Fears grow over taxi drivers’ behaviour for London City Airport’s neighbours

Neighbours fear they will be living in a ghetto unless taxi drivers using their streets as an unofficial taxi rank change their anti-social behaviour.

People living in Newland Street and adjoining roads have complained of feeling unsafe with up to 20 or more cars queueing along the half mile route as they wait for pick ups at neighbouring London City Airport.

Paula Black, who has lived in nearby Sheldrake Close for more than twenty years and reported seeing drivers littering and relieving themselves in the street, said: “It doesn’t feel nice anymore. This is the worst we’ve seen it.

“It’s a lack of respect for the people who live here whether they’re older people or children. It’s like we don’t matter,” the 49-year-old added.

Twenty-eight-year-old Hurkhan Ahmed, who has lived in nearby Winifred Street all his life, warned: “Kids run between these cars. The drivers park so close to a bend, a blind spot for drivers. Any drivers coming down the road will only see someone crossing at the very last moment. I had to emergency stop because of some of the cab drivers’ parking.”

Grandmother Elaine Bullard, 61, who also lives in Sheldrake Close and claims to have seen a driver urinating up a wall near her home, said: “I’m not knocking the airport. It’s the drivers themselves not being respectful.”

London City Airport provides a rank for black cabs free of charge with minicab and private hire drivers dropping off for free at the front of the terminal, but according to Hurkhan, drivers are using the streets around the hub to avoid paying charges while waiting for pick ups at the short stay car park.

Acknowledging the neighbours’ concerns, a spokeswoman for London City said the airport had written to minicab firms in the area to advise them of “appropriate behaviour”, but admitted it does not employ minicab drivers or have regulatory rights over them.

She added: “We have been liaising with the London Borough of Newham over the issue and believe their proposed controlled parking zone for the Royal Docks area is the best solution.

“We have been fully supportive of the implementation of such a system, which we understand is due to be introduced this year.”

A spokesman for taxi firm Addison Lee said: “We have been made aware in the past of concerns from residents about drivers using Newland Street for waiting.

“We deal with incidents on a case by case basis, working with residents to identify vehicles so we can speak to the driver and ask them to move on.

“We will continue to use our driver communication channels to instruct drivers not to wait in Newland Street, and will monitor the area with our quality assessors who will routinely visit this and other streets around the airport.”

An Uber spokesman added: “We take any reports of antisocial behaviour very seriously, and what has been alleged is clearly unacceptable.

“Whilst this issue is not confined to Uber, we would urge residents to report such behaviour so we can take the appropriate action.

“We’re currently looking into a permanent solution.”

A council spokeswoman said enforcement officers have been monitoring the area and have issued four penalty notices to date following complaints.

She added: “We are in contact with the various cab companies to look at long term sustainable solutions.”

The council have also said they can now issue warnings banning drivers from neighbourhoods around the airport with community protection notices issued to any who return and a £100 fine if they breach the terms of the notice for a third time.

“We hope this action will deter mini-cabs from negatively affecting the quality of life of our residents,” she said.

Meanwhile the council noted a consultation over Residents Parking Zones continues with people living in the area urged to contribute to make sure measures are introduced to “best impact on the issues that matter to them”.

However, the spokeswoman said: “As London City Airport do not allow minicabs to use the official taxi rank, the issues caused by minicabs congregating in residential streets is likely to remain, unless the RPZ is in effect during the Airport’s core operating hours.”

http://bit.ly/2k1bIs6 
---------------------------------------

 NOTTINGHAM

 Cab drivers face having to pass a Nottingham knowledge test under council plans to improve the service provided by the city’s taxi industry.

Nottingham City Council also wants to develop a new booking app and ensure drivers update vehicles to cut air pollution.

From May, drivers will also take a Nottingham knowledge and culture test covering general questions about the city.

Question topics will range from Robin Hood to Nottingham shopping centres.

The plan also includes ensuring all black cabs, known as Hackney Carriages, are ultra-low emission vehicles (ULEV) by 2025.

The authority wants at least 164 – or 40 per cent – of the 411 black cabs in the city to meet the emission targets by 2020.

There are also 24 private hire companies operating in Nottingham and the council’s target is for 25 per cent of the private hire fleet to be ULEVs by 2020 and 50 per cent of fleet by 2025.

http://bit.ly/2k180ig
-----------------------------------------

DUNDEE
 Police are investigating after yobs threw a brick at a taxi — shattering the window.

Robert Kindlen, 40, a taxi driver from Ardler, told the Tele that he “could have been scarred for life” in the incident, which took place as he made his way along the city’s Charleston Drive, at the junction with Forth Crescent.

He said: “I had a job at Ninewells and picked up two staff members.

“I was driving up Charleston Drive, just having a chat with the customers when the driver’s side window just exploded with a massive bang.

“It was a close one. The brick could have come right through and hit me.

“It could have knocked me out. I could have been scarred for life and someone could have been killed.”

Medical workers Laura Meach and Angie Fox were in the taxi and briefly thought Robert had been shot.

Laura, 37, a radiographer, said the on-call pair had just left the hospital.

She was travelling with nurse Angie, 47, back to the Douglas area, where they both stay.

Laura said: “We were driving along when we heard this almighty crash and the window had smashed. We think it was kids throwing a brick or stones. We just got such a fright. The driver was really shocked and I think he was off the road the rest of the night.

“He had to pull over while I phoned 999. The driver was really shaken and, to be honest, quite angry about it. We didn’t have much time to really take it all in. Then we were called back to work, so just walked back.”

Both Tele Taxis and NHS Tayside said they were aware of the incident. Angie said: “When it happened, Laura kept asking the driver if he was OK and he didn’t answer straight away.

“I thought, ‘oh my God, he’s been shot’. I’ve always had a fertile imagination. Then, in between giving statements to police, we were called back to work.”

Laura added: “Luckily no one was hurt but imagine what could have happened. There could have been a child, the driver could have been injured and veered off the road or hit a pedestrian. Someone could have been quite badly hurt.”

A spokeswoman for Police Scotland said: “We are appealing for witnesses after an object struck the driver’s side window of a moving taxi in Forth Crescent, Dundee, at about 8pm on Sunday. The window was smashed.

“Police are keen to trace teenage boys and girls who were in the area at the time. Anyone with information is asked to contact Police Scotland on 101.”

http://bit.ly/2kLXNL5
----------------------------------------

 Cambridge's MP has called on the Government to introduce a national standardisation of taxi licensing by local councils.

Daniel Zeichner said ministers should roll out a common sets of rules to protect passengers.

His comments come after a BBC investigation into licensed taxi drivers with previous criminal convictions in the East of England.

Two Cambridgeshire councils responded to the broadcaster's freedom of information request for details on drivers who had committed offences before applying for a licence.

South Cambridgeshire District Council revealed that 14 licences were granted on appeal since 2013 to drivers with criminal records, with 19 refused.

Their convictions ranged from minor motoring offences to assault, drug use, harassment and being drunk and disorderly.

East Cambridgeshire District Council said five licences were issued since 2013 to drivers guilty of offences but could not reveal the total number of licensed drivers with convictions.

The figures have sparked concerns over passenger safety in the region.

Paul Bradley, vice chairman of the Cambridge Hackney & Private Hire Association, said: "As far as I was aware South Cambs District Council and [the city council] have a similar enhanced DBS check and I'm very surprised... with some of these convictions... listed that South Cambs would consider issuing a taxi badge, I hope if this is true that they may consider changing this for public safety."

A spokesman for South Cambridgeshire District Council explained it performs advanced background checks on potential drivers and that its appeal processes were "absolutely as robust as can be".

He explained that taxi licences can be granted on appeal through a hearing before three councillors on a licensing appeals sub-committee or through a magistrates court.

Cambridge City Council did not supply information on taxi drivers' past convictions, stating: "The data is not gathered in a format which would be suitable to provide."
http://bit.ly/2lmDdO8