Olympic Fares
Page 12
Call Sign March 2012
Increase "Rejected"
...even though it wasn't asked for! But we do get 5.3%...
Olympics, none were forthcoming and so we
majority of drivers were said to be against the
put that idea forward. It was never official poli-
increase as they believed it would reflect badly
cy though and I can't really understand why TfL
on taxi drivers and discourage custom.
However, when Call Sign asked LTDA
are saying that it was."
At the same time, TfL approved a fare
General Secretary Steve McNamara about the
increase of 5.3% for the coming year. Fare
proposed increase, he told us that it had never
Mayor rejects a fare increase for the
increases are subject to an annual review
been asked for and was only ever put forward
games that wasn't asked for!
and calculated using a long-established
as one possible way to get more drivers to
formula based on costs associated with
The TfL Board under Mayor Boris Johnson
work during the Games.
working as a licensed taxi driver. There is
"We never put in an official request for an
have rejected a proposal to increase taxi fares
also a 20p increase to the £2.20 flag fall
increase. It was purely a suggestion because
by 22 per cent during the London 2012 Games.
taking it up to £2.40 - the first increase to
when trade reps were asked by TfL for any sug-
Boris had previously described the proposal as
this fee since 2005.
gestions as to how we could make sure a good
a 'major own goal' for taxi drivers and that
taxi service would be available during the
when TfL consulted the taxi trade, the vast
Taxi licence checker closed
Call Sign Comment
Following representations from drivers concerned that the LTPH licence checker could lead to the possibility of
driver's addresses becoming known, the licensing authority closed down the facility but claimed in doing so
that addresses had not been included in information given out and that there was no facility within the sys-
tem to find those details out.
According to LTPH, the checker so far as driver's details was concerned involved names, licence expiry dates, badge numbers and
which area licenses were for. Information regarding the taxi itself was based on the registration together with expiry dates, make and
model etc. But some drivers were still concerned that there were websites where you could get an address if you had enough informa-
tion.
Call Sign was criticised by a website for publishing the original article and although we did not call the suggestion "fine and dandy"
as the site suggested, neither do we make an apology for publishing it. We have been in the forefront of attempting to stop yellow
badge drivers working in London not because we have anything against yellow badges, but because our readers wrote in telling us
they were fed up seeing suburban drivers taking green badge work. If the licence checker was so bad, why is it that the vast majority
of green badge drivers placed their identity stickers with their badge numbers on their cabs as soon as they received them some 5 or
6 weeks before the official launch date of 1 March? They didn't appear to be too frightened!
This isn't to have a go at the Anderson Shelter, because it undoubtedly is a very good place to keep up-to-date with trade matters.
But no one knows everything although some sometimes give the impression that they do...
Alan Fisher
NELLIE'S RESTAURANT
Call Sign
If you're feeling peckish between the
hours of 9.30 in the morning and mid-
March 2012
night, then Nellie's Restaurant at 12
Editor: Alan Fisher
Address: 39 47 East Rd, London N1 6AH
Greville Street, off Hatton Garden, will
Tel: 0207 251 0581 Fax: 0207 553 7293
not only solve any hunger pangs with its
Email: callsignmag@aol.com
great menu, but if you show your
Website: www.dac-callsign.co.uk
badge, then you will get a whopping 20
Printers: Premier Print Group
25 31 Violet Rd, London E3
percent off the bill!
Design: Aldan Publications
Nellie's specialise in great pastas,
Tel: 07958 300 428
steaks, chicken, fish and roast dinners.
Email: dfdannyfresco@gmail.com
If you go after 6.30, then the parking
Views and opinion expressed in Call Sign must
not be assumed to represent those of the Editor or
is free. And don't forget your badge...!
Board.No part of Call Sign may be reproduced
either manually or electronically without the express
permission of the Editor.
