BLACKBURN

 A TAXI chief has hit out at vandals who trashed his hackney cab in what he believes was a targeted attack.

The cab was parked in a car park in Mulberry Walk, Blackburn, when its windscreen and four windows were smashed by vandals, who then sped off in an unknown vehicle.

Umar Talaty, who owns the car, which is used by another driver, said he was furious after the “targeted attack” that left him facing a repair bill of more than £1,500.

Mr Talaty, secretary of Blackburn with Darwen Private Hire Association, said: “They have smashed all the vehicle’s windows and then they have run away.

“The people who live around there said they were shocked to hear the amount of noise.

“Some of them were too scared to go outside to find out what was going on. No other cars in the car park were damaged or anything.

“They specifically damaged the black cab. The cab was targeted.

“Nothing has been taken at all. All the windows have been put through for no apparent reason.

http://www.lancashiretelegraph.co.uk/news/13774508.Blackburn_vandals_cause___1_5k_damage_to_parked_black_cab_in__targeted_attack_/?ref=rss
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LANCASHIRE
 
 A popular chef was left to die by a hit-and-run motorist acting as an illegal taxi driver.

Tragic Rhys Davies fell asleep in a country lane on his way home, after drinking at his dad Jon’s pub, the Rose and Crown, on Southport Road, Ulnes Walton, following a shift there as a chef.

John Murphy, 48, of Moor Lane, Croston, was returning from taking passengers to Manchester Airport – which he was not insured for – when he struck the Newcastle United fan on New Lane, Ulnes Walton, between 3.40am and 3.58am on August 10 last year.

The 21-year-old was dragged around 50m in the accident, but instead of stopping to help, tracks of radiator fluid showed Murphy did a U-turn, stopped near Rhys’ bleeding body, then drove away.

Rhys’ mum Michelle Lowe, from Coppull, said: “ I can accept that terrible accidents will happen, but Mr Murphy’s disregard for what he did is astonishing.

“The thing I will never understand is how a man with children of his own could leave a fellow human being on his own to die, without stopping and trying to help.

“No sentence is enough for a man like this.

“Rhys has left a massive hole in the lives of his family and friends.
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Questions over the number of taxi licences in Glasgow

A REVIEW of taxi licence numbers could impact on drivers already operating in Glasgow.

On Wednesday city councillors will be asked to agree to commissioning an independent report regarding taxi licences with demand met by licensing fees.

There are currently 1421 licences issued in the city.

There is a long standing policy that 1428 is the maximum number considered necessary to meet demand in Glasgow.

To that extent the council believes the number of licences should not fall below 1418.

While an assessment of the level of demand for taxi services is carried on a regular basis by the Taxi and Private Hire Car Enforcement Unit, the policy of limiting the number of taxi licences issued by the licensing authority was last reviewed in October 2005.

But taxi bosses say there is no need to change the number of licenses given out by the local authority and taxis are meeting demand in the city.

Stephen Flynn, vice chairman of Glasgow Taxis Ltd, said: “It’s our understanding the council has been taking views on a regular basis, and from a number of sources, regarding the level of supply and demand for taxis in the city.

"It would seem that its consistent view, one which is shared by us, is that the licensed taxi trade continues to admirably provide the required level of service to meet demand and we see no reason for that changing in the immediate future."
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