NORTH TYNESIDE 

A Taxi company is offering free transport to passengers aged 80-plus attending Covid-19 vaccine appointments.

Budget Taxis, which operates in Newcastle and North Tyneside, is making the scheme available from Monday for use by the over-80s who have already received vaccine appointments.

They must quote “free taxi” when booking, which must be made 24-hours in advance of the vaccination appointment, subject to availability.

There is also a contactless app, which allows passengers to book, track and pay for the taxi, all by your phone, reducing the need for cash contact.

Budget Taxi owner, Mohammed Suleman, said: “It’s a priority to everyone that the elderly receive their vaccines, so we want to make sure they’re getting there in the safest way possible.

“We will make sure you arrive safely, for free.”

https://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/news/18980476.free-taxi-offer-over-80s-vaccine-appointments/

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Almost half of Northern Ireland's taxi drivers failed to apply for an emergency support grant set up by Stormont.

Payments of £1,500 were offered to drivers to help with their overheads following a massive drop in businesses during the Covid-19 lockdowns.

More than 9,000 taxi drivers were eligible to apply but about 5,000 applications were received.

Details were revealed at a Department of Infrastructure meeting on Wednesday.

The scrutiny committee heard from five taxi operators who are now seeking financial help for those businesses which run cabs.

Stephen Anton, from Fonacab, said there were a number of reasons why more taxi drivers did not apply for the grant.

Many had no access to computers to process the applications, he said, while others were unaware of the financial support scheme, which was open for a fortnight in November.

He said many taxi drivers had not returned to work and, as a result, operators have been forced out of business.

'Coffers now empty'

Eamon O'Donnell, from North West Taxi Proprietors, said 30% of their drivers had quit and will be hard to replace in the current economic climate.

Taxi operators provided an essential service to health workers and other key staff during the lockdowns, he said.

They were also on hand when families had to be moved into emergency accommodation overnight by statutory agencies.

In many cases, "coffers are now empty" and they need a meaningful support scheme to save firms from closure, Mr O'Donnell said.

On 29 October, Infrastructure Minister Nichola Mallon said a £14m package would go directly to taxi drivers.

She confirmed it would be a one-off cash payment of £1,500 to each taxi driver.

Some drivers have criticised this amount, describing it as "a go-away payment".

They said this would not go far enough to cover lost earnings during the Covid-19 pandemic.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-55247480

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LONDON (ALLEGEDLY)

TWO Doors Down star Doon Mackichan revealed she split her head open in a black cab when the driver slammed on the brakes.

Doon, 58, was left with a scar above her eyebrow as she was hurled against the taxi’s central divide and smashed her face on the card machine.

The actress — who plays boozy neighbour Cathy in the BBC comedy — also suffered damaged ribs when the cabbie “hit traffic lights at speed” before halting.

Doon said: “I recently had a car accident. 

Everybody please wear seat-belts in the back of black cabs, because I was in the back doing my first job in five months, and I stupidly didn’t have mine on.

“I smashed into the card machine and partition. I’m very lucky to only have a scar above my eyebrow but my ribs are in agony.”

It’s understood the accident happened in London a few weeks ago.

https://www.thescottishsun.co.uk/tvands ... axi-smash/

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COLCHESTER

Concerns have been raised an invasion of Tier 4 residents visiting north Essex has pushed up the coronavirus infection rates.

The number of cases across Colchester and Tendring districts has doubled in the past week.

It comes as Colchester officials have called on residents living in Tier 3 and 4 hotspots to stay away.

Mike Lilley, Colchester Council’s public safety boss, has written to the town’s MP Will Quince to ask if police can be given extra powers to stop outsiders coming in.

Mr Lilley said: “I’ve had people asking me about why people from Tier 4 areas are allowed to come into Colchester to visit.

“Saturday night there were sightings of taxis from Braintree and Chelmsford, dropping people off in the town.

“I have asked the police if they have any plans to stop people on the A12 but they say no, they only have patrols planned in the town and outer areas.

“It’s a no win situation as shops need the business but it could lead to Colchester going into Tier 4 because of the influx of people.

“The police say it’s not in the latest guidelines but it is leaving Colchester open to infection spreading.”

Can you look at reviewing the guidelines and take action against the spread please?”

Government guidelines say residents in Tier 4 areas should not visit areas in Tier 2 like Colchester, however, there is no law in place to stop them.

One taxi driver contacted the Gazette to say drivers were concerned after being told not to question the reasons behind people’s fares.

He said: “I have been told ‘it’s not our problem, as long as they are paying the fare’. Surely that’s wrong?

“A lot of drivers aren’t happy about this.”

But Charlie Isbell, chairman of the Colchester Taxi and Hackney Carriage Association, said it wasn’t down to drivers to police people’s actions.

“Taxi drivers are only doing their job. They are not going to question a person getting into the car,” he said.

https://www.gazette-news.co.uk/news/18962805.tier-4-invasion-adding-virus-crisis/