Police arrested two men and issued 50 fixed penalty notices in a crackdown on unlicensed taxi drivers in Sheffield and Doncaster.

As part of the operation taxis were also inspected to assess their roadworthiness.

A number of drivers were given prohibition notices to make sure defects on their vehicles are repaired.

They were warned that if they fail to carry out the repairs their taxis could be seized.

Police said the two men arrested in the crackdown were quizzed on suspicion of drink driving and failing to appear at court.

http://www.thestar.co.uk/news/crime/police-crackdown-on-unlicensed-taxi-drivers-in-sheffield-and-doncaster-1-7269238
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Cars are set to be banned from key streets in Dublin city in a radical new plan to make the capital more cycle and pedestrian friendly.

Some €150m is to be spent over the next eight years on shutting areas such as College Green, Westmoreland Street, Suffolk Street and Bachelors Walk to motorists.

But fuming taxi drivers yesterday blasted the plan — saying it could threaten their livelihoods.

All the taxi unions contacted by The Star said they were against the move — which they said would mean longer journeys and higher fares.

And they vowed to block the city streets as “a last option” to protest against the move.

Dave McGuinness of the TTNH taxi union said: “If they implement it there will be protests. We are totally against it.”
Project

The plans have been drawn up to cope with the expected 42,000 extra morning car journeys into the city by 2023 — and at the same time take advantage of the new Luas Cross City project.

The most significant proposal is to shut College Green to cars, vans and taxis — so just tram passengers, buses, cyclists and pedestrians can pass the front of Trinity.

A similar plan has been made for Westmoreland Street, while from nearby Suffolk Street up to St Stephen’s Green will be fully pedestrianised.

Meanwhile, Bachelors Walk will be off limits to private cars only — as will an area of the quays on the south of the Liffey.

Transport bosses are also looking to redesign D’Olier Street by building a central median for bus stops, creating segregated cycle lanes and making access to Tara St Dart station easier.
Aim

The aim of the plan from Dublin City Council and the National Transport Authority is to re-route general through-traffic away from the city’s central area.

It has been released to allow for public consultation and give interested parties their say until mid-July.

Dublin City Council chief executive Owen Keegan said the plan was drawn up because the expected growth in commuter numbers over the next decade cannot be met by allowing more cars in the city.

“The city centre can only continue to function effectively if we offer those working and living in Dublin, as well as visitors, more choices in how they access and move around the capital,” he said.

“The proposals would also provide a better living and working environment for business, residents and visitors.”

http://www.thestar.ie/star/taxi-drivers-slam-new-transport-plan-for-dublin-63920/