Coventry, London Cab co.

Plans to create 500 new jobs at Coventry’s London Taxi Company have been welcomed by the city’s business leaders.

Experts believe the massive jobs boost will help strengthen the city’s reputation as a world leader in manufacturing.

And they say the announcement is an “amazing turnaround” for the company - which just a year ago collapsed into administration .

The firm’s new owner, Chinese automotive giant Geely, revealed this week plans to invest £80million - part of a £150m investment over five years - into research and production of the new hybrid TX5 model - a move which would quadruple the workforce at its Holyhead Road factory.

The news comes just three months after production of the iconic black cab restarted in the city.

The troubled London Taxi Company, which was previously known as LTI, was rescued by Geely when its previous owners Manganese Bronze Holdings went into administration a week after the firm was forced to recall 400 cabs due to a steering box fault.

This week’s announcement has been branded fantastic news for the company and the region.

Vince Cable prays the Cab will not burst into flames whilst he is stood in front of it.

Louise Bennett, chief executive of the Coventry and Warwickshire Chamber of Commerce, said: “Of course, this is extremely positive news and the resurgence of the London Taxi Company is a significant boost for the city and its automotive sector.

“This region has had very strong ties with China for many years now and this investment, which could lead to the creation of so many new jobs, will be very welcome.

“It is very important that as a city and our region, we understand the needs of the company as it looks to grow and invest and offer our support where we can.”

Former Chamber president and manufacturer Doug Squires, of Squires Gear and Engineering, said: “This is an amazing turnaround from a couple of years ago and far exceeding what was expected following the wonderful £11.4million investment by Geely in September.

“We are now looking at a huge £80m investment, to research and develop the proposed TX5.

“This is indeed very welcome news, further putting this sub-region on the world map as a centre for both R&D and manufacturing.”

http://www.coventrytelegraph.net/news/business/manufacturing/coventry-business-leaders-welcome-huge-6370733?
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Eire.


A FATHER was forced to take his dead baby 35km in a taxi for an autopsy to be carried out, an inquest has heard.

Little Mark Molloy Jnr died just minutes after seemingly being born perfectly healthy.

He was delivered by caesarean section at the Midlands Regional Hospital in Portlaoise in January last year. 

OVERJOYED

Parents Mark and Roisin Molloy were overjoyed with the birth of their fifth son, but the baby soon developed problems and staff at the hospital began emergency treatment.

Mr Molloy waited anxiously for his son to cry while hospital staff tended to the minutes-old baby, and he also tried to keep his wife calm during the horrific ordeal, he told an inquest into the death.

After 22 minutes, the couple were told their son had died after being deprived of oxygen.

To add to their pain, they were then told they would have to transport their son's body to an autopsy in Tullamore, Co Offaly, in the back of a taxi after requests for an ambulance were rejected.

Mr Molloy also suggested his brother drive him and his son's body to the autopsy 35km away, but this was also rejected.

The inquest heard that taxis are regularly used in cases such as this one.

Mr Molloy said he felt "absolute and total shock" after his tiny son's death. 

GRIEF

He said hospital staff never explained there was a problem, and the issue of what exactly happened has been affecting for him for the past two years.

The couple's grief was further compounded after Mark Jnr was registered as "stillborn", though this had been corrected as it was a most pressing issue for the couple, the inquest – which continues – was told.

hnews@herald.ie