On Thursday 29th January 2009 at an Enforcement Meeting at the Civic Centre between Peter Wightman, Group Manager for Planning and Transportation and Newcastle Hackney Carriage Trade Representatives.
Peter Wightman was asked to comment on;
- 1. The Illegal Plying for Hire in Newcastle by Private Hire and Hackney Carriages from all Regions.
- 2. The Deliberate and Drastic Reduction of Rank Spaces throughout the City which has resulted in approximately 75 Rank Spaces for 780 Hackney Vehicles.
- 3. The New Threat of Prosecution by New Parking Control Officers (Blue Hats) and Council Controlled CCTV to anyone not sat on a Legal Rank Space
(i.e. the 705 Hackney Cabs NOT Able to Sit on a Rank).
PETER WIGHTMAN’S response was” If You Are Unable to Find Work or a Rank Space GO HOME”.
At a Mass Hackney Trade Meeting of over 200 Hackney Proprietors and Drivers from All Sections of the trade, when informed of PETER WIGHTMAN’S COMMENTS were met with Disbelief, Outrage and Calls for His Removal from his Post.
Subsequently a Hackney Trade Delegation is Seeking an Urgent Meeting with JOHN SHIPLEY, Leader of Newcastle City Council To Avoid the Catastrophic Disruption and Needless Pollution that Hundreds of Hackney Cabs would Generate Looking for Work, Making a Mockery of the Liberal Democrats Policy to Reduce its Carbon Footprint within the City. WHEN THE SITUATION CAN EASILY BE RESOLVED BY PROVIDING AN ADEQUATE NUMBER OF OFFICIAL RANK SPACES THROUGHOUT THE CITY, ensuring Non Prosecution and Harmony of the Trade.
{ 3 comments… read them below or add one }
Would PETER WIGHTMAN go home if he couldn’t get parked at the Civic Centre? I think he would be out of work soon if he did and the same goes for us!
The views expressed in this site do not necessarily reflect the views of TooManyTaxis or the general U.K. Hackney Carriage Trade
Dear Hackney Carriage Drivers,
Due to the current financial situation caused by the slowdown of economy, The council has decided to implement a scheme to put drivers of 40 years of age and above on early retirement.
This scheme will be known as RAPE (Retire Aged People Early).
Persons selected to be RAPED can apply to management to be eligible for the SHAFT scheme (Special Help After Forced Termination). Persons who have been RAPED and SHAFTED will be reviewed under the SCREW program (Scheme Covering Retired Early Workers). A person may be RAPED once, SHAFTED twice and SCREWED as many times as The Council deems appropriate.
Persons who have been RAPED can only get AIDS (Additional Income for Dependants & Spouse) or HERPES (Half Earnings for Retired Personnel Early Severance). Obviously persons who have AIDS or HERPES will not be SHAFTED or SCREWED any further by The council
Persons who are not RAPED and are staying on will receive as much SHIT (Special High Intensity Training) as possible.
The Council has always prided itself on the amount of SHIT it gives to the drivers. Should you feel that you do not receive enough SHIT, please bring to the attention of your enforcement.
They have been trained to give you all the SHIT you can handle.
Sincerely,
Newcastle City Council
The views expressed in this site do not necessarily reflect the views of TooManyTaxis or the general U.K. Hackney Carriage Trade
Maybe he was referring specifically to the asian drivers, not meaning back to Wingrove road but back to pakistan ?
The views expressed in this site do not necessarily reflect the views of TooManyTaxis or the general U.K. Hackney Carriage Trade