P4
P7
ADDISON LEE ‘COMPLACENT’
Hailo praised by internet firm CEO
TAXI DRIVER ATTACKED
Cabbie slashed and hit with a bar
P23 ELECTRONIC GROWLER
‘Classic cab still the best’
The offical publication of the Licensed Taxi Drivers Association | www.ltda.co.uk |
@TheLTDA
No.283 | 11 DECEMBER 2012
‘Household names’ battling for London icon
London Taxi Co. sale imminent
Trade
The London Taxi Company will be
sold before Christmas to one of
more than a dozen ‘big players’,
who are currently battling it out for
control of the firm, according
to administrators.
PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC)
claims that there are so many top
companies lining up in the
takeover race, that a second round
run off has been set up to whittle
down the list.
Matthew Hammond, a partner in
the firm, told the LTDA that they
normally operate a first best offer
selection policy but had not even
got that far yet.
Mr Hammond said that the
companies in the running included
a number of “household names,”
who are known to everybody
in Britain.
The mood surrounding the
sale was described as “buoyant”
and the administrator said he
was “confident” of striking a
deal soon.
The replacement of all the faulty
More readers than the rest put together. Ask any driver!
steering boxes, which are credited
with finally tipping the company
into administration, is expected to
be completed by December 14.
Reading-based firm Magal
Engineering, which supplied the
steering mechanisms up until four
years ago has been drafted in to
complete the work.
For the full story turn to page 6.
LTDA

2 TAXI |11 DECEMBER 2012 www.ltda.co.uk | @TheLTDA
NEWS
Minicab crash death appeal
Police
Detectives investigating the death of
a Westminster PCSO killed when his
motorcycle collided with a minicab
have appealed for two key witnesses
to come forward.
Chris Whelan died after the
accident last year, which took place
in Streatham High Road at the
junction with Norfolk House Road.
The 31-year-old was a PCSO
based on the Westminster Safer
Transport Team and was off-duty at
the time of the crash.
The 58-year-old driver of the
Nissan Almera stopped at the scene
and was later charged with causing
death by careless driving
Despite extensive enquiries,
officers from the Road Death
Investigation Unit (RDIU) are yet to
trace a passenger known to have
been in the minicab at the time.
They are also keen to speak
with the driver of a dark coloured
saloon that was directly behind the
private hire vehicle when the
collision occurred.
Detective Sergeant Jeff Edwards,
from the RDIU at Hampton, said:
Police want to speak to minicab passenger
"We are still very keen to speak to the
passenger of the minicab.
"He might have vital information
that could assist the inquiry. It is highly
possible that the driver of the other
vehicle also holds crucial information
about what happened.
"We also know that a number of other
motorists stopped at the scene and tried
to give aid."
Police were called to the collision
at around 4:20am on November 6,
2011. PCSO Whelan, from
Image: Christian Mueller / Shutterstock.com
Whyteleafe, Surrey, died at St
George's Hospital later that day.
A post-mortem examination was
held at St Thomas's Hospital
Mortuary and interim report gave
cause of death as internal
haemorrhage, lacerated liver, torn
right renal artery and trauma.
An inquest has been opened
and adjourned at Southwark
Coroner's Court.
Anyone with information is asked
to contact police on 020 8941 9011.
News in brief
Christmas lottery
winner
The friends and family of LTDA
member Michael Behan could
find a little something extra
under the tree this year after
he scooped jackpot in our
monthly lottery.
The 65-year-old popped into
Taxi House last week to collect
his cheque for £5,000 and was
delighted with his winnings,
which he may use to escape the
January blues.
Michael said: “Thanks very
much. I expect it will help with
Christmas and perhaps we’ll take a
nice holiday early next year.”
The LTDA lottery costs £5
each month.
To take part
just pick
up the
telephone,
dial 020
7121 0504
and ask
for Jenny.
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More readers than the rest put together! 11 DECEMBER 2012 | TAXI 3
Top Trade Story
THE ONLY
WAY IS UP
STEVE MCNAMARA LTDA General Secretary
It’s been a terrible year, and we can only hope things will improve in the New Year
Normally this would be my
Christmas article, with a few
jolly references to the out
going year, but having done a
mental review of 2012, and
immediately recalling that it started
badly, dipped drastically in the
middle and ended terribly, I have
decided to give it a miss! It really
was what the Queen described as an
‘Annus Horribilis’; our industry was
rocked by recession, devastated by
the ghost town effect of the
Olympics and the collapse of the
London Taxi Company (LTC), which
has left many drivers out of work
and unable to find cabs to rent.
“ALL THE SIGNS ARE THAT
LTC WILL BE RESCUED AND
WILL HOPEFULLY BE BACK
UP MAKING AND SELLING
CABS VERY “We need to grab any glimmer of hope we can”
SOON”
2013 has to be a bit better; all the
signs are that LTC will be rescued
and will hopefully be back up
making and selling cabs very soon,
and the taxi driver owners, who are
currently without a warranty, will
once again have the peace of mind
which they paid for. Continuing on
the vehicle front, the Nissan that
was first previewed to the trade here
at Taxi House is, I am told,
scheduled to be on sale in petrol
automatic form in the summer with
a diesel auto following at the end of
the year and the much heralded all
electric cab debuting in early 2014.
It’s nearly 40 years since the trade
drove petrol cabs but with the
advances in petrol engine design
and improved longevity, coupled
with the lower price of petrol,
compared to diesel and the benefits
of quieter engines, smoother
running and start stop technology,
there could be the start of bit of a
revolution going on.
Unfortunately, the economy is not
predicted to improve much,
although there are tourism pundits
predicting a boom in high end
tourists visiting London following
the publicity and massive
worldwide coverage of the 2012
Games. I am as wary as the next
cabbie about the accuracy of these
predictions, particularly after the so
Image: gagliardifoto / Shutterstock.com
called experts got it so wrong about
the Olympics, but the way the work
levels are at the moment, we need to
grab any glimmer of hope that we
can. The other positive to look
forward to is the continued growth
and success of the new taxi apps
that are winning so much of our
work back from the big minicab
firms and making taxis the preferred
choice of personal transport for so
many Londoners. n
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© LTI Limited reproduced with permission. Fairway and TX shape is a registered design. FairwayTM, TXTM, the LTI
device, the LTI, London Taxis International and The London Taxi Company logos are all trademarks of LTI Limited.

4 TAXI |11 DECEMBER 2012 www.ltda.co.uk | @TheLTDA
NEWS
Goodbye Griffin, Hailo the future
Trade
A businessman has accused
Addison Lee of being “complacent”
and fears loyal customers are being
punished with price rises and
administration charges.
Anthony Karibian, Chief
Executive Officer of bOnline, says
he has been loyal to the private hire
firm for seven years but has lately
become frustrated with the
company’s practices.
The business owner has heaped
praise on taxi app Hailo, which he
says offers good value and up to the
minute technology
He says that at first John Griffin’s
set up seemed innovative,
using modern technology to
its advantage, and had
competitive prices.
But now Mr Karibian
says that during the last six
months the prices have
crept up and the benefits
have started
“disappearing.”
On the business zone
website he writes that a
“recent monthly bill had
increased by £70, thanks to the addition
of a £40 admin fee and substantial
price increases (e.g. 10 minute journey
from Kennington to South Kensington
cost £17).
“As a priority account holder with a
monthly bill, it would have been easy
for these increases to go unnoticed, and
I wonder how many other customers are
being charged more without realising
it. Being a loyal customer with a
premium account, I would expect to be
rewarded with lower prices - but thanks
to new admin fees and
higher rates for
account holders, it
seems I am
actually paying more for my loyalty.”
The boss, whose business
specialises in creating an online
presence for small firms, says he has
witnessed many businesses losing
“touch with their customers” after first
securing their “loyalty.”
Mr Karibian said: “Unfortunately,
while Addison Lee (has) become
complacent, (it has) opened up a space
for a new competitor. I recently tried
Hailo, an app for hailing nearby taxis,
and was very impressed with its
innovative technology. Not to
mention that the cost of my 10
minute Kennington to
South Kensington journey
was half the price at £8.80.
“Addison Lee (has) made
the mistake that many
companies have made
before them – (it has) taken
their existing customers for
granted and lost touch with
their needs. Companies need
to realise that in a tough
industry, loyal customers
want to be rewarded or
they will seek out other
options - namely,
their competitors.”
News in brief
New inspection
centres confirmed
Transport for London has
confirmed that the six new
inspection centres in and around
London, will be controlled by NSL.
The firm’s contract is for 10
years and is for the taxi and
private hire centres at Watermill
Business Park, Enfield, Redlands
Industrial Estate, Coulsdon, Acorn
Industrial Park, Crayford, Air
Links Industrial Park, Hounslow,
North Crescent in Canning Town
and Aquarius Business Park,
Staples Corner.
NSL takes control of the new
regime which means taxi drivers
must get their MOTs passed no
more than 14 days before the
inspection.
Double or nothing
Taxi drivers in Dartford have
asked their local council to let
them charge double fares on
Christmas Day and New Year’s
Day. Only one cab driver was
available for hire in the borough
last December 25.
320 ROUTES
25,000 STREETS
20,000 LANDMARKS
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More readers than the rest put together! 11 DECEMBER 2012 | TAXI 5
NEWS
Fuel duty rise scrapped
by Chancellor
Business
Motoring organisations have hailed
the scrapping of the 3p fuel duty
rise planned for January as a huge
relief for small businesses.
Chancellor George Osborne
announced the move in the Autumn
Statement in the Commons on
Wednesday to the delight of the
lobby groups.
The RAC said
cancelling the
rise would help
35 million
drivers, who
would be saved a
total of around £1
billion per year.
AA president
Edmund King said it
“avoids a new year’s
headache and a long
hangover for all drivers
and is very much
welcomed.”
He said it would
easily be the most
popular announcement in the
Autumn Statement, which made
cuts to benefits and dragged up to a
million more people into the 40%
tax bracket.
Mr Osborne also delayed a second
fuel duty increase planned for April
until September.
The petrol retailers association
said it was pleased the
Chancellor was listening to
businesses and consumers.
But environmental groups
said the move was antigreen
and accused Mr
Osborne of trampling over
the environment and
wrecking the economy.
Some motorists
said the
Chancellor
had not gone
far enough and
said a 6p cut in the
duty would create
70,000 jobs, boost the
economy and help
struggling families.
Fares down?
The United Trade Group (UTG),
which comprises the LTDA, LCDC
and Unite, was very concerned to
learn on November 1 that a small
breakaway group of drivers
calling themselves the ‘UCG’
(United Cabbies Group) was
demanding that TfL reduce the
period during which drivers are
currently entitled to charge the
Tariff 3 unsocial hours rate.
The UTG immediately impressed
upon Mayor Boris Johnson the
importance of retaining the full
value of Tariff 3, and the essential
contribution that it plays in
maintaining a supply of night cabs
and a fair income for night drivers.
LTDA, LCDC and
Unite meet the Mayor
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6 TAXI |11 DECEMBER 2012 www.ltda.co.uk | @TheLTDA
NEWS
British firm to the rescue!
Trade
An award winning British company
has leapt to the rescue of the London
Taxi Company by signing up to
supply vital parts and help put
hundreds of taxis back on the road.
PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC)
administrators have confirmed that
they hope to have all 325 licensed
London taxis affected by the fault
fixed by December 14.
But the solution is down to
Reading-based Magal Engineering,
the previous steering manufacturer
ditched when a cheaper Chinese
deal was struck.
Gamil Magal, chief executive and
main owner of the firm which has
been voted one of the top 100 small
firms by the Times, says he sprang
into action when he heard about the
crisis in the trade.
Mr Magal, who moved to England
from Israeli in the 80s, said: “When
we heard what was going on we
contacted them. I don’t know why they
didn’t come to us straight away but we
told them we had around 150 finished
gears, because there was work in
progress from before, and which we
could quickly convert. So they basically
snapped our hand off for those“.
“Now they have said can you supply
us another 500 and then another 700?
I think in a short time we will have
enough orders to replace the steering
mechanisms in all what they have off
road, plus to resolve all the warranty
issues, which could be a couple of
thousand vehicles.”
Just four years ago the company,
which also supplies steering
columns for Range Rover and
Bentley, was supplying LTC until it
decided to cut costs.
The chief executive, who also has
a military background, said: “London
taxi went into partnership with a
Chinese company and gave us six
months notice, which we weren’t happy
about but we understood.
“Then that was extended a little bit
because the Chinese couldn’t get it right
and then everything went quiet. London
taxi later changed from one supplier in
China to another because they still
couldn’t get it right.”
Mr Magal took over the Reading
company in 2002 when it was a
struggling British company being
run badly and within two years had
turned the business around.
“I know we supplied quality gears
because I would speak to London
taxi drivers on my trips to London.
Some of your guys would do 150,000
200,000 miles with basically the same
gears,” he said.
“Any problems and they would
change a couple of seals and it would be
up and running again – so we know the
quality of our gears.
“However, after the switch to China,
warranty issues arose and it started to
cost lots of money to London taxi, so
they changed to another supplier. The
second supplier’s product just didn’t
“We know the quality of our gears”
function. A lot of these other steering
boxes are just copies from us and other
firms, so when they go wrong they don’t
really know why. We could give a 45
degree lock with these but we don’t,
because if we do it will lock, which is
what is happening.”
The steering boxes made at Magal
engineering are adapted from
military issue and are designed to
withstand being dropped from
aircraft in the desert. They are
also similar to those used in the
Land Rover.
“They are complicated parts and you
have to be careful when choosing the
manufacturer,” Mr Magal said, “the
slightest fault can kill.”
“We have now completed the chain of
supply, as we had used everything after
a certain point.
“To make the make this, we need to
order special steel from Corus and ship
it to Poland, where it is forged. It then
comes back to us and we machine it and
the checks that we do are massive.
“But as for what happens next, I
don’t know; it all depends on what
happens to the company and whether
someone buys it.”
For spare parts telephone Magal
Engineering 0118 9215 303.
Serial bilker
warning
Crime
Taxi drivers are warned not pick up
the man in this photo as the LTDA
has received a growing number of
reports that he is a bilker.
Two victims reported him to the
police last week after he fled
without paying in the West London
area, but we have been made aware
of many more instances of his
activities.
He is described as being white, in
his 20s, with long hair and has
distinctive tattoos.
If you have been bilked by this
man let us know by emailing
taxinewspaper@ltda.co.uk
Gamil Magal and R.K at the engineering plant
“The checks we do are massive”
“Do not pick up this man”

More readers than the rest put together! 11 DECEMBER 2012 | TAXI 7
NEWS
Taxi driver stabbed
and robbed by thugs
Crime
A taxi driver was stabbed during an
‘extremely brutal and violent assault’
by two thugs he picked up outside
a nightclub.
A dispute over the fare flared up
when they got to their Luton
destination and the passengers
viciously attacked the driver with a
knife and metal bar.
He was battered about the face
before the robbers managed to steal
a large amount of cash, two mobile
phones and a PDA system.
The 39-year-old taxi driver had
collected three passengers in Market
Square, Aylesbury, early on
Saturday morning.
Two of the men are described as
being white, while third is black and
was so drunk he had to be helped
into the vehicle.
On arrival in Luton, the two white
men went into a property allegedly
to get cash but returned with two
other men.
The original passengers then
attacked the driver, leaving him
with what police described as
‘puncture’ wounds in both arms and
facial injuries.
The attackers left while the two
other men dragged the drunk
passenger, who had slept
throughout the journey, out of the
car and along the road.
The incident happened at around
4.30am in a car park in Hilltop
Court, Downs Road, Luton.
The victim was taken to hospital
for treatment. The drunk black man
was located in a nearby stairwell
and also taken to hospital.
Detective Constable Jo Bosson
said: “This was an extremely brutal
and violent assault on a man going
about his daily business. He has been
left with some very nasty injuries
and extremely shaken up by the
whole incident.”
Police are looking at CCTV
footage from Market Square and
continuing enquiries in the Downs
Road area.
The two attackers are both white,
in their late teens or early 20s. One
was wearing a black hooded top
while the other wore a white or light
cream coloured jacket.
Anyone with information should
contact Det Con Bosson in
confidence on 01582 394441, call the
non-emergency number 101, or text
information to 07786 200011.
Alternatively contact Crimestoppers
anonymously on 0800 555 111 or
online at crimestoppers-uk.org
News in brief
Police appeal
Police want to speak to a taxi
driver who collected a couple from
St Paul’s Churchyard just before
2am on Wednesday, October 31.
The cab took a man and a
woman, who are described as
being white, west towards
Aldwych and then returned to
Godliman Street to drop off at
Grange St Paul’s Hotel.
The driver is urged to contact
the City of London Police on 0207
601 2930 and ask to speak to DC
Pepper or PC Hogarth.
£1 taxi scheme launches
Cab drivers have launched an
innovative scheme to educate
residents about the difference
between Hackney taxis and
private-hire vehicles.
Residents who hail an
available taxi and who are
heading towards High Wycombe
will be taken into town for just
£1 per head between 9am and
4pm until December 31.
The scheme is a bid to end the
confusion about surrounding
their taxis and minicabs.
0207 446 7678
Image: carl ballou / Shutterstock.com

8 TAXI |11 DECEMBER 2012 www.ltda.co.uk | @TheLTDA
NEWS
Thames cable car demand dwindles
Transport
Fresh calls for the Thames cable car
to be included in the travelcard
scheme have been made after it
emerged that usage has plummeted
to a record low.
Statistics for the Emirates Air Line
reveal that only 301 people used the
service on one day in September,
which follows a big drop in demand
for it after the Olympics ended.
For the nine-week period ending,
Sunday, November 4, there were 18
days when the total number of
passengers fell below 3,500.
The cable car, which cost £50 million
to build, can carry 2,500 passengers an
hour between the Greenwich
Peninsula and the Royal Docks.
A cash ticket costs £4.30, Oyster
£3.20 and a multi-journey pass offers
10 trips for £16. But during those
nine weeks sales of the multi-journey
pass were mostly below 10 a day. On
two days none were bought.
Caroline Pidgeon, the London
Assembly’s Liberal Democrat leader
and transport committee
chairwoman, said: “Having poured so
much public money into the project [the
Only 301 people used the car one day in September
Mayor] must now ensure it operates as
an integral form of public transport.”
Green Party assembly member,
Darren Johnson, also claimed
interest levels “would have been a
much better” if the cable car “had
connected with Canary Wharf.”
He called for the car to be
incorporated into the TfL fares
structure including the Freedom
Pass and Travelcard.
TfL's Head of the Emirates Air Line,
Danny Price, said: “Passenger numbers
were unusually low on Monday,
September 24, as the Emirates Air Line
was suspended due to high winds.
Image © Transport for London
"The number of journeys made on the
Emirates Air Line has already exceeded
the first year target after only four
months and current passenger numbers
are in line with TfL’s forecasts.
"As with all new transport links, the
number of regular users builds over a
period of time as people become familiar
with new journey possibilities.
"The purpose of the Emirates Air Line
is to support regeneration in east London.
"If the Emirates Air Line was at full
capacity now there would be serious
concerns about how it could carry the
future population growth it was built
to support.”
Bilker Watch
[ ]
Don’t Lose out!
LTDA Bilking Fund
Incidents involving passengers
who fail to pay their taxi fare,
especially at night, are on the
increase. LTDA members who
experience this problem can
request the LTDA to
investigate the incident and
endeavour to recover the
unpaid fare. If the LTDA is
unsucessful, but the member is
able to provide evidence of a
police report reference, a
compensation payment (max
£50) may be available from the
‘LTDA Bilking Fund’.

More readers than the rest put together! 11 DECEMBER 2012 | TAXI 9

10 TAXI |11 DECEMBER 2012 www.ltda.co.uk | @TheLTDA
Chairman Says
NEW YEAR
OFFER
JOHN THOMAS LTDA Chairman, john@ltda.co.uk
2013 is around the corner and what better way to get it underway than by joining the LTDA
There are no cabs available for new badge holders
Image: © herbrm via Flickr.com
What a time our old trade has
had of late. I’m not going to
delve into recent events,
anyone affected will know only too
well what chaos has been caused as
the shortage of cabs continues to
affect established and new drivers
as they scramble to get behind a
wheel. But what a welcome to the
trade for a new badge holder, LTPH
present them with a shiny new
badge and bill, shake their hand,
wish them well and show them the
door in the full knowledge that
there are no cabs available for them
to earn a living in.
“THE MAYOR CANCELLED
THE SCRAPPAGE
PROGRAMME TO EASE THE
SHORTAGE OF CABS IN
NEW YORK THE DAY AFTER
”
SANDY STRUCK
As a contrast, New York suffered a
shortage of cabs after hurricane
Sandy struck, with many cab
garages flooded out. The city of
New York is running a scrappage
scheme similar to London’s, the big
difference is that Big Apple officials
cancelled the scrappage programme
to ease the shortage of cabs in New
York the day after Sandy struck.
I’m not comparing our woes in
any way with New York, where
people lost lives, but it does prove
that big decisions can be made
without being hung up on a wire
about it.
Non LTDA members
There has been a big increase
in non LTDA members, who
are experiencing problems,
beating a path to our door in
the hope that we have all had
a collective rush of blood to the
head and will greet them with
open arms. The only thing
that we open to them is the
door they entered our
building by, as we show
them the way out.
Some accept this with not
another word and others
look at me like I’ve lost my senses
saying that they are a licensed taxi
driver and that we MUST help
them. I tell them that there is no
must about it, and why should
existing members pay to assist non
members who hadn’t bothered to
join us?
Some of them even go as far as
saying they will join right there and
then and I tell them how delighted I
am to welcome them into our fold.
A look of relief floods over their face
as they ask to see one of our in
house solicitors ‘now that I’m a
member,’ only for me to cruelly dash
their expectations, as I tell them that
they are not covered for events that
occur BEFORE they join us.
Now don’t cause embarrassment
by putting yourself in this position.
It’s not embarrassment for me by
the way, I couldn’t give a monkey’s
about your problems if you are not a
member. I’m thinking about you.
And as I’m in a thinking of you, the
non-member, frame of mind, I will
make you this very special offer.
Telephone 0207 286 1046 and ask
about the chairman’s special joining
offer. If you like the sound of it one
of our young ladies will send you an
information pack and the rest is up
to you.
And finally
I’ve been writing a seasonal footnote
to these articles for more years than
I care to remember but the
sentiments are just as deeply felt as
when I wrote the first one. I wish
you and your loved ones a very
happy Christmas together with a
healthy, happy and prosperous New
Year. Be Lucky n

More readers than the rest put together! 11 DECEMBER 2012 | TAXI 11
CABBIE’S MATE STAFF WISH YOU ALL A HAPPY
PY
CHRISTMAS!
Visit www.navigationmaster.com .com for Demo
For further information call Lindsay on 07941 412 865
JVBrights
Tel:
020 7803 0803
ComCab
Tel:
020 7908 0284
Martin Cordell
Tel:
020 8980 7161
M.A.M. Auto Electrics
Tel:
020 7607 3915
Knowledge Point,
Knowledge School
Tel:
020 7700 5683
London Knowledge
School
Tel:
07860 572 450
Streetwise Knowledge
School @ KPM
Tel:
020 7247 8940
Reproduced by permission of Geographers’ A-Z Map Co. Ltd. License No: C0297. The AZ logo is a registered
trade mark of Geographers’ A-Z Map Company Limited
The images displayed are for illustration purposes only. All images are correct at time of going to press.
* Please check our delivery policy on our website.
Camberfield Taxi Services Ltd
Rentals & servicing
■ Taxi Rentals - TX1 - TX4 with full back-up
■ Servicing for TX1 - TX4
■ London Taxi Company Approved
Diagnostic Equipment
■ Overhauls-SGS Presentation
■ Body Repairs including Non Fault Accident
■ London Taxi Company Appointed Service Dealer
■ Member of the L.M.C.P.A.
London taxi company
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CAMBERFIELD TAXI SERVICES LIMITED
THE HAM, BRENTFORD, MIDDX. TW8 8EZ
Tel 020 8568 9643
Fax 020 8758 2290
Email camberfieldtaxi@btconnect.com

12 TAXI |11 DECEMBER 2012 www.ltda.co.uk | @TheLTDA
The Massett File
THE CLAPHAM
EXTENSION
RICHARD MASSETT LTDA Executive, Chairman London Cab Ranks Committee
Debate about the Clapham extension has raged on our letters page but here are the facts
TfL has received frequent calls
asking for information about
both the Clapham and
Hackney extensions since it forced
drivers to display their ID numbers
and badge colours.
They have asked me to explain the
Clapham extension here, and I will
do my best. An explanation of the
Hackney extension will follow in
the New Year.
The Clapham extension was
granted to existing Croydon licence
holders who completed a successful
Knowledge test of the area. The
extended Bill area has since been
included in the examinations for all
new applicants for a Croydon
licence. The plan below shows the
area the extension covers. It includes
the existing ranks at Tooting
Broadway, Balham Station and
Clapham Common. These are not
what are referred to as island ranks.
They are within a driver’s Bill area
and therefore the driver can ply
for hire anywhere within the
extension area.
“CONFRONTATIONS
BETWEEN GREEN AND
YELLOW BADGE DRIVERS
SHOULD BE AVOIDED AT
ALL COSTS
”
The extension does include
Battersea Rise and Northcote Road,
which has become a very busy
area at night in recent years. It does
LTDA Policy Statement
It is more essential than ever for drivers to be fully appraised of
the various trade organisations’ policies. In order to clarify the
LTDA’s position on the important issues facing the industry, the
Association reaffirms:
1. Its determination (despite opposition from certain trade organisations) to exclude
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
(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.
not include the even busier
Clapham High Street or the Clapham
Junction rank.
There are currently proposals for
new ranks in Northcote Road, which
suburban drivers who are licensed
for the area will be permitted to
work, and in Clapham High Street
where they will not.
The nearby rank at Putney Station
is not part of the Clapham extension.
It is an island rank which drivers
with the Richmond Bill are permitted
to work. In this case they can only
ply for hire from the rank and not in
the surrounding area.
There have been a few minor
misunderstandings about where the
boundaries begin and end. Anyone
suspected of working outside of their
licensed area should be reported to
TfL at enforcement@tfl.gov.uk.
Winter Wonderland
There is currently considerable
congestion around the entrance to
this very busy event, which has led
to issues with vehicles and
pedestrians crossing the road. The
LTDA and TfL have suggested to the
organisers that marshals should be
employed to ensure the safety of
people as they cross. We have also
requested an additional section of
ranking space outside the entrance,
which will be fed by the existing
rank alongside Apsley House. In the
meantime, drivers should exercise
great care when using the rank and
either picking up or setting down
passengers. They should also ensure
they use the facility which has been
provided for ranking up - we
wouldn’t want to lose it.
TfL calling
We have been asked to remind
drivers not to over rank at Selfridges
in Oxford Street. The practice has
been the cause of complaints from
bus companies. Enforcement action
is now very likely.
Please be careful where you stop
when setting down around the Praed
Street entrance to Paddington
Station. There have been complaints
that ambulances on emergency calls
have had difficulty getting in and out
of London Street.
We have also been asked to remind
drivers not to park too close to the
island in Horseferry Road, near the
Iron Lung, which has lead to
complaints about traffic being
obstructed. Again, action by
Westminster’s enforcement cameras
is on the cards.
With that, once again it is time
again to wish you all a very merry
Christmas and a very happy
new year. n
If you require clarification on these or
other important issues, please:
Call the LTDA on 020 7286 1046
POLICY
The Clapham extension

More readers than the rest put together! 11 DECEMBER 2012 | TAXI 13
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■ Capital allowances
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■ Preparation of
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■ Free advice on your
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pension income, interest
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14 TAXI |11 DECEMBER 2012 www.ltda.co.uk | @TheLTDA
One-to-One
Personal Service.
Martin Cordell & Co.
Accountants & Tax Specialists to the Taxi Trade
We’re here to help. We want to meet you as we
understand your business. Let us take the strain
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Email: info@mcordell.co.uk
Web: www.martin_cordell.co.uk

More readers than the rest put together! 11 DECEMBER 2012 | TAXI 15
[ ]
DiSPLAY YOUR LTDA DIARY & TAX
DISC HOLDER & YOU COULD WIN!
GET SPOTTED!
One diary spotter, two members
happy, three hundred pounds..
There’s no hiding from our
diary spotters when they
have got the bit between
their teeth and a fistful of Marks
and Spencer vouchers to deliver
– or so we thought.
But it seems we stumbled
across a hitherto unknown fact
this week and that is that some
cabbies are camera shy.
So much so, that they shunned
our offer of a little early
Christmas gift for displaying
their LTDA membership diaries
or tax disc holders.
But perseverance is the name
of the game and with King’s
Cross busy as ever, it wasn’t long
before our spotter stumbled
across some cabbies who were
happy to pose for a snap.
Dave Kennealy, of
Borehamwood, was delighted
with his £200 for having his LTDA
diary on display on the
dashboard of the cab.
He said: “That’s brilliant – thanks
very much. It’s a nice early
Christmas present.”
Philip Lovett, of Burnham, was
also pleased when our spotter
popped up with £100 worth of
vouchers after seeing his LTDA
taxi disc holder in the
windscreen.
He said: “Great – I think I will
give these to my mum.”
Each year we give away almost
£8,000 worth of vouchers, so the
odds of coming up trumps are
pretty good. Just make sure you
have your LTDA membership
diary and taxi disc holder on
display and let us do the rest.
“I’ve been using the CabCard Service for over 18 months and I think it is a
fantastic service. It only costs £2.50 a week and most weeks I earn a good
bit of that back in commission from CabCard - so it costs next to nothing.
WIN
£200 delighted Dave
£100
HOLDER WATCH
M&S vouchers
Since I’ve had the CabCard terminal I have been able to pick up lots of
jobs everyday including airport runs where people need to pay by card.
Because it is not fixed into the cab I don’t have to take more card jobs than
I want to and, if I change my cab I can take it with me . The CabCard staff
are really helpful and my fares are always efficiently paid into the bank
every week. I can’t fault them. CabCard are fantastic!”
Join the thousands of Cabbies who are delighted
to take more business by accepting card
payments with CabCard Services.
Accept these cards by Chip and PIN - NO PROCESSING CHARGE TO YOU
£100 - perfect for Philip’s mum

16 TAXI |11 DECEMBER 2012 www.ltda.co.uk | @TheLTDA
[FIRST TWO MONTHS FREE FOR NEW MEMBERS]
✁
APPLICATION FORM
JOIN FOR £16.80 PER MONTH WITH
£12.80 ALLOWABLE AGAINST TAX!
Name
Address
Tel
Email
Date of Birth
Mobile
Postcode
Badge No. Green (G) or Yellow (Y) When obtained - Month Year
Have you been a member of the LTDA before? (Please tick) YES NO
Please tick if you DO NOT wish to receive information from the LTDA and other related organisations
in the future
I understand that my application for membership of the Association must be approved by the Council of
Management and that a Share Certificate will be issued to me if my application is confirmed.
Signed
Please complete parts 1 to 5 below to instruct your branch to make direct payments from your account.
Then return the form to the LTDA, FREEPOST, (PAM 2005), London W9 2BR
LTDA Basic Direct
Debit Instructions
INSTRUCTIONS TO YOUR BANK/BUILDING
SOCIETY TO PAY DIRECT DEBITS:
To the manager of
Address
1. Please write the name and full postal address of your
branch in the spaces above.
2. Name of account holder
3. Account number
4. Bank sort code
Date
5. Your instructions to the Bank/ Building
Society, and signature:
• I instruct you to pay direct debits from my account
at the request of the LTDA LTD.
• The amounts are variable and may be debited
on various dates.
• I understand that the LTDA LTD may change
amounts and dates only after giving me prior notice.
• I understand that if any Direct Debit is paid which
breaks the terms of this instruction, the Bank/
Building Society will make a refund.
Signature(s)
Date
For Office use only
Originator’s Identification No.
9 1 4 4 2 8
Originator’s Reference
CALLING ALL CABBIES
Bank/Building Societies may not accept instructions to pay Direct Debit from some types of account
Phone 0207 286 1046 now!
[ CAN
LTDA
YOU AFFORD NOT TO JOIN? ]

More readers than the rest put together! 11 DECEMBER 2012 | TAXI 17
NEWS
New taxi for Manchester
Trade
A new style of cab will be picking
up passengers around Manchester
after it was approved by the city’s
council last month.
The Peugeot designed E7 is
already approved for use in 97% of
towns and cities across the UK,
where it has become the most
popular model of taxi, according to
the company.
“We wanted a decent choice”
It has a six-seat rear compartment,
additional luggage space, lower CO 2
emissions and enhanced disabled
access, especially for wheelchair
users, its designers say.
Cab operators and drivers are also
said to benefit from improved
comfort, additional safety features,
better fuel efficiency and lower
purchase costs.
Gerry Facenna, chairman of Cab
Direct, which supplies the E7 black
cab, said: “This is great news. We’ve
already had huge interest from the
Manchester cab trade and are gearing
up for an increase in production.
“This move puts Manchester cab
drivers and passengers on a level
playing field with almost every other
part of the UK and will also help create
additional manufacturing jobs here in
the Britain.”
Manchester cab owner Paul
McCormick, who applied to license
the city’s first E7, said: “I’m relieved
and delighted. I have a business to run
and want to invest in the best and most
efficient vehicles available.
“All we wanted was a decent choice
of vehicles.”
Stay in the know with the LTDA
DVLA reminder
The photo card part of the driving
licence lasts for 10 years and must
renewed after that period. The
licence becomes invalid if it is not
renewed with a current picture.
15 year reminder
The London taxi 15 year age limit
refers to the cab’s ‘birthday’ (in the
log book), not its plate date. For
example: A cab passed when it is
14 years and 11 months old WILL
be granted a further 12 months life.
Cabs may be booked in for
testing in the normal way if the
plate has 28 days, or less, to run.
The cab can then work up to the
test date. If the plates are taken off
with more than 28 days to run,
they must be surrendered to an
SGS Testing Centre, and the
existing paper licence completed
and sent (preferably recorded
delivery) to TPLH, Palestra, 4th
Floor, Green Zone, 197
Blackfriars Road SE1 8NJ. The
‘unplated’ cab must then not be
worked, and at least one week
should be allowed before
attempting to book the next SGS
test (to allow the computerised
booking system to recognise that
the plates have been surrendered).
Lost/stolen identifiers
If your Identifier is lost or stolen
you must notify LTPH
immediately (08456027000 /
tph.enquiries@tfl.gov.uk)
You may then continue working.
A letter of confirmation will be
sent out to you by Transport for
London, prior to a replacement
identifier being processed.
Shop a tout
Anyone who sees touting or any
other form of illegal cab-related
activity is urged to contact TfL
with the details.
Take down the registration
number and make a note of the
date, time and location where
incident took place.
Type cab enforcement into
your internet search engine and
follow the links to the ‘report
illegal activity’ section of the
TfL website.
Please
visit us
for a chat
and the usual
good car
wash
Your favourite car wash T2 car valet
has moved from Chamber Street to
1 Quaker Street E1 6SN
(Just off Commercial St)
1 Quaker Street
London
E1 6SN
(Just off Commercial St)
Tel:
020 7754 5483
We are now open 24 hours!
Special Taxi deal: £7 for In & Out wash
Also our excellent emergency valet
service is available for soiled vehicles.
From as low as £20 only.
T 2 – simply better

18 TAXI |11 DECEMBER 2012 www.ltda.co.uk | @TheLTDA
THE BIG ONE!
The membership of the LTDA is 40 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.
EXPERTISE = SUCCESS
The LTDA’s in-house lawyers are
proud of their unrivalled record of court
triumphs; in fact the rate of acquittals
for members defended
in court by the LTDA is 4 times
higher than the national average. This
unparalleled level of success is due
entirely to the expertise acquired by the
LTDA over many years of specialising
in cab related legal matters.
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
campaign).
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 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. The LTDA’s representatives 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.
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, 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 TfL’s interpretation
of the new DVLA Group 2 Medical
Standards. The LTDA has successfully
challenged many decisions by the
TfL to revoke members’ licences on
medical grounds.
FANTASTIC VALUE
LTDA subscriptions have not
increased for 12 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).
To learn more about LTDA benefits and current joining offers
call: 020 7286 1046 or visit www.ltda.co.uk

More readers than the rest put together! 11 DECEMBER 2012 | TAXI 19
Taxi Talk
PREGNANT
ANGELS
ALF TOWNSEND
Mystery bumps, a barrow man’s sharp stick and the curious sound of embarrassment
Deadlines for copy are normally
fine with me - that is until you
have to write something jolly
and Christmassy when it’s still
November! I’m not feeling in a very
festive mood at the moment following
the complete mayhem of Oxford and
Regent Street closed to traffic on
Saturday, November 24. If the West
End traders had their way, they would
probably pedestrianise the whole area
permanently. The day after wasn’t
much better either, because I had
completely forgotten about the
Hampstead Christmas Festival and it
took me ages to get home via the
many diversions.
Cold steel
But on to my Christmas tale, that I will
call Pregnant Angels. It’s not my idea of
a title I might add, but the banner
headlines across many of the papers
approaching Christmas in the late 60s.
The Regent Street traders wanted to
come up with a fabulous idea for the
Christmas lights that would
overshadow the efforts of their
competition in Oxford Street. So they
hired a well-known designer, I think
he was Italian, to come up with the
‘bizzo’. His final design was accepted
and with great excitement and amid
total secrecy, the manufacturing
process began.
On the evening they were finally
switched on, I can distinctly remember
the great excitement and interest the
design caused because they really
were stunning, with huge white
papier mache sleeping angels facing
the ground, arms crossed. They
stretched right across the road up to
Oxford Circus, truly a masterful
design and one that captured the
Christmas spirit all over London.
But true to the old adage about,
‘the higher you climb the harder you fall’,
the designer did fall, flat on his face.
This guy came from a sunny climate
and he didn’t know about the dodgy
English weather, so when the rain
starting falling, it didn’t stop for
weeks. It rained every day and every
night incessantly – and it made a right
mess of the angels!
The designer hadn’t even considered
making water outlets below the
angel’s tummies as a protection for
their hammock-like open tops.
Consequently, the increasing weight of
the static rain water
started to stretch the
papier-mache, making
the angels look evermore
‘pregnant’ with
every coming week!
This event was
like manna
from heaven
for all the
journalists
looking for a good story and so
’Pregnant Angels’ banner headlines hit
the streets for a long while to
come. The Regent Street traders must
have been mortified, because for a
couple of weeks they had patted
each other on the back and
congratulations came from all the
newspapers and the public. Now it
was total embarrassment, how could
they possibly rectify this total
marketing disaster?
As a regular night driver at the time,
I suddenly noticed the angels weren’t
looking quite so ‘pregnant’ and
wondered if they had sprung a leak.
The answer came late one evening as I
was having a quiet coffee in New
Burlington Street. An old guy pushing
a barrow asked me for a light. We got
talking and I asked him if he was
some sort of night road-sweeper. He
grinned broadly and replied, ‘the
blokes back at my depot call me the latenight
abortionist, ‘cos just as soon as all
the shoppers leave, I stick this in the
Angel’s tummies’. With that he reached
into his barrow, pulled out a black rod
and proceeded to unfold it until it
reached about 15 feet in length. He
pointed to the spear-like end and said
jokingly, ‘this is the end that does the
business and they don’t like the cold
steel up ‘em!’
I drove off into the night chuckling
to myself and wondering what job
title was written this guy’s wage
packet. I thought up various rude
titles but my favourite one was, ‘a late
night emergency water reliever!’.
‘Click- click, click- click’
An old mate of mine and a fellow
septuagenarian had his old cab taken
off the road recently and couldn’t
find a part-time cab to go to work.
The fleet owners who found mature
part timers handy in the past –
especially with many of their old
cabs against the wall – obviously no
longer did, with the
dearth of cabs.
All they want are
drivers on the
full flat or
doubled up.
So I let my old
mate drive my
lovely
Metro a few
days a week
to get some readies for Christmas.
He phoned me up on his second
day on the cab and said with a
slight panic in his voice, ‘I’ve got
this clicking noise started in the cab
and it won’t stop, have a listen’.
Holding the mobile to the click, he
said ‘wait a minute Alf, it’s just
stopped’. I told him to just carry on
working and not to worry because
I had never experienced that sort
“
of click before.
The full story of the mystery click
came to light when he handed the
cab back the following day. Being
unfamiliar with my taxi meter, he
had inadvertently hit the ‘print
button’, which had stuck, resulting
in a loud, constant clicking sound as
a whole role of print receipts
spewed out on to the floor and into
the luggage compartment.
Now the taximeter won’t switch
on in the normal way, simply
because the printer receipt is empty
and you need to press the ‘extras’
button to get it to function!
He obviously felt a little sheepish
about the whole affair, but my wife
and I couldn’t stop visualising the
yards of print receipts gushing out
and we curled up with laughter –
what a wally!! n
”

20 TAXI |11 DECEMBER 2012 www.ltda.co.uk | @TheLTDA
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More readers than the rest put together! 11 DECEMBER 2012 | TAXI 21
LETTERS
STAR LETTER
‘If you’re not a member, you must be mad’
Just a few words of thanks for
the LTDA and especially to
Richard Massett for the time and
trouble he took in getting £94
reimbursed to me from TFL with
regard to the outstanding amount
on my Cab driver’s
licence. I had
decided to retire
and surrender my
identifiers but I
could not find
my badge, either
through loss or
carelessness.
Much to my
astonishment I
received a
letter from
TfL stating that if
my badge wasn’t
returned I would not
receive the £94
outstanding.
Join today!
Call 020
7286 1046
After waiting several weeks, I
decided to contact Richard at the
LTDA, bearing in mind that I was no
longer a member because after
deciding to retire I cancelled my
membership, although I had been a
member for 35 previous years. He
was very understanding and
said he would email TfL.
Less than a week later the
money was credited to
my account. I have no
doubt that without
Richard’s intervention
this would not have
happened.
In this day and
age, any driver that
is not a member and
does not have the
security of the LTDA
must be mad.
Brian Hickey
Do you have a gripe you want to raise or know someone in the
trade that deserves praise? Contact us at editor@ltda.co.uk or
Taxi House, 11 Woodfield Rd, London W9 2BA
One man’s
unwanted fare…
I
'd publicly like to thank the driver
in a silver Vito who illegally
refused a fare on Tuesday,
November 27, at around 8.30pm on
Euston rank going to Roehampton.
This resulted in me taking the
five lovely gents instead. The fare
was £36 and they gave £50!! Not
bad for 28 minutes work.
Next time, do the decent thing
and if you don't like a fare then
switch your light off and go home.
Richard
Angel with a
missing digit
Iam trying to contact a fellow cab
driver who came to the rescue of
my daughter one morning early
November. I had a puncture in
Shoreditch High Street and my
young daughter was running late
for school in Marble Arch, so I stuck
her in a cab. I thought she could go
to Bethnal Green or Liverpool Street
and get the Central Line, but the
nice cabbie ended up taking her to
Marble Arch and didn't charge her
a penny. He gave her his mobile
number but there is a digit missing.
I need to pay this driver urgently
for the journey, from what we can
remember his name was Paul, he
wore glasses and was driving a
racing green TX1, which is possibly
an R registration, with a leathered
up interior! If you read this Paul or
someone knows him, please ring
Matt 07980 252 968.
Matt
Your tools are in my cab
In the early hours of Sunday,
November 25, I was changing the
wheel of my cab in the Shell petrol
station on Old Street but my wheel
brace was unable to loosen the wheel
nuts. I was about to call the AA when
another driver offered to lend me
some tools and gave me his number
to call so that I could return them.
I have been trying for several days
unsuccessfully to reach him. All I
know of him is that his name is
Miah and he lives in the Hackney
Road area. Are you reading TAXI?
Or are you reading this and know of
him? Then please call me on
07793123118 so I can arrange to
return the tools.
Greg
JV Bright Taxi Parts
(0207 803 0803)
Buckinghams Seats
J V Bright Taxi Parts
47-51 Great Suffolk Street
London SE1 OBS
As of the
1st of September
2012 Buckinghams Seats
are now part of JV Bright
Taxi Parts - We will
offer the same level
of quality service.
Call: 0207
803 0803

22 TAXI |11 DECEMBER 2012 www.ltda.co.uk | @TheLTDA

More readers than the rest put together! 11 DECEMBER 2012 | TAXI 23
FEATURE
THE ELECTRONIC GROWLER
Taxi vans don’t cut the mustard, just give me the rattle and squeak of the traditional
London cab any day; it’s the only way to travel. By Chris Ackrill
Readers of Autocar magazine
recently voted the London taxi the
tenth best British car ever. It’s an
overused phrase, but the classic
London taxi shape is definitely an
icon. The body shape of the classic
taxi has hardly changed, and it’s this
that makes it a design classic as well
as a “proper” taxi.
With new van conversion models
likely to be licensed over the next
couple of years the classically
shaped cab faces increased
competition. Is it time up for the big
black beetle?
A joy to drive
I’ve had the pleasure of driving
various London taxis since the late
1980s, all with their differing
aesthetics, performance, and
character traits. I actually owned a
cab before I was licensed. While on
the final stages of the Knowledge I
bought an old “R” registered FX4,
figuring I’d best get used to driving
a cab before my test. I’d had little
driving experience when I traded in
my motorbike for this retired, nonplated,
taxi. As a parcel courier it
would also keep me warm.
It certainly kept me warm in the
summer months, when the hole in
the floor allowed heat and smoke
from the engine to envelope the
driver’s compartment like an indoor
barbeque. I could at least catch some
breeze on my hand from the
quarter-light. By autumn things
could get draughty. By winter, I
needed a coat.
The cab would overheat in the
summer, and fail to start in the
winter. I had no experience of
owning a regular civilian car, so I
couldn’t compare my FX4 with the
popular cars of the day. I do know
that it had an instrument panel like
something from a wartime vehicle,
and a steering wheel the size of a
cartwheel that left black marks on
my trousers. It was woefully
underpowered. At one time I lived
in Blackheath and going up
Blackheath Hill I’d be crawling
along belching out black smoke
while faster vehicles queued behind
me. Without power assisted
anything it was like driving a
gymnasium.
Soon after gaining my badge I
invested in a new Fairway. I think of
this as the first modern cab. It was
faster, more powerful and quieter
than the FX4. A joy to drive. The
Fairway now appears angular and
old fashioned, but it’s a proper cab.
Whenever I phone for a taxi where I
live in Northampton I’m always
disappointed when a van
conversion turns up. My preference
is for a clean and comfortable TX4,
or for a Fairway that rattles and
squeaks like the museum piece it is
fast becoming in London. I’ll miss it.
Leaving the trade for several
years, I returned to a five-year old
TX2. For the life of me I couldn’t see
how this was an improvement on
the Fairway. I quite liked its more
modern, rounded, look, but it was
noisy and slow. And I noticed they’d
designed a gap where banknotes
would be sucked into the gear
mechanism. Nice touch.
“THE CLASSICALLY SHAPED
CAB FACES INCREASED
COMPETITION. IS IT
TIME UP FOR THE BIG
BLACK BEETLE?” ADVANCE
Living 70 miles from Central
London I needed a reliable vehicle
that would perform well on
motorways. My current TX4 does
that. It’s smooth and powerful, and
with better fuel economy than my
old TX2. It’s not let me down
mechanically in the 18 months I’ve
owned it. The heatwaves and
draughts are largely a thing of the
past, and the air conditioning is
impressive: an essential element
for me.
My cab is my shop and my office.
I spend nearly as much time in the
cab as I do in my home so it has to
be comfortable. A bit more cabin
space would be nice, but it’s lovely
cab to drive. Its basic design is
known and loved the world over.
It’s photographed nearly every time
I rank up at St Paul’s.
No-frills
A taxi needs to be purpose built, and
it needn’t stand up to comparison
with a private car. Modernity isn’t
important to many passengers: it
could even be a minus to
connoisseurs seeking a no-frills tank
of a machine. A ride in a cab is top
of many London visitors’ lists.
There’s probably nowhere else in
the world where the rattle and
squeak of a ride in a cab is a tourist
attraction in itself, something to
be savoured.
The Vito is well established and
thriving, and new vehicles are on
their way into London. Allowing a
variety of vehicles to be licensed in
London will blur the boundaries in
the public’s mind between taxis and
private hire. It’s only a matter of
time before the public are flagging
down any vehicle
perceived to be a cab;
whether it’s
a licensed taxi,
minicab, or
tout.
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The Nissan NV200 is scheduled
for release in the spring, and an
electric version might follow. Some
people think this will prove popular
as drivers won’t need to buy diesel.
Sure, we’ll be able to ward off claims
that we’re the biggest polluters in
London, but will the government
really allow us to run cheap
electronic vehicles for long? And
free five-hour parking for
refuelling? They won’t allow the
price differential for long. If you
take out the
electronic
growler next
year, I’d keep
an eye on
your leccy
bill. n
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24 TAXI |11 DECEMBER 2012 www.ltda.co.uk | @TheLTDA
Where’s the best place
to get your taxi serviced
and overhauled?
Still need a clue?
Have you guessed yet? At Hexagon we’re proud that we:
• Have full approved diagnostic equipment for
TX4, TX2 and Vitos including Euro 5 vehicles.
• Have lower labour rates than main agents.
• Use all genuine fi lters and oil.
• Run separate service and repair workshops
so we keep your service on time.
• Give you a FREE courtesy cab with any
major work
• Carry out all work on-site including
gearbox, diffs and electrics.
• Supply free overhaul quotes, so you know
exactly what you’re paying.
• Offer a clean environment for both cabs
and customers.
So, if you’re looking for a garage you
can trust with a standard of work and a
price you can’t beat then stop looking.
You’ve found us!
Hexagon
www.hexagontaxis.co.uk
164 -169 Lukin Street, London E10BN
Tel: 020 7790 6991

More readers than the rest put together! 11 DECEMBER 2012 | TAXI 25
NEWS
Get a kick out of 2013
Health
Kick-start the New Year with
increased confidence and improved
health by signing up to take part in
the LTDA’s free self-defence classes.
Our Krav Maga courses have
The last batch of students to complete the course
helped hundreds of LTDA members
learn how to avoid difficult
situations and defend themselves
from assaults and robberies.
Instructor Ricky Manetta, himself
a taxi driver, has been holding the
eight-week courses in Wapping
and cabbies have hailed them as
“life-changing.”
If you are an LTDA member, then
make a resolution to call us and sign
up for the latest run of classes which
get underway at the end of January.
Some members have even
credited Krav Maga with helping to
improve their driving.
Ricky says: “I just want to give
people the confidence so they can choose
not to fight. That is really what the
course is all about.”
Krav Maga was developed by the
Israeli army and uses blocking,
grappling and wrestling style moves
in self-defence.
It is even effective if your
assailant is armed with a gun or
a bat.
Members interested in joining the
group for the session beginning at
the end of January should contact
the LTDA on 020 7286 1046. Please
only put your name down if you can
commit to an eight week course
which runs on Monday afternoons.
Classes take place at the Orwell
Sports Centre, Tench Street,
Wapping, between 2-3.30pm.
Krav Maga is recommended,
cabbies said...
Jamie Johnson, 36,
of North London,
said: "It's been
great. I'd definitely
recommend it to anyone.
You get fit, it makes you
more confident and you
meet a lot of good people."
Shaun Harris, 47,
of Barnet, said:
“It's been a
tremendous eight
weeks. I’ve had a lot of fun
and learnt a lot. There's
been great camaraderie
amongst everyone."
Kerrie
Chapman, 50,
and Elizabeth
Ellis, 38, of
Islington said: “We thought
it would be intimidating at
first, but it's been great fun.
You learn a lot in a short
space of time and we
definitely recommend it to
any women drivers."
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26 TAXI |11 DECEMBER 2012 www.ltda.co.uk | @TheLTDA

More readers than the rest put together! 11 DECEMBER 2012 | TAXI 27
A Christmas gesture from
London’s 21st Century Grand Hotel
Dear Cab Driver,
ALFRED PISANI
FOUNDER & CHAIRMAN
CORINTHIA HOTELS
As the end of 2012 draws near, we reflect on our first full year of operating as one
of London’s newest five star hotels. It has been an immensely exciting period, seeing
people return time and again, whether to stay overnight or enjoy our restaurants, bars,
magnificent spa or to attend one of the many events which take place at the hotel.
Since April 2011, we have welcomed stars from the world of film, music and the
stage, royalty and global leaders in business, some of whom have been fortunate
enough to stay in one of our seven penthouses, taking in the splendid views over
the River Thames or across Westminster to Big Ben.
It is with your support that Corinthia Hotel London is really building a name for
itself in this wonderful capital city. I would like, once again, to express my gratitude
for your continued friendly and courteous approach to looking after all our guests –
whether native Londoners or new visitors enjoying their first trip to the city.
As a gesture of my appreciation, I would like you to enjoy a small festive offering
of some delicious mince pies, made especially for you. Please collect your gift from
our Concierge Desk next time you stop in our taxi rank.
Wishing you and your families a very happy Christmas and a healthy
and successful New Year.
CORINTHIA HOTEL LONDON, WHITEHALL PLACE, LONDON SW1A 2BD
020 7930 8181 | LONDON@CORINTHIA.COM | CORINTHIA.COM/LONDON

28 TAXI |11 DECEMBER 2012 www.ltda.co.uk | @TheLTDA
1 year contract
Guaranteed monthly payments
Quick ad changesat our drive-through depot
Paintwork returned to PCO standards
Opportunities to earn more money
through PR work
Subject to terms and conditions
We like Ubiquitous taxis to be screen-free,
Follow us:
@UbiquitousTaxis
Facebook.com/UbiquitousTaxis

More readers than the rest put together! 11 DECEMBER 2012 | TAXI 29

30 TAXI |11 DECEMBER 2012 www.ltda.co.uk | @TheLTDA

More readers than the rest put together! 11 DECEMBER 2012 | TAXI 31
CAUGHT ON CAMERA
If anyone can, cabbies can
Good quality entries for our
Caught on Camera page
have been pouring in
thick and fast but one truly daft
piece of driving sticks out like a
sore thumb.
Following on from last week’s
example of Addison Lee really
taking the pee outside
somebody’s home, we have yet
another winning picture which
underlines quite how bad some of
their drivers really are.
One of the most basic skills
required by any motorist is a
grasp of left and right, so quite
how this private hire fool passed
his test and then got a job as a
‘professional’ driver is mindboggling
to say the least.
Still, there are plenty of
Christmas crackers for you all to
enjoy in this week’s rogues’
gallery, two of which feature our
old mates in the rickshaw business.
Plus a minicab as we would all
like to see them – being taken off
the road- and a limousine with an
identity crisis.
Anything that makes you
chuckle or raises your blood
pressure is fair game, including
silly signage, dodgy driving and
perplexing parking, and the best
pic gets £30.
All you need is a camera or a
mobile phone. Send your entries
to us via the MMS line 0n 07908
640017. You can also email
them to editor@ltda.co.uk, so
keep them coming and have a
great Christmas.
“Here’s another fine mess”
THE
WINNING
PIC!
£30 PRIZE!
Nissan gets its measurements wrong What a spanner! My kingdom for a steam roller
Another one bites the dust
Traffic diverted via Australia?

32 TAXI |11 DECEMBER 2012 www.ltda.co.uk | @TheLTDA

More readers than the rest put together! 11 DECEMBER 2012 | TAXI 33
NEWS
A victory for taxi drivers
Court
Taxi drivers have been celebrating a
court case victory which they hope
will drive minicab touts off their
patch for good.
Omar Ashfaq, who owns Herts
based Ash Travels, was convicted of
eight charges of operating in an area
without a licence to do so at Watford
Magistrates’ Court.
The business owner was giving
the impression he was local to
Dacorum, near Hemel Hempstead,
Image: By Oxfordian Kissuth via Wikimedia Commons
Further action to be taken against touts
by using a telephone number for his
home in Berkhamsted.
He was given a 12 month
conditional discharge and ordered
to pay £5,000 in costs.
It is hoped the ruling will act as a
warning for other drivers touting
illegally in the area.
Dacorum Borough Council
spokeswoman Madeleine Taggart-
Smith said: “This was the first
prosecution for operating a private hire
taxi illegally within Dacorum.
“Further action may be pursued
against other illegal private hire operators
and drivers where the council has sufficient
evidence to place before the courts.”
The conviction came after months
of protests by taxi drivers in the
borough who complained that their
livelihoods were being affected by
firms from other areas taking their
business unlawfully.
Cabbie Luke McIvaney said: “It
was an ecstatic day for Dacorum taxi
drivers. We can now work without fear
of losing big chunks of business to
drivers from other areas.
“We are looking forward to our
licensing authority pursuing more cases
and we will do further protest action if
other illegal drivers don’t go in
reasonable time.”
Dacorum drivers have been
campaigning against illegal drivers
stealing business for more than three
years.
Mr McIvaney estimates there are
about 20 to 30 cars still operating in
the area.
He said: “From a public safety point
of view people will be able to trust they
are being picked up by taxis licenced by
Dacorum Borough Council.”
News in brief
Forgery warning
A smartly dressed couple in their
20s are passing off forged £20
notes to taxi drivers around south
and central London.
The pair, a man described as
black and woman of Asian
appearance, took a cab on
November 27 from Tooley Street,
heading to Moorgate but asked to
get out early in King William
Street when the traffic built up.
Cabbie of 19 years Peter Holley
said: “I thought something wasn’t
right and I held the £20 note up to
the light but it wasn’t until put it
next to another, genuine one that I
could tell it was fake.”
Bilker warning
Bilker escaped without paying a
£25 fare after claiming that her
handbag had been stolen and she
had no money to pay.
The woman, described as
having long black hair and being
in her 20s, took the cab from the
corner of Penville Road and
Caledonian Road to Varcoe
Road, SE16.
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34 TAXI |11 DECEMBER 2012 www.ltda.co.uk | @TheLTDA
From Fairways to TX4’s,
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TI Limited. Business users only. Finance subject to status. Meter supplied with all vehicles is a 2yr agreement with TaxiWorld.

More readers than the rest put together! 11 DECEMBER 2012 | TAXI 35
FEATURE
THE WRITE STUFF
Former Chelsea and Orient footballer John Sitton put pen to paper after spotting
our appeal for taxi drivers to tell us about their lives before they entered the trade
My name is John Sitton, a former
Chelsea, Millwall, Gillingham and
Leyton Orient defender, who is now
more than happy to do an honest
day’s work for a living.
I spent 16 seasons as a player, and
nine years as a coach, with two years
overlapping, and I remember vividly
getting home on my Knowledge
moped and asking my wife “how’s it
come to this?”
In a so called redemptive society, I
was still waiting for redemption, and
perhaps it was a blessing in disguise,
it never came.
“ON VALENTINE’S DAY 2003
I FINALLY COMPLETED MY
KNOWLEDGE. I AM AS
PROUD OF MY
ACHIEVEMENT AS ANY
”
OTHER IN MY LIFE
I was hung out to dry in a Channel
4 documentary shortly after being
appointed caretaker manager at
Leyton Orient with Chris Turner in
April 1994. We managed to save the
club from relegation.
Shortly afterwards, I featured
in Orient: A Club for a Fiver,
which caused a stir because of my
colourful half time team talk. In
middle age I find it embarrassing.
If you need a reminder you can find
the Channel 4 documentary on
YouTube, along with a couple of
interviews I have done. I like to think
I’ve matured a bit since then, unless
someone nicks a job!
I may have to vent my spleen in an
upcoming book, which I’ll make you
aware of, in the hope that the trade
will support it, and the charities to
benefit from it.
Millwall
The single biggest thing five and a
half years on the Knowledge and nine
and a half years driving has taught
me is that certain people in football
could do with a lesson in humanity.
I have plenty of memories, not
least running out at The Bridge for
Chelsea as an 18 year old in front of a
crowd of 44,000 to play against
Liverpool, which was the most
effective laxative ever!
Until I began my appearances after
passing the “blank map test”! The
examiners were mainly, firm and very
fair. I only remember the examiner
being outrageous with her questions.
I guess it wasn’t my day for my
“rec”. I was red lined back to the start
of 21s twice, once back to 28s and
once to 56s.
After an arduous five and a half
years it all culminated in Mr Bishop
examining me on the suburbs. I was
thankful he was a Millwall supporter
who remembered I always rolled up
my sleeves up and had a go.
Although, I wasn’t at the club as long
as I would have liked (18 months in
all), which was after my six years at
Chelsea, but I liked it there. The
Millwall lads were great socially, and
the supporters too! The fans accepted
me because they saw I would put my
body up for the cause.
The magnificent seven
So, nine and a half years ago on
Valentine’s Day 2003 I finally
completed my Knowledge and
became a licensed London taxi driver.
I am as proud of my achievement as
any other in my life.
You could say I took my time, a
combination of bad luck and
stupidity perhaps.
I’ve never been a groveler but I
genuinely think we work for the
finest of London institutions.
I’m a great believer in keeping the
Knowledge and keeping it real.
After all, for those who follow, you
just ask that they go through the same
process as yourself. I work on the
basis of quality assurance. You
wouldn’t want me drilling your teeth,
flying you to the Bahamas or
performing heart surgery on you
without the pre requisite
qualifications and experience would
you? It would be damaging to
people’s health.
I also juggled three part time jobs
whilst doing the “full Knowledge”
before Uncle Ken shaved a bit off;
why? I don’t know.
The Knowledge has always been
open to everyone, so why make
it easier?
It has also attracted its fair share of
ex pros. Certainly, the backbone of a
half decent team: (GK) Big Del
Richardson, ex-Chelsea & QPR, (Full
back) Paul Roberts, an ex-Millwall
teammate and with yours truly at
centre half. Ex-Chelsea and Charlton
player John Bumstead would be in
the midfield, along with Micky
Hazard, formerly of Chelsea and
Spurs. The side would include former
West Ham & Chelsea midfielder Alan
Dickens and Trevor Aylott, the former
Chelsea, Millwall, Luton forward. It
has the makings of not a bad side. Oh
to be 22 again! Ten hours in the cab, or
an eight–a–side? What do you prefer?
Perseverance
Taxi driving stories abound and
asked to repeat some of them I would
be happy to. One of the questions I’m
always asked is “what celebrities have
you had in the back?” Sometimes I
reply “quite a few, but not always as big
as the celebrity in the front driving you!”
Nearly all the celebs have been
lovely, like nearly all the working
people. Not a bad ratio eh? When
doing the Knowledge or if driving, I
always replay one thing in my mind
when the once in a blue moon
pancake day I get an awkward fare.
I haven’t got to please thousands of
supporters, play well for my team
mates, please directors, please the
media, and pander to players and
their agents. I just have to please the
person in the back!
Remember we don’t advertise.
Remember also, you are your own
advert. I should know.
Through hard work and
perseverance I am able to get a
living. Although, sometimes I
enviously glance sideways at some
people lucky enough to be in
football, and at the fortunate people
who are in football as a consequence
of “networking” rather than profound
knowledge.
Still, I am happy to play the cards I
dealt myself.
Keep safe, have a great Christmas
and a happy, healthy new year. n
John Sitton (back row, centre)
Got the write stuff
If like John you have a tale to
tell and fancy yourself as a
writer then drop us a line and
tell us your story?
Perhaps you could tell the
newsdesk how taxi driving
compares to your previous
occupation or write about
something funny or unusual
that happened during your
working day.
Email us at
taxinewspaper@ltda.co.uk or
write to Taxi Newspaper,
11 Woodfield Road, London,
W9 2BA and tell us your ideas
or ask for advice if you don’t
know where to begin.
Black Cab Accounts
ACCOUNTANTS & TAX ADVISERS FOR TAXI DRIVERS
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• Very Competitive Fees
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www.blackcabaccounts.co.uk
Black Cab Accounts, 69 Grays Inn Road, London, WC1X 8TP
Phone: 020 7404 9742 Fax: 020 3355 0793
Email: admin@blackcabaccounts.co.uk

36 TAXI |11 DECEMBER 2012 www.ltda.co.uk | @TheLTDA
From Fairways to TX4’s,
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Full terms & conditions available upon request.

More readers than the rest put together! 11 DECEMBER 2012 | TAXI 37
Licensed to Chat
MUSHER MEG
MY TRUE LOVE GAVE
TO ME… NOTHING
After a messy scrum for a Rudolph thong last year, can a gift free Christmas spell harmony?
This year in my house, we have
agreed to do Christmas as
usual, but without presents.
Turkey, yes. Tinsel, yes. Mistletoe,
hell yes, in case our neighbour who
looks a bit George Clooney (and a
lot like George Clooney after several
glasses of Baileys on ice) drops by.
But NO gifts.
The plan, agreed by family
committee over a recent Sunday
lunch is that all six of us will each
do something for the others in lieu
of a pressie. This scheme is highly
experimental and has many
advantages. Firstly it is less than
cheap - it is completely free and
2012 has not been a bumper year
for the taxi trade, despite the fact
that the TfL Mandarins keep trying
to convince me that I had a
fabulous Olympics.
Secondly, it means I don’t have to
shop. Last Christmas Eve I got
involved in an ugly scrum in the
Debenhams menswear department.
The competition for the last man’s
Rudolph the Reindeer thong was
intense. It was a special thong
because Rudolph sang ‘Jingle Bells’
when you pinched his nose.
Fortunately, the self defence class I
took in Brent Town Hall back in
1982, finally paid dividends and
I bagged Rudolph, but then
queued 45 minutes to pay £12.99 for
my efforts.
If I wasn’t an honest sort I could
probably find gifts for the entire
family and a few friends too, from
what gets left in the back of my cab
at this time of year. So far a cuddly
toy, the Forty Shades of Grey trilogy
and a pair of Wallace and Gromit
slippers have caused me to visit two
separate nicks to hand them in. Only
two visits, because the book and
slippers were both left by the same
punter….I haven’t quite worked
that one out yet.
“IF I WASN’T AN HONEST
SORT I COULD PROBABLY
FIND GIFTS FROM WHAT
GETS LEFT IN THE BACK
OF MY CAB
”
I have some words of wisdom for
this period of seasonal
lunacy….verily don’t drink at
lunchtime and then shop, because
man will be parted from his
presents.
So this Christmas my
husband is going to clean
out my pan drawer
for me. Shame on
you if you think
that has a
double meaning.
My daughters are
going to bring glad
tidings to my airing
cupboard, in the shape
of good tidyings and my
son is going to walk the
dog through the mud in
our local fields for the 12
days of Christmas.
And while they are all working
for me, when I am not out cabbing, I
will be scoffing the chocolates that I
bought myself, bathing in the
luxurious bubbles that I treated
myself to and shopping on-line for
presents for me in the sales. It’s a
master plan. But it’s not perfect. My
husband wants me to service his
nasal and ear hair trimmer and give
it a good clean. Ditto the part of his
electric toothbrush where the head
meets the body. My son is
negotiating middle of the night
pick-ups, from various dens of
iniquity in Shoreditch and beyond,
and my girls have traded a few
hours of me gift shopping for them
for the same amount of time doing
their ironing.
However, if you and yours are
doing Christmas this year I wish
you all the very best of
times. n

38 TAXI |11 DECEMBER 2012 www.ltda.co.uk | @TheLTDA

More readers than the rest put together! 11 DECEMBER 2012 | TAXI 39
ROAD WATCH
MASSETT’S
CAMERA
HOTSPOTS
Southampton Row/Kingsway
New Kings Road
Harrods
Great Marlborough Street
Waterloo Road
Mansion House Street
U-turns
Yellow box at the junction with Bagleys Lane
Zig-Zags behind the rank in Brompton Road
and no U-turns
Zig-Zags
Zig-Zags
Yellow box junction
Extreme Hotspot 1:
Piccadilly/Berkeley Street -
Yellow Box
Extreme Hotspot 2:
Old Broad Street - No motor
vehicles beyond Broad Street
Avenue DO NOT GO TO END OF
STREET TO U-TURN!
Eldon Street
Clapham High Street
Tottenham Court Road
Marylebone Street/Thayer Street
Regency Place
Red Routes
Tower Bridge
Limehouse Link
Ganton Street
Do not set down on Zig-Zags
Zig-Zags
Zig-Zags by the Grafton Hotel
Zig-Zags
Yellow lines. This is a WCC special
enforcement action area
TfL is actively enforcing yellow box
restrictions
20 mph speed limit – average speed
cameras
30 mph speed limit
No motor vehicles
Magri ’ s
NOW OPEN!
We can
make to order!
Call us now on
07951786531
snack bar
Located at
City Airport
at the end of the taxi
rank. Ideal for taxi
drivers! Delicious
homemade food!
Opening hours
5am-8pm Mon-Fri
5am-12pm Sat
Closed on Sundays
Yummy burgers, sandwiches, chips,
and piping hot tea and coffee...

40 TAXI |11 DECEMBER 2012 www.ltda.co.uk | @TheLTDA
NEWS
Experience counts on the roads
Motoring
Older drivers are as safe as drivers
from all other age groups, according
to research published by the Institute
of Advanced Motorists (IAM).
The study reveals people in their
70s have better attitudes to safety,
deal with hazards better than young
drivers and use their experience to
increase their safety margins on the
road.
Motorists over 75 react just as
quickly as other age groups when a
vehicle emerges from a side road or
if the car in front brakes suddenly
on a rural road.
People over the age of 70 make up
nine per cent of drivers but six per
of driver casualties.
The IAM study reveals that where
older drivers have slower reaction
times, they use their experience
on the road to compensate by
driving slower and keeping bigger
following distances.
It did however highlight two areas
of concern, including a failure to
check mirrors or look at junctions as
often as other age groups and
appearing to pull up short of the
stop line at junctions.
The IAM wants the government to
draw up an action plan for older
motorists and more manufacturers
to consider them in the vehicle
design. It also wants
n Greater publicity to encourage
health professionals to discuss
driving
n Better information for older
drivers and their families
n Online self-assessment
tools for older drivers
n Wider availability of
voluntary on-road
driving assessments
n Better partnership working
at a local level
IAM chief executive
Simon Best said: “The
government needs to
create a strategy now
to deal with the ageing
driving population.
“Older drivers,
their families and
friends deserve access
to assessment and
information to help
them stay safe on the
road. As well as this, car makers need to
look at innovative ways to use
technology to help this growing sector
and the medical profession has to
improve the way it delivers support and
advise to keep drivers fit for the roads.”
TRL principal human factors
researcher Nick Reed said: “This
study for IAM using TRL’s DigiCar
simulator revealed that in many of
the driving scenarios tested, older
drivers were typically as safe as
their younger counterparts. It
was notable that performance
was more varied across the older
participants; seemingly reflecting
differences in the ageing
process and
highlighting how
difficult it is to make
judgements about
driving ability
based solely on age.
It was pleasing to
identify specific
areas of concern for
older drivers and
perhaps to correct
some common
misconceptions about
their driving ability.”
News in brief
Hailo makes
birthday wish
The chairman of Hailo
announced on the taxi app’s first
birthday that the company will be
active in 24 cities by the end of
next year.
Co-founder Ron Zeghibe says
the company also plans to be in
48 countries by the following year
and around 100 by 2015.
More than 9,200 London
cabbies have signed up to Hailo
and more than 150,000 passengers
have registered for the service.
Bus strike chaos
Bus services across north London
were severely disrupted by a
24-hour driver strike on
November 29.
Around 50 Arriva bus routes
were said to be affected following
a walk-out by around 2,000
members of the Unite union in a
dispute over pay.
Transport for London said that
around 10 per cent of the routes
were either cancelled or seriously
disrupted.
£16.80
PER MONTH
[
NOT
CAN YOU AFFORD
]
TO JOIN?
FIRST TWO MONTHS FREE
FOR NEW MEMBERS
LICENSED TAXI
DRIVERS ASSOCIATION
BUT £12.80
IS ALLOWABLE
AGAINST TAX
LTDA
Phone 0207 286 1046 NOW!

More readers than the rest put together! 11 DECEMBER 2012 | TAXI 41

42 TAXI |11 DECEMBER 2012 www.ltda.co.uk | @TheLTDA
PUZZLER
[ ]
CHRISTMAS CROSSWORD
YOU COULD WIN £80!
Christmas Crossword!
To complete our prize
crossword and be in with a
chance to win £80 send your
completed entry to Crossword
283, Taxi, Taxi House, 11
Woodfield Road, W9 2BA before ,
January 8. First name out of the
hat gets the cash.
ACROSS
1 Great strength (5)
4 Suppress (9) Suffocate
9 Unsettle (7)
10 Divert away (7)
11 Bring to bear (5)
13 Picot
15 Hair jelly (3)
16 Drilling structure (3)
17 Red in French (5)
19 Old fashioned mum (5)
21 Arouse (5)
23 Cooked breakfast (3, 2)
24 Not me (3)
25 American investigative agency (3)
26 Rabbit home (5)
28 Correct computer errors (5)
29 Declaration in bridge (2, 5)
31 A stable period (7)
33 Recent or modern (6, 3)
34 Eskimo boat (5)
DOWN
1 Pest catcher (9)
2 Aromatic root (7)
3 Black oily gum (3)
4 Sheer (5)
5 Passing trend (3)
6 Eight person ensemble (6)
7 Mixture (7)
8 Applaud (5)
12 Brusque (5)
14 Toffee, perhaps (5)
18 Not suitable (5)
19 Mod bike (5)
20 Progressive rebel (5, 3)
22 Group of five (7)
24 Thuggish behaviour (7)
25 Last (5)
26 Home (5)
27 Not sad (5)
30 Seed shell (3)
32 Mythical boat (3)
Theatre Review by Brad Ashton
Constellations
Duke of York Theatre
Playwright Nick Payne's highly
acclaimed comedy/drama has
transferred from Fringe to West
End and established him as a man
of great imagination and intellect.
Constellations sets out to put the
quantum theory into actual
practice with a myriad short,
compact scenes presented in three
different ways to offer alternative
interpretations.
The whole play lasts just 70
minutes without an interval,
which would have undoubtedly
have broken its mood, message
and momentum. Picture the
couple in When Sally Met Harry
and their counterparts in Who's
Afraid Of Viginia Wolfe and you
have University Professor
Marianne (Sally Hawkins) and
Beekeeper Roland (Rafe Spall)
who are a pair of strangers who
meet at a barbeque and go
through just about every emotion.
They seek out and play on each
other's strengths and weaknesses
before finally committing to be
lovers. Michael Longhurst's
direction, using balloons instead
of solid scenery, adds impetus to
the ethereal nature of the play.
With its mixture of quirky,
quaint and quick changes of
mood, this play offers a challenge
for the audience to decide which
of the moods they personally
identify with. And while doing
that, thoroughly enjoy some
really fine acting.
CROSSWORD NO. 283
SOLUTION TO CROSSWORD 281
Across: 1 Lank, 3 Slimline, 9 Netting, 10 Whelp, 11 Sheet, 12 Tartan,
14 Osprey, 16 Junket, 19 Assail, 21 Baste, 24 Habit, 25 Concise, 26
Magic eye, 27 Feta.
Down: 1 Long shot, 2 Nitre, 4 Legato, 5 Mower, 6 Ice pack, 7 Espy, 8
Virtue, 13 Et cetera, 15 Postbag, 17 Urbane, 18 Plucky, 20 Attic, 22
Spite, 23 Chum.
Congratulations
Issue 281 winner
Adrian Perrone, Claygate
Just for fun
Have a go at
this medium
level Sudoku
puzzle. Fill
the grid so
that every
row, every
column and
every 3x3 box
contains the
numbers 1-9.
Follow @TheLTDA on Twitter for news, updates and warnings

More readers than the rest put together! 11 DECEMBER 2012 | TAXI 43

44 TAXI |11 DECEMBER 2012 www.ltda.co.uk | @TheLTDA
A&S SERVICES
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Approved Service Dealer
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More readers than the rest put together! 11 DECEMBER 2012 | TAXI 45

46 TAXI |11 DECEMBER 2012 www.ltda.co.uk | @TheLTDA
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TAXI
A selection of our numerous
Distribution Points
n A1 Taxis, Sidworth Street E8
n Abacus Accounts, Southbrook Road,
Lee SE12
n Astral Café, Regency Place SW1
n Bubbles Car Wash, E2
n C & S Taxis, Dunbridge Street E2
n Cabsurance, Seven Kings
n Camberfield Taxi Services
n Computer Cab, Mitre Way W12
n Coney Allen, Dunbridge Street E1
n CP Beehive Service Station, Beehive
Lane, Gants Hill
n Cricklewood Carriers, Cricklewood
n Dial A Cab, City Road N1
n Edgware Station Rank
n Euston Station Rank
n G & L Taxis, Crayford Road N7
n Globe Transmissions, Cudworth
Street E1
n The Ham, Brentford
n Heathrow Airport Canteen
n Hexagon Garage, Lukin Street E1
n Jet Garage, Clipstone Street W1
n Knowledge Centre, Caledonian Road
n KPM, Hemming Street E1
n London City Airport Canteen
n LP Motors, Dunbridge Street E2
n Martin Cordell, E3 and Stanmore
n Paddington Station Rank
n Public Carriage Office, Penton Street N1
n Putney Bridge Taxis, The Arches,
Putney Bridge Station SW6
n Richmond Road Taxi Centre, E8
n Safewise Supermarket, Harrow
n South Bank Service Station, Great Suffolk
Street SE1
n TAXI HOUSE W9
n Temple Place Shelter
n Tent Street Taxi Centre E2
n Turbo Accessories, Three Colts Lane E2
n Waterloo Station
n Wimbledon Station Rank
n 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
@TheLTDA
MANAGING EDITOR Steve Still
T: 0207 121 0508,
F: 0207 286 2494
E: taxinewspaper@ltda.co.uk
THE MASSETT FILE Richard Massett
THE CHAIRMAN SAYS John Thomas
TWO FINGERS Al Fresco
TAXI TALK Alf Townsend
OVERHEARD Brad Ashton
LICENSED TO CHAT Musher Meg
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@centuryone
publishing.ltd.uk
www.centuryonepublishing.ltd.uk
DESIGN & PRODUCTION
Sarah Astington
ADVERTISING SALES EXECUTIVE
Pete Crisp
T: 01727 739 183
E: peter@centuryonepublishing.ltd.uk
PRINTED BY Century One Publishing Ltd
COVER IMAGE Stan James
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.
CENTURY ONE PUBLISHING
IS THE UK’S BRIGHTEST
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AND ADVERTISING SALES AGENCY.
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To plan your ad campaign
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e: peter@centuryonepublishing.ltd.uk
w: www.centuryonepublishing.ltd.uk

More readers than the rest put together! 11 DECEMBER 2012 | TAXI 47
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WWW.TAXIGARAGE.CO.UK

48 TAXI |11 DECEMBER 2012 www.ltda.co.uk | @TheLTDA
CLASSIFIED
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Established 1993
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G&H TAXIS FLEET RENTAL
518 KING ST, OFF BRUCE GROVE, TOTTENHAM N17 8AW
BEAT THE RECESSION
TXI from £175 per week TX4 from £205 per week
• OVERHAULS • SERVICING • BODY WORK
• PAY IN AT ANY BARCLAYS BANK
DON’T DELAY CALL THE TAXIS TEAM
WE HAVE
MOVED!
CALL: 020 8885 1844 / 07956 514179 WEBSITE: www.gandhtaxis.com
EMAIL: gandhtaxisfleet@aol.com
INDIGO
TAXI LTD
Garage in
Loughborough
Junction
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
Keith on 0207 733 3228 or
visit www.indigotaxi.co.uk
Cabs for Rent
WANTED
CALL
✆
ALL TX4S WITH
ENGINE PROBLEMS
TONY HALVEY ON
0208 312 2224
GOOD
PRICES
PAID
TX1 TX2 TX4 engine work undertaken good
warranties and prices free advice given
FINANCE CAN BE SETTLED
LTDA Branch Meetings
LDTA Branch Meetings
SW and SE
First Monday of
Jan and third
Tuesday of March,
May, June, Nov
NW and NE
Last Tuesday of
Jan and last
Monday of April,
June, Sept, Nov
Restaurants
The Best Kebab
Free Sky sports
1st tea on the house for
taxi drivers*
2 for 1 cups of coffee*
Half price humous
and taramasalata*
After 7pm free parking
All kebabs served with rice
*Eat in only
Tel: 0207 336 7036
118 Old Street
EC1V 9BD
Advertise here
in TAXI magazine
For all your TAXI advertising
requirements contact
Century One Publishing
CALL PETE ON 01727 739 183

More readers than the rest put together! 11 DECEMBER 2012 | TAXI 49
CLASSIFIED
Drivers Wanted
Services and 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 and Repairs
Advertise here
in TAXI magazine
Century One Publishing
CALL PETE ON
01727 739 183
MERRY
XMAS
FROM ALL AT
CENTURY
ONE
PUBLISHING
Book in your
adversement
before 14 th Dec
to ensure your
ad appears
in the first
issue of the
new year
Call Pete today on 01727 739 183
Please note that our offices are closed from Christmas Day and reopen on Wed 2nd January

50 TAXI |11 DECEMBER 2012 www.ltda.co.uk | @TheLTDA
LINAGE
Accountants
CHARTERED ACCOUNTANTS
specialising in the taxi trade.
Accounts and tax returns £295inc.
Based in North London & City.
Home visits. Call Andy Belej
02083601446/07967444687
Cabs for Rent
CHEAP TAXIS – TXIs/ TXIIs / TX4s
from £150pw, Full Back-up, Bethnal
Green, Call Eric 07766542798
TXI & TXII’S from £160 p/w. VITO’s
£210 p/w. RAC Cover. No Adverts.
Garage Back Up. Essex Area.
Call 01708 373 786
TXII ‘06-REG £170, TXII ‘52-reg £155,
TX4 £185, Spare cab available, RAC
cover, South East London area.
Call 07930202709
TX4. 08’ REG. Monday Tuesday,
Wednesday only. Permanent Basis.
Kingston Area. £85 per week.
07958401111
TX4 – ‘57 REG. East London.
Call Jim 07961994990
WEST LONDON cabs for rent,
Fairways &TX1’s flat/part-time/odd
day’s AA cover, call 01494671555 or
07770900340
Cabs for Sale
TXII SILVER and bronze from £7,995
only 07947 711 293
TX4 SILVER. ’07 Reg. Black. Plated &
Taxed until May 2013. Well
maintained. 107,000 miles. FSH.
£14,800. Call 07973 319226
✁
TX4 SILVER ’08 Reg. Black.
Immaculate condition. Complete
Engine Rebuild from just taxi’s 2012
this year with 2 year warranty.
Complete re-spray of November 2012.
Cab like new. £15,500 ono.
Call Phil 07931 405687
TX4 SILVER. ’56 Reg. Plated & Taxed
until March 2013. Excellent
Condition. 131,000 miles. £13,750
ovno. Call 07917 334540
TX4 - ’11 REG. 78,000 miles. FSH.
£26,000. Call 07880901609
Cabs Wanted
CASH PAID for all TXIIs and TX4s -
020 8150 7560
FAIRWAYS AND TXIS taxis wanted,
instant decision - cash paid. Tel:
07973335739 or 01253407500
TOP PRICES PAID for all Taxis.
Runners/Non-Runners. Finance
Cleared. Please ring 0207 481 9600.
Ask for Michael or Jason
TXI WANTED – I need a TXI to
replace my Fairway Driver, fair price
paid for good running cab. Phone
Terry on 01494675743 or 07770 900340
TXIS & TXIIS WANTED, Any
condition, Cash paid, Plated/unplated,
Open 10am – 5pm - 01932 569893
WANT TO SELL your cab and rent it
back? Call for full details on
02081507560
Drivers Wanted
DAYMAN REQUIRED for TX4
ComCab fitted. Chigwell.
Call 07960291378
EARLY MORNING DAYMAN
wanted for TX4, Edgware/
Stanmore/ Bushey Changeover, Nonsmoker,
Full back-up. 07811 363632
Parts
TX TAXI BREAKERS - All taxi parts in
stock, Cabs bought for cash –Danbury
Mews, Wallington, SM6 0BY,
07886505807
Special Job
DRIVER WANTED FOR SCHOOL
RUN. Pick-up from Battersea Park at
3.35 pm to Barnes three afternoons a
week. £30 minimum fare. Female
driver preferred but not essential.
07753747136
LINAGE RATES:
Up to 10 words £18,
up to 20 words £29,
up to 30 words £35
(Plus VAT)
Call 01727 739 183
or email
peter@century
onepublishing.ltd.uk
To advertise in TAXI please write your linage below and post to:
Pete Crisp, Century One Publishing, Alban Row, 27-31 Verulam Road, St Albans, Hertfordshire AL3 4DG
Alternatively, email your linage to: peter@centuryonepublishing.ltd.uk
PLACE YOUR LINAGE IN
TAXI ISSUE 284
BOOK BY WEDS 19 DEC
CALL PETE ON
01727 739 183
CENTURY ONE PUBLISHING
IS THE UK’S BRIGHTEST
AWARD-WINNING
CONTRACT PUBLISHING
AND ADVERTISING SALES AGENCY.
WE WORK EXCLUSIVELY
WITH MEMBERSHIP
ORGANISATIONS GENERATING
ADVERTISING REVENUES
AND MANAGING
ALL OR PART OF THE
PUBLISHING FUNCTION
To plan your ad campaign
in TAXI magazine contact:
Pete Crisp
t: 01727 739 183
e: peter@centuryonepublishing.ltd.uk
w: www.centuryonepublishing.ltd.uk
Linage (Up to: 10 words £18, 20 words £29, 30 words £35. Plus VAT):
Name:
Phone No:
Company name:
Address:
Please note all linage advertisements require pre-payment. This can be made via a credit or debit card.
Payment Details:
Please debit £
Card type:
Card number:
Valid from:
Valid to:
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Please note we do not accept payment via
cheque or American Express

More readers than the rest put together! 11 DECEMBER 2012 | TAXI 51
Comcab radio circuits fitted in all TX4 loan cabs
C&S Taxis London Ltd - have now purchased new Vito Merc's to coincide with six
existing TX4s, specially allocated for their crash repair body shop - A Class Of Their Own

Deposit now only
£2,000
£1,000 *
New Vito Taxi only £135 per week
£1,000 Deposit Guaranteed residual value
Only 4.3% APR
Change or walk away after 3 years
£2,0
Deposit now only
osit now
0
l
£1,00
£2,00
0
00