The Berwick ‘ Thing ‘ is not over! in fact the only ‘over’ we can speak of is ‘Done Over’ People in this Country wonder at the state of things but there is no need to wonder; Just look to those that should be respected and looked to for guidance and help, those in charge, the lawmakers, those that govern and those that watch over our livelihood, the ones that set themselves up to be watchdogs etc, and all the other fancy words that shout fair play for the consumer and fair trade for business, all the regulators who regulate in the name of justice and equal rights, equal opportunity Blah! Blah! You’ve heard it all. There’s mountains of it, always somebody shouting about these things But the reality stares us in the face when an expensive long awaited Court case comes to an end with a Judgement, a Judgement which explained the points of Law concerning the issue of Hackney Licences and where they could work, an eloquent Judgement which naively relied on those concerned to act like Gentlemen. Well MR CHRISTOPHER SYMONS Q.C. there are no Gentlemen in the far north, they may exist in the circles you frequent but not here Your Honour.
Those that should have acted as you expected have not, they have read your Judgement and re-read it, they have dissected it, screwed it into a tiny ball and chucked it into the darkest corner of that tiny office somewhere in Berwick. After which they have proclaimed that if someone can say that not having a Berwick licence, and work it anywhere they like, will cause them hardship then they can renew their Berwick licence and do exactly what they were doing prior to this case being heard. It seems now that all these drivers/owners are screaming “POVERTY” and “HARDSHIP” from the rooftops, even those that holiday on the QE2 and as such it has been decided to renew the Licences of these poor, unfortunate, hard done by drivers & owners. Actually 15 or 16 in the last two days.
So what was it all about? why spend all that money on Barristers & Court cases when actually everybody knows that there would be a massive hunt for the next Loophole and it would be found, Why couldn’t an intelligent Judge Stand tall and say “NO” It seems little Berwick upon Tweed was the Streetwise Kid and Mighty Newcastle upon Tyne & the rest of us was well and truly Shafted. So! Will Newcastle lie down and take it? Or will they continue to fight this Backdoor to Deregulation?
On a lighter note. A Berwick driver, who has his very own Rank in North Shields, was feeling a bit Peckish on Thursday night and stopped by the Tasty Turk in Whitley Bay for some Bait. Unfortunately for him he left his Berwick Doblo outside whilst he went into the Kebab joint, with the keys in the ignition and the engine running………It…..got…Stolen!!!! It was found hours later smashed to F*@k.
You See! You wish for Hardship and you get it.












{ 84 comments… read them below or add one }
In answer to the above comment regarding the `Berwick plates` fiasco,if it were possible,I would run a national advert to get drivers recruited for poor Berwick,after all its their retirement fund we are opposing,and considering that,based on the evidence in Newcastle,the council don`t know how to spell`enforcement`never mind practise it,then we must construe that the city is open to any driver,from anywhere to come and operate at will in the city.
no Insurance is required,no local knowledge,no fare structure,in fact all you need is `something` that can pass an MOT,and a roofsign,(with nothing offensive on it` and your in business.
You don`t even need a `plate` on your car,whose going to check it….police,council…don`t be silly….after all why should they bother checking if its a license plate or a royal dolton one with fish and chips painted on it.
The views expressed in this site do not necessarily reflect the views of TooManyTaxis or the general U.K. Hackney Carriage Trade
@john dodds, of course you need insurance for a berwick plate see u have done your homework numpty. As for not knowing the area that is the biggest load of crap ive heard i regually get taxis home and many of the hacks havent got a clue where cramlington is.
The views expressed in this site do not necessarily reflect the views of TooManyTaxis or the general U.K. Hackney Carriage Trade
If you want to call me a (numpty)fair enough,but please insult me using my proper title,Im a mega fat numpty,(18.5 stones in weight with broad shouldersand thick skinned).
I`m aware `Berwick cars` must be insured to get the license,BUT,that insurance ONLY applies if the vehicle is used as PRIVATE HIRE use in Newcastle,NOT hackney.
In Newcastle a Berwick hack,is nothing more than a PRIVATE HIRE car in Law. Read the license conditions,its there in black and white.
Therefore,if you are using YOUR berwick car as a `taxi`,`plying for hire` in Newcastle,YOU are invalidating your insurance,therefore,picking up in Town,YOU are NOT INSURED.
Despite what certain council idiots are telling people,what I have said is fact,and I have asked a solicitor friend of mine to check.
Newcastle council don`t give a f…. if they did you would not be getting away with it.
The views expressed in this site do not necessarily reflect the views of TooManyTaxis or the general U.K. Hackney Carriage Trade
@john dodds, ok u mega fat numpty for one i do not pick up jobs in newcastle unless it is pre booked via the office and two if you see someone doing so why dont you take there number and report it. Everyone is trying to make a living not just hacks and three it wold be nice to get a hack who could speak english and still doesnt have a clue how to get to some places in the city centre or surrounding areas,
The views expressed in this site do not necessarily reflect the views of TooManyTaxis or the general U.K. Hackney Carriage Trade
Well thanks for using my full title,im proud of being a mega fat numpty if thats what I am for being `old school` and playing by the rules as we had to at 1 time.
As to your comment regarding `clueless drivers`,it may surprise you to know that this numpty happens to agree with you on that point.
When I started in this trade,I had a medical to pass,followed by a locality test,followed by a driving test,before I got my badge.
The enforcement officer went out with you in a car and just asked you to drive around the area to assess your driving,and local knowledge,therefore obviously you had to speak english.
Nowadays,and in part,thanks to our friend Mr Shanks,who I hasten to add,I don`t believe intended to show people how to get around the license requirement,but that has been the net effect,has enabled drivers who probably would not have obtained a license,to get one.
This by going to other areas where no locality test is required,and much more lax license regimes are in place.
Net result is drivers working in areas they have no idea of and to make matters worse,possibly a LA that is at best ignorent/inept or at worst totally negligent over matters of public safety.
Having said that I`m in total support of the Metropolitan system in London,over local knowledge tests,and I know Mr Shanks doesnt agree,BUT as the Public Carriage Office in London has stated for `black cabs`,if you want satnav in your car,thats up to the driver,its his car,BUT,to get you badge,green or yellow,you MUST do `The Knowledge` NO EXEMPTIONS. That to me should apply in ALL areas,by LAW.
The views expressed in this site do not necessarily reflect the views of TooManyTaxis or the general U.K. Hackney Carriage Trade
@brian,
brian, please please tell me why these offices that take on these ‘bandits’ have the REGULAR, problem of people phoning and requesting a NEWCASTLE, or whatever is the local LA, plated vehicle???
and dont say that dosent happen, last year i went to work from a ‘large’ newcastle office. at first i thought i would have more than enough problems with people seeing the red door crests and thinking i was going to charge hack rate. quite the opposite happened really, people were just thankful that i was a NEWCASTLE PLATED vehicle, and i lost count of the amount that said that they specificly asked for a local car when they phoned up. in fact brian, this problem was so great that the firm had to put notices in ALL cars to say that the public had the right to ask for any licenced car they wanted (to keep the customers happy see) I wonder how many rang up and ASKED for a ‘bandit’…
can i also add that this firm gave the ‘bandits’ less work than a locally licenced vehicle, as they said that untill they had been there 6 month, or transfered to a newcastle plate they were still LEARNING, do you know that word brian?
and can i just say that cramlington is not actually part of newcastle, so maybe if you wanted to go somewhere in the LICENCED VEHICLES AREA, you would have better luck …
The views expressed in this site do not necessarily reflect the views of TooManyTaxis or the general U.K. Hackney Carriage Trade
brian,
sit on the carpet, heres your milk, let me tell you a story …
once upon a time, a ladie got into my car with her friends off a rank in newcastle, they were all in there 50′s, and very well spoken. they wanted to go to somewhere (i’ll change the name, for the benefit of our legal eagle sc) to say vase gardens. when I asked her where this was, she went down my throat saying that i was a taxi driver and should know, she mentioned another street, again bamboozled, off she went again. eventually i got it out of her that it was in chester-le-street! now, i told her being a newcastle hack i would take her where ever in newcastle, but chester-le-street was not my LA, needless to say i went there and she kept me right after that, and she was very apologetic all the way home.
The views expressed in this site do not necessarily reflect the views of TooManyTaxis or the general U.K. Hackney Carriage Trade
MUSIC TO MY EARS
After reading this article I cracked opens a bottle & had a good old chuckle. Its about time this has happened maybe we will see a few more end up like this as L/A and government turn a blind eye & take no notice of the fact that hacks are really struggling to pay bills & make a wage due to the constant plying for hire eleagly.you can only go down the legal route for so long & if nothing seems to be getting done you soon lose heart as we all have bills to be paid & families to feed. May be the next Berwick flimper or Derwentside to end up like this will be the AUDI A4 that insists on being a N/H driver or the many Gateshead central taxis sitting around the town flimping.IF I were you I would be very careful who gets in your car.
The views expressed in this site do not necessarily reflect the views of TooManyTaxis or the general U.K. Hackney Carriage Trade
and ian shanks says that he does not wish to harm the hackney trade!
bigger fools you if you believe him!
The views expressed in this site do not necessarily reflect the views of TooManyTaxis or the general U.K. Hackney Carriage Trade
and a point to newcastle licencing …
… why the hell should we do your jobs, we are told if we see a flimper we are to do nothing except report them, then what happens nowt, why cant YOU get on the streets and do your job, if you are doing this as claimed, then get some guts give the details to the chronicle and let all the drivers legal and illegal see what action you have taking!
… and can i ask, if ‘no car at my office needs to flimp’ are the thoughts of large operators, then why do the deskclerks notify the drivers over the data heads or radios that enforcement are out in one particular area? and dont give me the rubbish incase you have a light out crap, it’s nothing short of pre warning those that they know are doing wrong!
The views expressed in this site do not necessarily reflect the views of TooManyTaxis or the general U.K. Hackney Carriage Trade
Andy,do you ever get warned off you mates that the enforcement are about?
The views expressed in this site do not necessarily reflect the views of TooManyTaxis or the general U.K. Hackney Carriage Trade
There again you dont work osborne rd Andy do you?
The views expressed in this site do not necessarily reflect the views of TooManyTaxis or the general U.K. Hackney Carriage Trade
@smudger,
plate day and thats it,
why is that relevant?
The views expressed in this site do not necessarily reflect the views of TooManyTaxis or the general U.K. Hackney Carriage Trade
I see that Blueline’s Garage is now a approved Testing Station for Berwick Cars, I think that’s a good thing that a firm with good standards are Testing these Cars, and not little a back Street Garage.
Regards
Stephen
The views expressed in this site do not necessarily reflect the views of TooManyTaxis or the general U.K. Hackney Carriage Trade
@Stephen (FKA Central Enth.), I think its a joke .Derwentside cars tested in Anfield plain. Newcasle cars tested at newington rd North tyneside cars tested at killingworth Berwick cars tested in newcastle?????? How does that work??
The views expressed in this site do not necessarily reflect the views of TooManyTaxis or the general U.K. Hackney Carriage Trade
@Stephen (FKA Central Enth.), Blueline’s Garage IS a little a back Street Garage.
The views expressed in this site do not necessarily reflect the views of TooManyTaxis or the general U.K. Hackney Carriage Trade
@BL Driver, how can you be a Blue Line Driver and think its a back street garage set up? yes on of the garages is on a back street in wallsend, but the state of the art set up that Paul has is far from it and Fisher St is bigger then most main dealers
The views expressed in this site do not necessarily reflect the views of TooManyTaxis or the general U.K. Hackney Carriage Trade
@SC, I can see the assumption you are making. But BL are my initials! Blueline’s garage setup began as a Back street garage,my point was to stephen that because a garage is in a back street doesn’t mean it’s standards are low. I’m sure Blueline would not have matured into it’s present “State of The Art”setup had it started life as a sub standard garage. Sometimes SC you pounce without looking don’t you? You are not to blame! the standard of education in this country has been on the slide for some thirty years or so. Rgds, Brian
The views expressed in this site do not necessarily reflect the views of TooManyTaxis or the general U.K. Hackney Carriage Trade
just to jump to the defence of Blue Lines garage,I have used Paul Shanks garage a few times for meter problems and so on,I wouldnt class Paul as a `back street garage`.
It`s a well run garage,clean ,tidy,and Paul is a great lad,will do what he can to help most of us.
I would have no hesitation in asking him to do me an MOT test,although I`m a taxi driver now,i was in the motor trade,working as a mechanic,so I know from first hand experience.
And,as far as I know,Paul only repairs and services bluelines cars,he doesnt have anything to do with the running of the taxi business…thats his brother Ian.
The views expressed in this site do not necessarily reflect the views of TooManyTaxis or the general U.K. Hackney Carriage Trade
All part of the master plan to shaft the whole trade….
The views expressed in this site do not necessarily reflect the views of TooManyTaxis or the general U.K. Hackney Carriage Trade
Ladies Please……..
About 18 months ago I considered Plating my own Car as a Bandit Wagon, I booked it in a a NT Based Testing Station, I was told that it would cost me £600+ to get through it’s Test, funny thing that 18 hours previously it had just passed a NT TesT!…with no problems.
This is what I mean, BLT’s Mechanics would NOT Rip a Driver off, or on the other hand pass it for few a extra quid!!!, like some other MOT Garages have been doing.
Some “Back Street” MOT Centres have been putting anything through the Test, and ripping Drivers off!
So despite Berwick being the issue, it’s still good that a Operator can Test Taxis.
Generally I think it’s a good idea.
Regards
Stephen
The views expressed in this site do not necessarily reflect the views of TooManyTaxis or the general U.K. Hackney Carriage Trade
I think it’s a good idea to have berwick cars plated at blueline because most of the berwick drivers wouldn’t know were berwick is or should I say was !
The views expressed in this site do not necessarily reflect the views of TooManyTaxis or the general U.K. Hackney Carriage Trade
To become a bus driver you must pass a test and learn the bus routes.
To driver a wagon you must pass a test and be able to drive anywhere in the country.
To become a 7.5 tonne driver you must pass a test and be able to driver anywhere in the country.
I became a newcastle ph driver and had to sit a locality test which I swatted up on for weeks before booking my test learning hotels pubs and places of interest.
But if you want to become a taxi/ph driver now just go and get an out of town plate Don’t bother sitting a test and just ask your punters which way to go. It’s a crock of shit and makes mugs of the driver that wents through the proper chanels.
I know quite a few drivers (ex newcastle ph)that have bandit plates and the only reason they got them was so they could hop over to blueline without sittng a test because they didn’t know they area and would struggle to pass the nt locality.
And then there’s the driver that couldn’t have passed any locality so didn’t both trying to become a taxi driver untill the dick turpins and jack the rippers came with there out of town plates to loot our pockets and rape our trade. It boils my piss.
Mr shanks harps on about having a professionally run company and to be honest I used to respect what he has achieved but lets be honest a doctors surgery wouldn’t employ a butcher because he has experience of anatomy or a member of the kkk wouldn’t be employed as an imagration case worker so why should a driving licence be all you need to be taxi/ph driver. And as far as the “Cheaper option” shite do you really think blt charge less far a berwick plated company car err NO.
Stand up and be counted lets stop bitchin and do something about it. Remember without the taxi trade the LA, police, Airports, Schools and pritty much every body else would be shafted so we can make them listen if we stand united.
The views expressed in this site do not necessarily reflect the views of TooManyTaxis or the general U.K. Hackney Carriage Trade
listen up lads n lasses if all the nt drivers stood up and got together open our own office. no more bent desk clerks no more shanks or any 1 else. our office our company run properly. no more immigrant dont know where thier going drivers.no more problems.no more greedy unscrupulous tossers getting rich off our backs. office rent would be minimal contract work would be paid 2 drivers at the proper rate sick of being shafted off greedy rsoles.those streets are ours brothers lets get together and reclaim what is ours
The views expressed in this site do not necessarily reflect the views of TooManyTaxis or the general U.K. Hackney Carriage Trade
@mac the hack,
who will be the decision makers? try to avoid any one singular person as it may make you look like existing operators already doing this and that’s what you obviously want to avoid!
paying staff ? to avoid doing what existing operators do, try using volunteers from the women’s guild or something similar it works for the shops in hospitals and they do a sturdy job! but what ever you need to be avoiding what existing operators already do to be different !
technology,computers and telephones, loads of stuff in charity shops and maybe some of your members might have an old ATARI in a loft somewhere, this will all help you in avoiding being similar to us existing operators which is what you really need to avoid !! you don’t want to be causing expensive to your drivers/ mates by paying for expensive infrastructure.
Premises ! Mmmm, what about if one of your lads has a allotment you can park and old shed on just to keep expense down ! it serious could work unless any members have a large garden that a couple of square meters wont go a miss ?
all the above will allow you to run a office on very little expenditure and there will be no need to ask your drivers,sorry mates and colleagues for whats known by us operators as office rents.
so you now have it ! A organisation fundamental different to everyone else and costing no driver lots of rent, and to top it all you don’t have one dictator running the show ! you have everyone contributing there valuable advice and input !!
I think you have really hit on something here, so get straight onto it before some one pinches your ideas.
why this has never been thought of before GETS ME !!!
The views expressed in this site do not necessarily reflect the views of TooManyTaxis or the general U.K. Hackney Carriage Trade
@ian shanks, I have to agree,in my time as a Taxi driver no less than three offices have started up in North Tyneside as co-operatives. Only one remains and is run like any other office with one manager.The others faded away due to too many chiefs! Nuff Said!
The views expressed in this site do not necessarily reflect the views of TooManyTaxis or the general U.K. Hackney Carriage Trade
@northtynehack, r u one of shanksys 6 tampaxs ? up tight outa sight & in the grooove managers ???????????????? read what ive said cosmo smallpiece, all decisions in any aspect of ntoda [north tyneside owner drivers assosiation} will be made by the drivers for the drivers in a ballot. scrutinised by every driver that thinks something untoward is going on,but of course that wont be the case because the drivers wont be screwing each other. does that make any sense 2 u ????????????????????. if not go 2 the toilet and wipe the remains of shanksys arse fom your filthy mouth asshole
The views expressed in this site do not necessarily reflect the views of TooManyTaxis or the general U.K. Hackney Carriage Trade
@northtynehack, r u one of shanksys 6 tampaxs ? up tight outa sight & in the grooove managers ???????????????? read what ive said cosmo smallpiece, all decisions in any aspect of ntoda [north tyneside owner drivers assosiation} will be made by the drivers for the drivers in a ballot. scrutinised by every driver that thinks something untoward is going on,but of course that wont be the case because the drivers wont be screwing each other. does that make any sense 2 u ????????????????????. if not go 2 the toilet and wipe the remains of shanksys arse from your filthy mouth asshole
The views expressed in this site do not necessarily reflect the views of TooManyTaxis or the general U.K. Hackney Carriage Trade
@northtynehack, your breath stinkks of shanksys arse get ya sad face out of it and get a life. you creeepy crawly individual. wake up smell the coffee dont be an arsewipe all your life take a break nobsack come back 2 free enterprise fuk the meglamaniacs of this world ie your gaffer
The views expressed in this site do not necessarily reflect the views of TooManyTaxis or the general U.K. Hackney Carriage Trade
@ian shanks, well well well cast a worm & u catch a fish. well now bungalow shanks as u r more commonly known 2 your drivers. (nowt upstairs if u know wot i mean)u would love us peasants 2 believe what your saying only 2 protect your revenue etc. but in reality your arse must twitch every time this subject of drivers starting their own office crops up. u mentioned parking space etc. would u have me believe u can get 400 blt in sycamore st ?????????????????? u jest. theres 1000 plus drivers in nt. bottom line £100 per man & woman will start your worst nightmare/ more than enough 2 get things rolling dont u think mr shanks ???????????????????????????????????????
The views expressed in this site do not necessarily reflect the views of TooManyTaxis or the general U.K. Hackney Carriage Trade
@mac the hack,
Mac my dear friend, my nick name Bungalow comes from my conduct on the rugby pitch in the 1983 Canadian tour of Toronto with the then GOSFORTH team. So little do you know ! As far as business goes i will let that speak for its self,
As far as you and business ? a driver who couldn’t get a place at Blue line !!!
Yes my arse twitches every time you talk about starting up your own office then my head kicks in and tells it you have seen these all before and most of its by load mouths like your self, so then it stop twitching !!
where did i talk about parking ???????
1000 drivers, i take my hat of to you, your suggesting taking that same rent as i charge i envy you now!!!
“office rent would be minimal” was the words you used above!
but then you suggest £100 per man and woman bottom line !!!
you got any idea of what your talking about or are you trying to make a tit of yourself on this site !!
The views expressed in this site do not necessarily reflect the views of TooManyTaxis or the general U.K. Hackney Carriage Trade
@ian shanks, ps bungalow your english is terrible did u go 2 skool lol ????????????????????????????????????????????
The views expressed in this site do not necessarily reflect the views of TooManyTaxis or the general U.K. Hackney Carriage Trade
@ian shanks, the decision makers will be the owners of the company mr shanks.ie every driver in ntoda {north tyneside owner drivers association} every shareholder will cast a vote on every decision made. all input will come from every driver not from a dictatorship which i believe is now the system that exists. a few despots calling the tune u had it 2 good 2 long the streets belong 2 the drivers not the likes of your ilk
The views expressed in this site do not necessarily reflect the views of TooManyTaxis or the general U.K. Hackney Carriage Trade
@ian shanks, u wanna push the issue bring it on it may finish u
The views expressed in this site do not necessarily reflect the views of TooManyTaxis or the general U.K. Hackney Carriage Trade
@mac the hack, mac the hack! are you that tosser with the Berwick plated 7 seater with Central Livery,the king of the flimpers? you’ll never make a taxi driver as long as yer arse points down,I don’t know many that would follow you mate.
The views expressed in this site do not necessarily reflect the views of TooManyTaxis or the general U.K. Hackney Carriage Trade
@mac the hack,
it looks like your biting !!
anyway i don’t need to push any issues as its your issue !!!
i don’t profess to be a master of the English language and havent needed to be as it seems you read and understand it the way i write it.
now i am off to talk to sensible people you have had enough of my time with your nonsense.
Good luck. i think you have convinced people on here your the new Alan Sugar.
The views expressed in this site do not necessarily reflect the views of TooManyTaxis or the general U.K. Hackney Carriage Trade
@ian shanks,first thing first ive never driven 4 u or catweazel @ eastcoast or kennedy central or hopey nobs direct nor would i wish 2. the £100 a man & woman i reffered 2 was the initial start up of ntoda. 100 x 1000 is £100,000 pounds u thicko. thats more than enough 2 start the ball rolling. wages 2 call center staff would be above board in compliance with the national agreement. plus staff would not pay 2 get home when public transport had finished.all decisions as ive allready said wouldnt be made by any individual every 1 in ntoda would have a fair shout not some dictator calling the shots
The views expressed in this site do not necessarily reflect the views of TooManyTaxis or the general U.K. Hackney Carriage Trade
@ian shanks, in reply 2 that load of compost uve just written did 1 of your kids write it for u ????????????????? you really should go back 2 skool ya thick as fuk. theres only 1 tit on this site and thats you u illiterate prick. as 4 rugby what position did u play it must have been a goal post u couldnt fathom anything else out u stupid neandertol.all pleasantrys apart let the battle commence.
The views expressed in this site do not necessarily reflect the views of TooManyTaxis or the general U.K. Hackney Carriage Trade
tosser with 7 seater central livery i think i know who your talking about bungalow am sure the gentleman will be pleased your talking about him in this manner i will pass it on 2 him. in any event am not disapointed in your pathetic replys, uve bottled it as i knew u would. your outfit depends on the drivers paying u rent,as do all the other operators in this country. but the bottom line is if the drivers dont pay, your nothing. history gone forgotten. if the drivers take up my mantle cheaper rents, own discounted garages tyre discounts.cheaper insurance, fuel discounts. own 24 hour repair garage the list is endless. u think your a cut above son but take a reality check ya clueless despot
The views expressed in this site do not necessarily reflect the views of TooManyTaxis or the general U.K. Hackney Carriage Trade
John Dodds
I will pass on your kinds words for paul, and i thank you on his behalf.
One other thing, we are open to the general public and any taxi drivers who choose to use us not just for meters.
The views expressed in this site do not necessarily reflect the views of TooManyTaxis or the general U.K. Hackney Carriage Trade
@ Ian Shanks (the king of *******)
I have just been on you tube and was watching your BLUELINE TAXIS 50TH ANNIVERSARY VIDEO ABOUT TYNESIDES LARGEST TAXI PROVIDER. When I happended to here your company say and I quote ALL DRIVERS NEED TO HAVE PASSED A KNOWLEDGE OR LOCALITY TEST THIS TEST INVOLVES QUESTIONS ABOUT LICENSING LAWS ASWELL AS KNOWLEDGE OF LOCAL PLACES OF INTEREST AND DETAILS OF THE SHORTEST POSSIBLE ROUTES BETWEEN VARIOUS LOCATIONS. I also happend to notice that on your video their were no berwick plated cars only north tyneside plated cars were on the video yet on your wedsite your company is 100% for the out of town bandits.
So my questions for you are what test do the berwick boys sit?
Why is their no berwick cars on the video?
Has this been done to infact lie to the general public?
And when are you going to publicly appologise to the 907 viewers who have watched your video containing false information
On a lighter note keep up the good work because all of us newcastle and northtyneside plated boys will be signing on soon
Many thanks MB 27
The views expressed in this site do not necessarily reflect the views of TooManyTaxis or the general U.K. Hackney Carriage Trade
@MB 27,
Everyone is guilty of this Berwick malarky, I give you a few examples at North Tyneside Offices.
1./ Last year a new Taxi firm was marketed on free web pages, Venus Taxis, on their Ad for Drivers it stated “North Tyneside Badge holders only”, also their business intentions was to provide female Drivers only (I nicknamed them Feminist Taxis), within weeks Male Berwick Drivers were seen working at this firm, so their whole business pitch was a lie!…NT Drivers only and Woman Drivers only!!!HAHA!
2./ Recently a Taxi firm opened in North Shields called “Mainline”, in it’s Ads it stated North Tyneside Drivers only that have completed a Locality Test, however their is a blue Citroen with a Berwick Plate stuck on it somewhere!, working at the Office!.
3./ How many proper Hacks NT & NC have spouses or their Kids Driving Berwick plated Cars???, despite what they say about them!
4. 18 months or so ago I was briefly working at another Office, NOT Central or Eastcoast by the way, as I said in a earlier thread, I considered getting my own Car plated in Berwick, I run this idea past the Operator I was working for at the time and he responded by saying that “I’d rather you did’nt”, within two weeks of me returning to Central he had taken on five Bandits, because they all turned up at once and he did’nt refuse!!!..£500 extra per week!
And finally MB 27 calling Mr S (the king of *******) is a little strong, recently he has taken on two ex Central Drivers (well done Mr S for getting over your Phobia) and they are doing very well financially at his Office, one is doing nowt less that a £100 a shift, so who cares what he gets up to as long as YOU are making money, and that’s the paramount thing at the moment in this climate!
Regards
Stephen
The views expressed in this site do not necessarily reflect the views of TooManyTaxis or the general U.K. Hackney Carriage Trade
@Stephen (FKA Central Enth.), I agree with a lot of what your saying in your article.Its all down to the greed of offices owners wanting more rent than they would get if licensed with there own L/A as a high % of drivers would not even pass the L/A knowledge test.Also a high % of the vehicles plated with Berwick would not be aloud on in N/T & Newcastle.I don’t all ways agree with some of the rules set out by the L/A but I do know there normally in place for a good reason.that normally is the for the safety of passengers.I also do believe that this mess was enishely brought about by 1or 2 of the bigger offices in N/T as I think they had bigger goals in mind.Mainly the destruction of the hack trade in Newcastle.There fore causing 780 hacks into offices with the hope of bringing in the rental income of £78,000+ per weak of the hacks.Some office owners claim this is good for the public as it would bring fares down.That’s rubbish as we all know do away with compition & you charge what you like.Also how would go for old miss Smith at 01.00hrs Sunday morning for a £3 pound fare to N/T hospital.No one you would be in the so called Honey pot as named by Allen fiddler.You would be looking for a job to Durham as you would have that many cars working day & night to make ends meet they would work where the cream is.That’s why there is so much flimping going on in Newcastle.Some drivers brag and laugh about it as they know very little is being done about it.Maybe its about time the L/A stopped all out of town cars from coming in to the town centre after a 11pm then this would stop the illegal plying for hire as its out of control of the L/A.It would also cut down on pollution & congestion.This would also make it safer for passengers as they would know there in a Newcastle licenced hack.
Any body & every body is going for a licence in Berwick I’ve even had a passenger asking me how much it would cost to put a plate on his car & get a badge just so he could use the taxi & bus lanes.How cheeky is that.
Let’s just hope Councillor John shipley will see sense on Monday 9th.
The views expressed in this site do not necessarily reflect the views of TooManyTaxis or the general U.K. Hackney Carriage Trade
@ Ian Shanks (the king of *******)
Please do respond Ian don’t be like LA’s and hope I’ll go away.
Nothing personal obviously but I think the taxi trade and the general public have a right to know.
The views expressed in this site do not necessarily reflect the views of TooManyTaxis or the general U.K. Hackney Carriage Trade
@MB 27,
Firstly can I say I don’t have to respond and don’t care if you don’t go away, but I will respond to any reasonable question even if it’s just to let you know my views on things.
Anyway, it’s my belief that the knowledge tests in its present format only covers the area of the local authority to which you have applied, and that may be well and good for you drivers that work the majority of your time in that singular area. As you know Blue Line cover far beyond one local authority and therefore knowing a little about North Tyneside may have little benefit when the driver may be working in Newcastle or Gateshead etc etc and VICE VERSA.
So, Blue line carries out its own internal training and assessment of drivers which can take a number of hours depending on previous employment. This includes such things as customer care, vehicle issues and some health and safety at work and basic knowledge of the North East areas.
Not all drivers pass , as one failed last week and has been sent away for further training of the area, even thought he has been resident in North Tyneside for 25 years and ran a restaurant and delivery service in this area for 18 years .
Even Stephen (FKA Central Enth) on his visit to our offices recently, felt that even he may struggle when looking through our booking records and our working areas.
The film crew were not given any agenda about what to shoot, so if no Berwick car was involved this may indicate that we are not fully kitted out with Berwick cars as you lot believe!!
Anyway we come to work for the exact same reason as you lads, which is to make money. The fact that we have been fortunate to be successful seems to be your reason apportion blame to us.
The views expressed in this site do not necessarily reflect the views of TooManyTaxis or the general U.K. Hackney Carriage Trade
@ stephen
I totaly agree with what your saying about everyone being guilty of the berwick malarky but Blue line taxis seem to have more berwick plated cars than anyone else and they are defending that on their website. I don’t know Ian personaly so I can’t comment on him as a person and appoligise if I affend but I am a Newcastle PH driver and I don’t like the idea of people being able to get into the taxi
trade threw the back door. The number of Taxi’s will allways go up and down but this up has been far to quick and far to regular. I am sick of punters asking me what the taxi’s is like because their thinking of getting an out of town plate because their is no test and I sure you’ve all heard the same.
But what I can understand is why a company who has a large fleet of berwick COMPANY cars who also defend the fact on their website would conveniently forget to mention that on their adverts and tell people that ALL yes that was ALL (check if you want)their drivers NEED TO HAVE PASSED A KNOWLEDGE OR LOCALITY TEST. I just think is wrong that a NORTH TYNESIDE opperator would in a sense activly encourage out of town plates then slate Newcastle and north tyneside drivers for not sticking together when he and his company are playing a huge part in making it harder for all of us none blue line drivers hack or ph to make a living.
I do however still believe he is the king of ******* because as you mentioned the 5oo quid that the other office wouldn’t refuse is more than likley the reason behind his love of bandits and all bandits have a leader or in Blue lines case the King of *******.
The views expressed in this site do not necessarily reflect the views of TooManyTaxis or the general U.K. Hackney Carriage Trade
@MB 27,
Just to go back to YOUR comment about Blueline’s false Advertisement, have you seen ACE’s (Newcastle PH Firm)in the evening Chronicle, their moto alone is a load of sh*t…”Be sure, be safe, BOOK Ace”, their Drivers would flimp a bloody Jalapeno from a Kebab if it was thrown in their Car, they have Derwentside too, they also market themselves as “all our Drivers are CRB checked”, that’s standard with any Council, including them Dudes up the A1.
NODA’s Ad in the Upfront Mag, that’s a Joke in itself!, it shows that two half Picture of a Guy with a Shirt and Tie on on one half and Jeans and a Baseball Cap on the other, they are saying that because their lads wear a Shirt & Tie that makes them safe??, £38.00 to Monkseaton from the Central Station????, when NODA’s Gaffer was calling people Crooks in the Evening Chronicle, he must have been from Newcastle Under Lyme, not Upon Tyne!
AND MB 27, read Admins comment, we stopped name calling individuals a long time ago, now be sure, be safe and just call Berwick and the Operators, Oh and the proper Council’s sometimes too!
I do agree with you about Punters wanting a Badge, two days ago Lass got in my Car, she told me that her Boyfriend had just “trained” to be a Driver, where I said, she replied “Berwick” as it was cheaper, she went on to say that her Lad will earn £800 per week!, after a good chuckle, Cough, burst of laughter, I said where?, she said that he was thinking of going to Citadel or Couger, I informed her that it would be unlikely that the two owners of these firms got that amount weekly, never mind the Drivers!!!!!!!!!!!
Regards
Stephen
The views expressed in this site do not necessarily reflect the views of TooManyTaxis or the general U.K. Hackney Carriage Trade
@ stephen
You’ve mentioned Ace taxis moto and NODA’s who’s taking you home tonight campayne and youv’e also in a pervious comment mentioned Venue and mainline taxis advertising for NT licenced cars then going back on their word. But Please do correct me if I’m wrong but have any of these firms or any other firm ever said they have a full fleet of cars were ALL DRIVERS NEED TO HAVE PASSED A KNOWLEDGE OR LOCALITY TEST then posted that false info on the net?????????
The views expressed in this site do not necessarily reflect the views of TooManyTaxis or the general U.K. Hackney Carriage Trade
@MB 27,
You need to await Mr Shank’s response to that Ad really, (try and stop calling him names, he may respond,he normally pops up on here at weekends) personally I have not seen it, unless it’s the one on his website, I think it’s entitled Christmas campaign, also no other firm Advertises on TV, so I cannot comment or compare!
Stephen
The views expressed in this site do not necessarily reflect the views of TooManyTaxis or the general U.K. Hackney Carriage Trade
@ stephen
The advert is on you tube stephen and is in it’s self a very good advert but why BEND THE TRUTH.
And as far as calling Ian as I have said before Its not the man I’m calling it’s his business and the statements his business are making regarding out of town plates. On their website they are saying the taxi trade needs to move into the 21st century and that it was them ( blueline) that dug out the ruling from the high court on hackney’s working as private hire cars out of the cupboard, and exercise this ruling once again. WHY? were they really thinking about us drivers our the extra revenue?
They also state that Berwick upon tweed, which are accused of many things, but what many people fail to understand is they must issue plates in accordance with the rules they are bound by as do all councils. IF that is true why do other council REGULATE?
And as far as The band wagon of experts that have yet to be critical of the drivers who have sold and made a killing from their newcastle hackney plates only to then re-plate themselves in various areas at alleged cheaper prices but still work the airport within the newcastle boundary. I totaly agree with Mr Shanks it is wrong. The airport should have one plate and one plate only but the airport regulate the number of taxis so it wouldn’t make a difference which borough that was with.
I again appologise to Ian for calling him but can’t help being critical to a company who in one breath praise what they are doing with the out of town plates but then conveniently forget to mention it when advertising themselves on the Internet.
I am the sort of person Stephen that will stand by what I say but will always put my hands up if I am wrong. Is Ian or any member of the management team at Blue line prepared to do the same????
The views expressed in this site do not necessarily reflect the views of TooManyTaxis or the general U.K. Hackney Carriage Trade
@ Stephen , that comment about TRAINING to be a taxi driver at Berwick has just made my day !!PMSL !!
Ok i’ve picked myself back off the floor now!!
My guess is he’s worked at findus packing fishfingers or summit since he left school with no qualifications ,been laid off and used his redundancy money to TRAIN (PMSL AGAIN)for his Berwick badge because all he knows is packing fishfingers.
Bet he knows the quickest route from his house to findus in rush hour and he has a driving licence so he’l make a great taxi driver !!!!!!!
Hell am even tempted myself if a can go to couger or citadel and take home £800 a week
Was speaking to a blueline driver last night ( i have friends right across the trade)and he informed me that all you have to do to secure a berwick badge is plead hardship and they will issue one can anyone confirm this is correct ????
The whole farcial court case just makes me laugh as to me it made no sense at all, all that public money wasted and absoloutley no changes,can anyone make any sense of it ???
I apologise in advance if this has already been discussed as i am new on here and still finding my way around !!!!
Regards
Andy
The views expressed in this site do not necessarily reflect the views of TooManyTaxis or the general U.K. Hackney Carriage Trade
@Am133,
Regarding Berwick Plates, early February they plated up a new Car, the Driver told the Council he was moving to Berwick!, so they obliged!, in fact he he was telling the truth sort of, he lives 2 mins away from Berwick Terrace PERCY MAIN!!!!, Do you know who I feel sorry for?, any Housing developer in Berwick, they will be thinking all these 100′s of taxi Drivers will be moving up there, yes Am133, you just plead hardship, however someone on here the other day mentioned that Berwick are introducing a Test!!!, someone else replied, “shutting the stable door when the Horse has bolted”
Regards
The views expressed in this site do not necessarily reflect the views of TooManyTaxis or the general U.K. Hackney Carriage Trade
@ AM133
You say you are new on here and are still finding your way around !!!
Why not try TRAINING to a taxi driver at berwick because they seem to be able to get themselve every where LOL. Saying that they get plated in berwick yet work newcastle so would more than likley log into TMT and get the Ann Summers webite LOL funny how ot works in it!!!!
The views expressed in this site do not necessarily reflect the views of TooManyTaxis or the general U.K. Hackney Carriage Trade
24. The Department takes the view that a licensed PHV can undertake a hiring which goes beyond the boundary of, or is wholly outside, its controlled district. However this is subject to a requirement that the vehicle and the driver are both licensed by the same local authority that granted a licence to the operator who arranged the hiring, and also that the operator has a licence for the area in which he intends to operate.
Can someone please help me on this statement by the DFT becasuse it says that the operator has a license for the area in which he intends to operate but the mojority if not all of the operators are licenced in only one borough but intend to work in others and it also says that the driver and the phv must be licenced by the same LA as the operator taking the bookings yet berwick have issued licences knowing that they are to be used as phv by providers without the correct operators licences.
Am I barking up the wrong tree? are has the law been slightly bent? Please do respond as I am gerally interested.
The views expressed in this site do not necessarily reflect the views of TooManyTaxis or the general U.K. Hackney Carriage Trade
@MB 27, the rules you quote are for private hire.the whole loophole revolves around the fact that a hackney carriage may work anywhere as a private hire because of a case years ago involving cross border hiring with a hackney carriage.i can’t remember the case offhand but it is mentioned a few times within this site.there are plenty of readers who know of the case and may come back with more info.
The views expressed in this site do not necessarily reflect the views of TooManyTaxis or the general U.K. Hackney Carriage Trade
@ stephen
cracking comment about the driver living 2 mins away from berwick terrace.
I heard last night that the out of town plate that are going into the new northumberland council have already been up and down john dobon street looking for a way to get onto northumberland street so thy can prove they are ranking in northumberland LOL
The views expressed in this site do not necessarily reflect the views of TooManyTaxis or the general U.K. Hackney Carriage Trade
@MB 27,
I know a fair few Berwick Lads and Lasses, one of them said to me they cannot wait until Berwick becomes Northumberland, so they can try Hacking in Morpeth, Hexham and Ashington, I feel sorry for the genuine Drivers up there, God only knows what will happen in these rural parts, one thing a do know is their is some fairly Posh and educated folk up the Tyne Valley, and they will expect a efficient service, they will not want to direct any Driver Mile by Mile to the Airport.
Just think!, a young Lass staggers out of a Morpeth Nightspot and says to one of these Bandits, Mitford please, what’s the odds she ends up alone and lost in Mitford Gardens Howdon!!!!
Regards
The views expressed in this site do not necessarily reflect the views of TooManyTaxis or the general U.K. Hackney Carriage Trade
Any of our `Berwick` clowns that think the drivers in Alnwick,Morpeth,Ashington etc will allow their trade to be destroyed as we in Newcastle have done,want to seriously think again.
I know the Ashington lads and lasses wont give some of these clowns rank space,and don`t think they have to,there are ways and means of driving unwelcome operators off ranks.
I remember the genuine drivers in Berwick forcing 3 drivers off the rank,despite the said 3 having berwick plates. The 3 were told if they tried picking up in the town,someone would need to pick them up.
They thought they could get a couple of jobs while renewing their plates.
These clowns forget,those of us that drive full time,we know each other,and to a large extent,we know which plates belong to which owners/drivers. If that is the case in Newcastle,it dont need Einstein to work out the same applies in each area.
Don`t matter what the council says,the clowns will not be welcomed by legitimate drivers.
The views expressed in this site do not necessarily reflect the views of TooManyTaxis or the general U.K. Hackney Carriage Trade
@john dodds,
John!, why should other Boroughs walk away free?, we have had it bad for the last two years, why should some Hill Billy continue his trade as normal, when we have all suffered, let all the Bandits go off for a couple of weekends, give us some peace, one foreign Driver I know simply cannot wait, he’s a flimper so he is better off out of Whitley and Town, let someone else suffer and loose out!!!
If the Hill Billy’s take the Law into their own hands, it will show all of us up, one Blyth Hack I know said he will loose his Badge if they behave like they have in NT & NC!
So March approaches!, and the Bandits will officially march into Northumberland.
Regards
Stephen
The views expressed in this site do not necessarily reflect the views of TooManyTaxis or the general U.K. Hackney Carriage Trade
@john dodds,
nice sentiments john but come on,vigilante taxi drivers,taking the law into their own hands,now we are bordering on civil riot and anarchy!
they have already over run the mighty city of newcastle and the borough of north tyneside so a few hick towns in the tyne valley or wansbeck isnt going to stop them,especially as they will have one thing they dont have at this moment…a legitimate plate,you lads down ther have had to bear the brunt of it but its our turn next,now personely i wouldnt dream of travelling from the tynedale area just to sit and work on a rank in wansbeck or blyth valley but,if for instance i drop off in these areas with a school run and were all plated as northumberland hacks and i decide to rank up looking for a fare back to my usual place of work then im not going to put up with any shit from drivers telling me i cant do that because its a two way street,every morning and afternoon i see castle morpth,blyth valley and wansbeck licenced cabs dropping of school kids and they would have the same options,as much as i dont like the idea of this one authoriy crap,thers bugger all i can do about it and i was one of the tynedale residents that signed a pettition against it,a huge no vote and they still ignored us so god knows what we end up regarding the licensing of taxis,newcastle gateshead north tyneside merge into one unified council!,cant happen,never be allowed!…never say never,they stuffed us it could be you next.my stand on out of town cars..wrong,its a back door into the trade and shouldnt happen,whos fault is it?
ian shanks…blue line taxis,no, he adapted the laws and interpretad it,he is in bussiness to make moneyand he did it within the laws and framework we have to govern the licensing of taxis if it was illegal the judge sitting in this case would have declared it illegal,whats the answer? well…i never said i knew how to fix ot!
The views expressed in this site do not necessarily reflect the views of TooManyTaxis or the general U.K. Hackney Carriage Trade
@MB 27,
stop branding anybody who doesnt drive a newcastle plated car as a thief or bandit theres plenty of us who play by the rules,start shouting loud and hard at your la enforcement and get them to get of their lazy arses, stop, prosocute and strip the offenders of their badges.ive been in this game 25 years now,10 of them driving hacks and ph in toon,still have my newcastle badges although i dont use them,should i wish too i will plate my car with the correct plate for the area
The views expressed in this site do not necessarily reflect the views of TooManyTaxis or the general U.K. Hackney Carriage Trade
Ok lads am back and i am now a fully qualified chef and U.S airforce pilot !! (made a pot noodle for tea and watched topgun dvd with the bairn) so that must make my a chef and pilot yes ???
@MB 27 , Am sure that there is summit in the bylaws that says a hackney carrige working private hire must return to its licenced area before it can recive another job so i interpret that to mean a berwick car dropping off at the Gate has to drive up the A1 say 50 miles before the office can pass him his follow on from Grainger street Mcdonalds
Curiosity , does anyone have the fiqures of out of town cars working NEWCASTLE licenced private hire offices ????
Cheers
Andy
The views expressed in this site do not necessarily reflect the views of TooManyTaxis or the general U.K. Hackney Carriage Trade
dear oh dear oh dear mr shanks has had a lot of c*ap in here mind though he is the only operater in here that has a say in matters now 1 thing i dont agree with out of town cars !!. that is my say !!
but what about newcastle and north tynside council they have the vision of stevie wonder and ray charles, for the town hacks have you lot noticed that there are bars closing down in town ? trade had droped off now in a big way and the public spending habbits have changed and every 1 is hard up even though ph firms have more cars than ever before i find myself making less money but i am not stupid with it and will survive. ian i challenge you to get in to 1 of ure cars and c what happens and how much money u make in a few weeks of shifts at the mo things are ticking over but i dread the summer now as the students will be away or just to hear the comments on what drivers say. oh ian shanks i got a very good idea on advertising on a wed night i sure you would like to know more about it i wont say on here because other ppl might just take it up b4 you do have fun mouse
The views expressed in this site do not necessarily reflect the views of TooManyTaxis or the general U.K. Hackney Carriage Trade
@mouse,
thanks for that !!!
spending habits have changed,we are seeing this on a daily basis, but we are still doing 6 and 7 thousand bookings a day during the week and more at weekends. So,is the public turning to the more cost effective PH firms in a attempt to retain the door to door service rather than have the restrictions of public transport and the hours they work til ?
please do let me know you advertising thoughts even though it is only wed nights !! if your past the office drop it in ???
The views expressed in this site do not necessarily reflect the views of TooManyTaxis or the general U.K. Hackney Carriage Trade
@ian shanks, i will ian i will let pam know or even you if i do see you but this will take time and yes that means that i want to see u in your office or my home (prefer to have a long chat over it with some dinner and family invited)without frank,lee or tino no disrespect to them as blt is owned by your family and it is intrest to you but that will not be the only issue though there are a lot of things to discuss and i do not want my job put at risk as i have my own family to suport and morgage to pay just think of it as back to the floor and understand what it is all about in the first place at the ground floor i think that every one here would like to know what yore opion will be then.
I had a good drink this morning and rambled on a bit after a very dissapointing friday night but would like to know if you will agree to see me. the wenesday night avertising will work as in you have some contacts already so iam off to bed now. mouse
The views expressed in this site do not necessarily reflect the views of TooManyTaxis or the general U.K. Hackney Carriage Trade
@ jimmy d
jimmy youv’e mentioned that youv’e been in the game for 25 years so you will know what it was like to have one or two new drivers start at an office. Everyone complains and it’s always the same argument “how do they expect us to make a nut when they keep starting drivers”. If an office started 3 drivers there was hell on.CAN PEOPLE STILL REMEMBER????? BUT now look around how many more drivers is their in the area? How many of them with out of town plates? I understand that some of them are licenced with Newcastle or North tyneside I myself have mates and family members who have also been in the game (hack and ph at newcastle)for 20 years plus and have jumped on the bandwagon but that dosn’t meen its ok.
And as for branding people everyone jimmy I know that there is some out of town plated cars that play by the rules and I also know that there are Newcastle and North tyneside cars that don’t, but be honest jimmy how many drivers are only doing the job now because they have been let in the back door? how many of them couldn’t have passed a locality so didn’t bother trying? How many opperators on both sides of the huge hole seperating Newcastle from North tyneside ( joke don’t shoot me ) have actively exploited the loophole for financial gain and not for as they will argue for the drivers. If they were really intersted in the drivers why didn’t they help them through there test at their own LA? I think I know why to much work!
Look at the world at the minute jimmy how many people do you know that are border line at work not knowing if they will keep there jobs or not????? How many of them have driving licences?????? how many of them do you think will be taxi drivers in the near future because of the stupid loophole and the opperators that exploit it. Come on lads and lasses look at the bigger picture our LA’s are not that bothered ( tommorow will do ) the opperators are not that bothered ( extra revenue ) and the enforcement only ever come out to play on a weekend at the end of month (when it’s not raining) because that the only time we have problems
Thursday night 2:30 am I get a job to pick up at liquid SHIT WERE DO I PARK at the newbride bedding centre or the old odion??????
The views expressed in this site do not necessarily reflect the views of TooManyTaxis or the general U.K. Hackney Carriage Trade
Can I please remind all users of this site that the taxi trade creates revenue for the LA’s and that the more drivers and opperators that exploit the loophole the more revenue that they are taking away from the LA’s.
Do you think they will be ok with that?????? I don’t. I think that plate, test, badge and opperators fees will increase. I think they will start picking stupid faults with our vehicle so they can fail us in order to get re-tests. They may even try getting revenue back by fineing us for parking in city centres and increase the number of parking patrols ohh that right they already have!!!!!!!!
The views expressed in this site do not necessarily reflect the views of TooManyTaxis or the general U.K. Hackney Carriage Trade
To be honest I think I’m going to do alright over the next few months as my 4 year old son is getting a job as an enforcement officer at berwick. I know he’s only 4 but we claimed hardship to get him the job. But at least he has experience of the taxi trade as he loves helping me clean my car. They have been really good to him actualy they have even offered to get his fisher price nody car stickered up. They are a little bit concerned about the two way radios as there’s no way of conecting them up but just for now they have cups on strings.
Its a cracking little number for him as he dosn’t have to leave the house. He dosn’t have to enforce anything. And he is even concidering starting his TRAINING early for his berwick badge. Don’t they grow up quick these days.
Also can I thank Mr shanks for NOT answering any of my questions or at least trying to explain his advert with the Bendy truth.
Cheers Mate
The views expressed in this site do not necessarily reflect the views of TooManyTaxis or the general U.K. Hackney Carriage Trade
@MB 27,
i did answer !!
The views expressed in this site do not necessarily reflect the views of TooManyTaxis or the general U.K. Hackney Carriage Trade
Oh well, soon Northumberland Council will be upon us (April 1st for those who do not know)and it looks like they will operate a zone policy, which basically means all those Berwick Bandits will eventually get booted (or work Berwick of course)
The views expressed in this site do not necessarily reflect the views of TooManyTaxis or the general U.K. Hackney Carriage Trade
@Mike Hunt,
nothing changes regarding hacks in northumberland sitricts ,ie berwick,tynedale,wansbeck etc etc,until about jan 2010,but new northumberland ph plates will happen,licences will still be handed out by district councils and controlled by said council.ie if you apply for a tynedale hack after april 1st,you will still have to pass tynedale knowledge test ,car tested at hexham by tyne dale council and plate will still be tynedale hack plate,a questionaire is being sent to all drivers and operators within new council area for consultation,one of the ideas being mooted is zoned areas,one of which would bring together alnwick berwick and morpeth
The views expressed in this site do not necessarily reflect the views of TooManyTaxis or the general U.K. Hackney Carriage Trade
@Mike Hunt, That’s not what I heard mate, but if you have any PROOF or FACTS to back what your saying up about zone policy we would like to hear it.
The views expressed in this site do not necessarily reflect the views of TooManyTaxis or the general U.K. Hackney Carriage Trade
@Private hire driver NCLE, Start the ball rolling mate and share what you heard with some PROOF or FACTS because everyone here would like to hear it,including hundreds of Private Hire drivers.
The views expressed in this site do not necessarily reflect the views of TooManyTaxis or the general U.K. Hackney Carriage Trade
@Admin,
As you all Know I used to have a Berwick Badge, I let it run out a few months ago, but tried recently to renew it, only because I had a chance to buy a half decent 7 seater that was currently Bandit plated, I would of put a NT Badge on it when I had the Cash to replace a expensive pimped out rear Window!
Anyway I was refused on the grounds that Berwick will be changing very shortly, I was informed that the Zoning Policy is only for Northumberland!, so they don’t care what their Cars do down here and Newcastle, but all the current Castle Morpeth Cars will have to stay in Morpeth, The genuine Berwick cars will stay in Berwick and So on and so forth, but nowt is stopping them from being down here (as out of Town Cars), the impression I got they are looking after each other…F*&k us!
But that was about six weeks ago when I asked, things may have changed!
I also know they are not dishing out Sweets, sorry Plates for the time being!
Regards
Stephen
The views expressed in this site do not necessarily reflect the views of TooManyTaxis or the general U.K. Hackney Carriage Trade
@Admin, I was told by a Berwick driver at the weekend that he has paid to renew his plate which runs out on 31/03/09 and that Berwick council hadn’t gave him a new plate yet as they were waiting for the new Northumberland plates to arrive and they had given him a letter to carry in his car to prove he was plated if he was stopped after the 31st.
He showed me the letter and I can’t remember what it said word for word but it didn’t mention anything about zoning, I think that people are just speculating about what is going to happen and trying to second guess Berwick council.
The views expressed in this site do not necessarily reflect the views of TooManyTaxis or the general U.K. Hackney Carriage Trade
@Private hire driver NCLE,
re:my last posting ,i have just replated my tynedale hack 2 weeks ago and i asked my licencing officer ‘what plate will be fixed to my car {hack} after 1st of april and he told me it will continue to be tynedale licenced hackney carriage until about jan 2010 as no decisions have been made regarding hacks across northumberland,ph is different story they can bring in n.c.c ph plates , but the problem with hacks is that at least 1 district council [blyth]have a cap on hack plates,now there not going to be happy about opening up the whole of northumberland to all districts hacks.there is a questionaire out asking what system we want,ie 1 hack plate that covers all of northumberland,capped or uncapped,zoned areas or open county,i will post this document on here when i get it but i have seen this document,so either berwick are talking bullshit {waiting for new northumberland plates} or northumberland council and the district councils themselves dont have a clue as to what they are going to do,we dont know what the fare structure is going to be where cars will be tested when new plates are issued,and 1 rumour going around is there will be an age restriction on cars,anything else i hear from tynedale council or northumberland county council i will post on here,and if anyone out there from any of the other district councils have been told by there la what is going on share it on here with the rest of us
The views expressed in this site do not necessarily reflect the views of TooManyTaxis or the general U.K. Hackney Carriage Trade
@Private hire driver NCLE,
one thing i do remember on this letter/questionaire from northumberland county council is that the cost of a plate,hack and ph will be set at £205.00 for the first year ,duel hack and private hire badge will be £95.00 per year plus cost of crb check
The views expressed in this site do not necessarily reflect the views of TooManyTaxis or the general U.K. Hackney Carriage Trade
@Private hire driver NCLE, Berwick is just cashing in with anybody daft enough to hand over their cash.On another note it has been pointed out on here before that a ‘letter’ in lieu of a plate is not legal and any council doing this is acting illegally.Which in itself tells you what these people are like,I know I wouldn’t be handing any money over to them.
The views expressed in this site do not necessarily reflect the views of TooManyTaxis or the general U.K. Hackney Carriage Trade
@jimmy d,
but whats to say some of the councils have agreed to a N C C hackney plate, while others may not yet be on board?
The views expressed in this site do not necessarily reflect the views of TooManyTaxis or the general U.K. Hackney Carriage Trade
true but i can only tell you what i have been told by my council and personally i cant dee them going ahead till all councils are on board and tariffs have been agreed ,but then we are dealing with councils here…..so christ knows whats happening
The views expressed in this site do not necessarily reflect the views of TooManyTaxis or the general U.K. Hackney Carriage Trade
@jimmy d,
exactly mate,
around july last year someone renewed there tynedale licence, and was told by tynedale council at the time that they would not be able to use the plate out of the district for much longer, he is still working from an newcastle office.
so whats happening with tynedale & derwentside? I was always under the impression that these 2 councils would knock it on the head if they legally could?
The views expressed in this site do not necessarily reflect the views of TooManyTaxis or the general U.K. Hackney Carriage Trade
@andy warhol, Ive just renewed my derwentside plate last week I asked about hackney working private hire in newcastle and they didnt have a clue what was going on!!!!
The views expressed in this site do not necessarily reflect the views of TooManyTaxis or the general U.K. Hackney Carriage Trade
@andy warhol,
lad i know personnally went t renew hackplate last week got knocked backed cos they found out he was grafting ace office,hes now past toon locality and is plated toon ph,which begs the question,why didnt he do that in the first place?
The views expressed in this site do not necessarily reflect the views of TooManyTaxis or the general U.K. Hackney Carriage Trade
Here’s something i found on the berwick new’s about berwick hack’s which will be interesting if it come’s true!.
http://www.berwick-advertiser.co.uk/news?articleid=4992040
The views expressed in this site do not necessarily reflect the views of TooManyTaxis or the general U.K. Hackney Carriage Trade