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Call Sign March 2012
Former Dial-a-Cab driver, Bob Woodford, writes a regular column for Call Sign from his home in
Languedoc, France and his taxi somewhere in London...
CALL SIGN EN LA BELLE FRANCE
Any old rockers out there???
Remember when a giant pig flew over Battersea Power Station to promote Pink Floyd's Animals
album 30 years ago? You may have seen it fly again recently for the launch of the re-mastered CDs.
I recently noted the latest plan for one of London's most iconic sights - and there have been a few
down the years!
Prominent architect Sir Terry Farrell wants to demolish
the side walls of the Grade II listed building, replacing
them with a colonnade that opens up into a park in the
building's central space. Much of the building's signature
details, including the chimneys, turbine halls and the control rooms would be
retained.You might know some of Farrell's work - Embankment Place and the
MI6 building for example.
However, Sir Terry's plan is only one of many and not all are so reverent towards
the iconic building. A report earlier this month concluded that nearly £500 million
could be shaved off any redevelopment project if the chimneys, already in a terri-
ble state, were demolished entirely.The most recent attempt at revamping the area
failed last year after the company behind it fell into financial difficulty. Chelsea
Football Club is also known to be interested in building a new football stadium
on the site.
So why not compromise? The Blues could move into the re-vamped Power Station,
keep the chimneys which they can use for goal posts and then with a bit of luck
Fernando Torres might have an easier target to aim for!
Where's Woody?
Do you know where Woody is and which current Lord lived there? Answer else-
where in this issue...
A bientot...
Bob Woodford (Ex-P49)
Baku TX4 order completed
Saint Genies de Fontedit, Languedoc, France
The last shipment of 500 London Taxi Company TX4 taxis has set sail from Shanghai and is due to arrive
in Baku early March.
Baku, the capital city of Azerbaijan, is now operating The London Taxi Service with 500 purple TX4s
transforming the face of its transport network system and these remaining 500 taxis will complete the
order for 1000 vehicles placed in 2011 the largest taxi order in the company's history.
Matthew Cheyne, International Market Development Director for The London Taxi Company told
Call Sign:
"Baku has set high standards for its transport network system and London Taxis fit in per-
fectly. The London Taxi Service offers a fully trained driver in an easily recognisable vehicle
with a meter so there is a transparent and consistent pricing structure for all types of passen- Part of
the Baku ord
er waiting to
gers, something that has never been offered in Baku before."
be loaded up
From 1 May, the use of Russian-made cars as taxis will be banned and only London-style cabs and
non-Russian white cars will be able to operate as taxis in Baku.
DRIVERS E-STATEMENTS
Following this issue's Chairman's Report, this is a call to all Members and Journeymen to receive their Statements by email.
Nearly all of those that used Swiss Post have sent their details to us so they can continue to receive electronic statements.
Unfortunately, there were a few of you that found the Swiss Post method of accessing and saving their statements very
tedious and did not remain using the service. There is now NO excuse. Send us your details and you will receive a PDF copy of
your statement straight to your email address. Filing could not be easier.
I would be grateful if you could send an email to driverservices@dialacab.co.uk inserting your badge number
and call sign in the subject field. This should only take a few minutes of your time, but the information is vital to
ensure you receive your E-Statement.
For those of you who access their statements through Swiss Post, this service will cease on the
31st March 2012. However, you will still be able to access past statements from Swiss Post in the normal way until 30th June 2012.
Our thanks for your cooperation in this matter...
Warren Smith
DaC Financial Controller
