GEDLING

 A taxi driver from Gedling has been convicted of plying for hire and having no vehicle insurance.

Nottingham Magistrates' Court heard on Thursday how Tahir Zia, of Aspley, had picked up a disabled gentleman and his son from outside the Queen's Medical Centre on April 15, 2015. This was outside of the Gedling boundary of which he was licensed.

Zia charged the men £30 for the journey, when a real estimated cost would be £15. The investigation started when the resident made a complaint about the fare.

During the trial, Zia denied he had picked up the passengers despite the complainant recording his license plate and giving a detailed description of his taxi. This was then traced by Gedling Borough Council's licensing team, who confirmed Zia was the owner.

http://goo.gl/Pc14yj
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WOLVERHAMTON

 Passenger safety is at risk in Wolverhampton, according to cabbies who are concerned about an alleged lack of training given to new drivers.

According to members of the Wolverhampton Hackney Carriage Association, new drivers are not receiving proper training prior to being given their licence and taxi plates.

The group has written to Colin Parr, licensing manager at Wolverhampton Council.

It is signed by the chair of the WHCDA, the director of Rainbow Taxis, chairman of Associated Taxis, director of Mobility Cabs and a Unite representative. It states that: “The hackney carriage trade has serious reservations about new private hire drivers.

“We feel the public is put at risk and other road users are put at risk.

“Most new private hire drivers cannot speak English and do not know the venues in the city centre, never mind around the other parts of Wolverhampton. Some are not familiar with the road layout in the UK.”

Rob Marris MP for Wolverhampton South West has written to the Secretary of State regarding the problem.

In his letter, MP Marris says: “Some councils in England have rigorous checks on the suitability of prospective taxi drivers as fit and proper persons; other councils allegedly less so. This discrepancy could create a loophole, thereby allowing a rogue to slip through the net.”

Concerns about the training of drivers emerged after the council changed the way it qualifies its drivers. Now they only have to participate in a day-long course.

Previously, drivers have had to complete a full theory test, a practical test and further NVQs to qualify.

Muhammad Nasim, a taxi driver, said: “It is disgraceful. It’s just not safe for customers when drivers depend solely on the satnav, cannot speak English and are not properly trained.”

Mr Nasim wants the council to put all new applications on hold and work to re-instate the original hire test system, including the theory and practical test.

A meeting to discuss the issue was to take place on March 17. However, concerned members think this is far too late.

“They need to do something about this now. Passengers are feeling uncomfortable, drivers don’t know what they are doing and the council is just issuing far too many licences,” Mr Nasim added.

In addition to the training problems, drivers are concerned about the new pedestrianised zone in Queen Street.

The WHCDA said:“We the Hackney carriage trade have lost most of our work from the Market Street taxi rank since the new road layout.

“We propose the Princess Street pedestrian zone should be made available to only carriages, if they have a passenger, not just to cut through the city centre.

“This is in the best interest of public safety and will keep the taxi fare low for the most vulnerable.”

Drivers also expressed their disappointment at the council’s enforcement team, who they believe have failed to stop taxis plying for trade and poaching passengers.

Colin Parr, licensing manager, said: “Our position remains the same. We hold quarterly meetings between the council and the drivers where they can raise their concerns, along with the other items. The changes we made to training were in response to government changing their policies.”

http://www.expressandstar.com/news/2016/02/13/new-wolverhampton-taxi-drivers-dont-know-what-they-are-doing-say-cabbies/

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 UBER IRELAND

THE general manager of Uber in Ireland has denied claims that local taxi drivers will be out of work if the firm brings ride-sharing to the city.

Jude Williams of Xpert-Treaty Cabs based in Davis Street was speaking on RTE’s Today with Sean O’Rourke, and said if Uber was allowed to operate a ride-sharing service in Limerick – allowing regular drivers to pick up passengers for a fee, it could see 20,000 drivers out of work.

But Kieran Harte, rejected this claim, saying: “There are no numbers I have seen that taxi numbers, as the gentleman said, are falling down in matters of weeks. We have been in Los Angeles for five years now, and the ground transportation market has grown by 500% there. Taxis have only felt an impact of less than 10% there.”

“It is hardly controversial,” he added. “It is used if someone who owns a car, and wishes to drive their fellow citizen from point A to point B.”

Uber is well on the way to creating 300 new jobs in Limerick, with the setting up of its ‘centre of excellence’ in Thomas Street, servicing Europe, the Middle-East and Africa.

But Mr Williams said: “If they do come up with the jobs, it’s great news. But they could be putting 20,000 taxis out of work. If they work the way they work in the United States, they will wipe out the taxi industry within weeks, rather than months.”

Uber currently does not operate a ride-sharing service in Ireland – only partnering with some taxi drivers in Dublin.

But Mr Harte says it is something he would love to see here, confirming the firm is in debate with both government, and local authorities.

He also disclosed workers at Uber’s new centre of excellence in Limerick can earn from €30,000 upwards.

http://www.limerickleader.ie/news/home/202656/Uber-boss-denies-taxi-driver-claims.html

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