SUNDERLAND PLAN TO AXE TAXI MARSHALLS

The night-time scheme, established more than a decade ago to prevent disorder among queueing customers, is facing an uncertain future as part of ongoing Sunderland City Council budget cuts.
It may end as early as April if nearly £125,000 of funding is scrapped as part of the authority’s search for £74million of savings.

More details of how the council aims to reach its target are now emerging with question marks also facing the future of sports pitches, bowling greens and “key parks” across the city.

Preliminary talks are already under way with the Football Association to find a partial solution.
As far as the marshals are concerned, leading city firm Station Taxis fears their disappearance could lead to an escalation in weekend intimidation and violence.

George Daley, chairman of the firm, which has nearly 200 vehicles, said the funding cut was “understandable, but unfortunate”.

He added: “It is a valuable service and it would potentially have effects for both our staff and customers and those of other companies in the town.”

The marshals mainly work outside the Green Terrace taxi rank on Friday, Saturday and Monday evenings from 11pm-5am, and Nik Chapman, manager of the Cooper Rose, in nearby Albion Place, also fears violence could increase.

Mr Chapman, who is chairman of the Sunderland City Centre Pubwatch group, said: “It could lead to an escalation in violence at 3am when people have had too much to drink, although even just the fear could lead to more people staying away or heading off to Newcastle instead.”

Businesses across the city centre contribute to the service according to their ratable value, although financial support from Northumbria Police, which originally ran the scheme, has now ended.

Councillor Michael Mordey, cabinet member for City Services, said: “A decision was made in last year’s budget to end funding for the taxi marshal scheme.

“We are in discussions with the taxi trade, the night time economy and Northumbria Police about them contributing to the service as they all benefit from it.

“At the moment it has been left to the council tax payer to fund and we are no longer able to do so.”

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EUROPEAN COMMISSION

Uber will seek to convince Europe’s top court next week that it is a digital service, not a transport company, in a case that could determine whether app-based startups should be exempt from strict laws meant for regular companies.

The European Commission is trying to boost e-commerce, a sector where the EU lags behind Asia and the United States, to drive economic growth and create jobs.

The U.S. taxi app, which launched in Europe five years ago, has faced fierce opposition from regular taxi companies and some local authorities, who fear it creates unfair competition because it is not bound by strict local licensing and safety rules.

Supporters however say rigid regulatory obligations protect incumbents and hinder the entry of digital startups which offer looser work arrangements to workers in the 28-country European Union looking for more flexibility, albeit without basic rights.

Uber found itself in the dock after Barcelona’s main taxi operator alleged in 2014 that it was running an illegal taxi service. The case concerns its UberPOP service which the company halted after the lawsuit.

Uber says it is a digital platform that connects willing drivers with customers and not a transport service.

The Spanish judge subsequently sought guidance from the Luxembourg-based European Union Court of Justice.

A ruling characterizing Uber as a transport service could expose it to stricter rules on licensing, insurance and safety, with possible knock-on effects on other startups such as online home rental company Airbnb.

The case has drawn global interest. The Netherlands, where Uber has its European headquarters, Finland, Poland, Greece and the European Free Trade Association (EFTA) have submitted written observations that tend to support Uber.

Spain, France and Ireland in their submissions however say Uber is a transport service. A grand chamber of 15 judges will hear the arguments, with more than 200 participants signed up for the hearing.

The case is Case C-434/15 Asociación Profesional Elite Taxi.

https://skift.com/2016/11/27/uber-prepares-its-biggest-argument-yet-its-not-a-taxi-or-transport-company/?
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EAST LOTHIAN

A 72-year-old man has died after his taxi was in a crash with a van.

The London Taxi TXI vehicle and Peugeot Boxer van collided on the southbound carriageway of the A1 in East Lothian, between the Old Craighall and Wallyford Junctions, at around 12.30am on Sunday.

The man driving the taxi suffered fatal injuries in the crash.

The 53-year-old man behind the wheel of the van was taken to Edinburgh Royal Infirmary for treatment. His injuries are not thought to be life-threatening.

Police closed the road for around six hours while they conducted an investigation.
Anyone who can help the inquiry is being asked to come forward.

Sergeant Roger Park, of Police Scotland’s trunk road patrol group, said: “Tragically as a result of this collision a, 72-year-old man has died and our thoughts are with his family at this difficult time.

“I would appeal to anyone who was travelling on the A1 at around 12.30am on Sunday morning, who either witnessed the collision, or saw something that may be relevant to our investigation to contact police immediately.”

Police Scotland can be contacted on 101.

https://www.eveningexpress.co.uk/pipe/news/scotland/taxi-driver-72-dies-in-collision-with-van/?
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QUESTIONS IN PARLIAMENT

Tom Pursglove Conservative, Corby

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps his Department has taken to improve the enforcement of regulations against the discrimination of guide dogs and their owners by taxis and private hire vehicle operators.

Hansard source
(Citation: HC Deb, 25 November 2016, cW)

  Andrew Jones Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)

Under the Equality Act 2010 it is illegal for the driver of a taxi or private hire vehicle to refuse to carry an assistance dog unless they hold a medical exemptions certificates issued by the local licensing authority. It is unacceptable that some drivers continue to discriminate in this way and I am determined that this practice must stop.
Guidance has previously been issued to licensing authorities to support their implementation of these legal protections, and we are currently reviewing Best Practice Guidance to strengthen the recommendations relating to taxi and PHV accessibility more generally.
I am clear that the local licensing authorities should play their part in eradicating such harmful discrimination.
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DEBATE ON EDINBURGH WAVERLEY STATION

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