STAFFORD

Taxi drivers 'banned from having more than two buttons undone on a shirt and must wear clothes with no printed words or pictures'


The new dress code has been introduced by Stafford Borough Council in a bid to promote 'excellent customer service'

TAXI drivers have blasted a council after being told they cannot have more than two buttons undone on their shirts as part of a controversial new dress code.

Transport chiefs in Stafford are set to implement the strict new rules which will mean cabbies will also be banned from wearing clothing printed with words or pictures.

The plans have been drawn up by Stafford Borough Council in a bid to promote “excellent customer service”.

The new policy would also see track-suits, going topless or wearing dirty trainers and flip-flops also off-limits.

Cab driver Av Benning, 41, from Stafford, said: “If these rules came in, it would be quite absurd. It’s way over the top.

“Nobody drives topless anyway. On hot days especially, you need to be comfortable in the car.”

Another driver, who did not wish to be named, added: “I think the button ruling is just bizarre.
“And what’s wrong with having a logo or words printed on a t-shirt unless its offensive.

“These rules are just a waste of council time and resources. I have never heard of a driver going around topless of wearing flip-flops.

“And who on earth is going to check if your trainers are clean enough?”

http://bit.ly/2utUVXS 

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BURNLEY

 Cab driver calls firefighters to cut woman out of taxi after she gets wedged between seats

Locals clap and cheer as passenger is pulled free after being trapped for an hour

Two fire engines were sent to the scene as a crowd gathered, before crews used cutting gear to free her.

The woman, thought to be called Georgia and from Burnley, was eventually pulled clear as watching locals clapped and cheered.

Jamal, boss of Padiham Cars in Lancashire, said: “The woman threw herself into the taxi and, because she was a big girl, got wedged between the passenger door and front driver’s side seat.

“She did throw herself in with some force.

“The fire service came and got her free. She walked away OK and thanked everyone.

“She apologised for wasting everyone’s time. Luckily, she wasn’t injured.

“I think she’d been out with her mates the night before — there were five altogether.

“She did see the funny side once she got out. Even her best mate was laughing.”

http://bit.ly/2vwu8Hy

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Taxi drivers in Plymouth will see the cost of their licences rise by up to 20 per cent next year – and fear they may have to work longer hours or take a pay cut to make ends meet.

With the number of new drivers falling all the time, council bosses are trying to address a looming budget crisis, warning they are currently spending more than is coming in.
The changes will affect drivers of both black cabs and private hire vehicles.

The cost of a Hackney carriage licence will jump from £182 to £210 per year, while a private hire licence goes from £97 to £117.

Plymouth City Council says the fees have not been increased for many years and the accounts are heading for a deficit.

But cabbies are not happy with the change.
One said a 15 per cent hike is "completely unacceptable" when inflation stands at two per cent.

Another driver added: "The increased prices are disproportionately high compared with taxi drivers' earnings and inflation.

"To fund for the increase, drivers would need to overcharge passengers, accept lower earnings or work longer hours. This is unreasonable."
In 2015/16 there were 108 new private hire drivers – this dropped to 59 last year.

The council says its taxi accounts, currently recording a surplus, will be thousands of pounds in the red within three years if nothing is done.

A Plymouth City Council spokesman said: "Plymouth currently has one of the lowest licence fees for taxi drivers in the South West and will continue to do so even with the planned increases in our fees.

"We have not increased our taxi licensing fees since 2012 and are only increasing the charges to reflect the cost of the taxi licensing operation.
"The purpose of licensing is to safeguard the public by ensuring vehicles are safe, reliable and comfortable, operators are efficient and that drivers are 'fit and proper' to transport fare paying customers safely.

"We are currently reviewing the way we operate which includes looking at putting applications online. We will continue to make savings where we can, however the charges have to be increased to ensure we cover our costs."

http://www.plymouthherald.co.uk/taxi-drivers-may-have-to-take-pay-cut-after-20-per-cent-fee-hike/story-30443909-detail/story.html 

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JERSEY

RANK taxi drivers are today due to stage a protest to show their dissatisfaction at recent changes to the industry.

Mick Tostevin, the president of the Jersey Taxi Drivers’ Association, said that normal Islandwide services would be maintained during the action, which begins at 9 am and will involve rank taxis driving through St Helier carrying posters protesting against the changes.

The protest comes after drivers held a one-day lightning strike in May.

Mr Tostevin said that drivers were angry by the decision of Infrastructure Minister Eddie Noel to remove additional fees charged to customers for carrying bags and additional passengers.

He also added that a 4.6 per cent fare increase had not taken into account new expenses for drivers such as new requirements to carry booster seats and electronic card machines and also the need to undergo a more thorough criminal record check.
Infrastructure Minister Eddie Noel questioned the purpose of the drivers’ protest.

He said: ‘It is difficult to know what their protest is about, but their tariffs were increased by 4.6 per cent – in line with the cost of living and took into account the removal of their extras.

‘This was done based on figures which they supplied to the States Statistics Unit.’

http://jerseyeveningpost.com/news/2017/07/18/taxi-drivers-to-stage-protest/