North Tyneside Mayor, John Harrison met with representatives of the Taxi/Private Hire trade yesterday to discuss proposals for helping the trade.
His proposals,in brief,are as follows:
1. Asking the Government to subsidise fuel for Taxis as they do for Bus companies.
Admin: Fat chance! This will never happen.Our Government has just gone 1 trillion quid into debt,they are not about to give 85,000 hacks and 140,000 Private Hire across the country half price fuel just because the Mayor of North Tyneside asks for it.
2.Urging supermarkets to offer discounts on fuel as long as the benefits are passed onto customers.
Admin: No benefit at all in that then! The customer has a good deal already as stated in BLT’s oft heard radio ads. The drivers need the help. I don’t see bus companies dropping their fares because of Government subsidies.
3. Environmentally friendly Taxi sharing schemes.
Admin: This idea has popped up numerous times over the past 20 years. No problem for Taxi drivers, a fare is a fare after all,just try to get Joe Public to go along with it on such a scale as to be beneficial to all.
4. The Council would like to know what it can do to help the Taxi trade.
Admin:
- Learn from the Berwick fiasco,ask yourselves and the trade why it happened and act to put it right.
- Listen to the trade, Mayor John Harrison could start the ball rolling by answering my e-mails to him.
- Good enforcement! Checking badges and Fare tables between 6pm & 10pm on a Saturday once in a blue moon does not constitute ‘Good Enforcement’
Comments Welcome:












{ 75 comments… read them below or add one }
was anybody on here at the meeting?
The views expressed in this site do not necessarily reflect the views of TooManyTaxis or the general U.K. Hackney Carriage Trade
Lets start with North Tyneside council banning all Berwick bandit plates carrying out school runs for Them.Its simple if a firm be it Blueline,Eastcoast,Central deploy a driver who is a Bandit plate to carry out a school run for NT they shouldnt be allowed(well done Newcastle city council for implementing this policy) a phone call will be going in to mr Alan Newton tomorrow to try and get this in place and put a stop to Blueline Eastcoast ******* the Taxi trade beyond repair.
The views expressed in this site do not necessarily reflect the views of TooManyTaxis or the general U.K. Hackney Carriage Trade
@Early Grave, Good for you,Let us know how you get on.
The views expressed in this site do not necessarily reflect the views of TooManyTaxis or the general U.K. Hackney Carriage Trade
it was put in place a year ago that berwick plated vehicles wont be able to do school runs, from this september 09 when the new school contracts start,,,
The views expressed in this site do not necessarily reflect the views of TooManyTaxis or the general U.K. Hackney Carriage Trade
When you have to do your CPC by 2013 there will be less taxi’s as the ‘don’t understand’ club won’t do it and thus willl loose their plate under EU directive…………didn’t you all know this!!
The views expressed in this site do not necessarily reflect the views of TooManyTaxis or the general U.K. Hackney Carriage Trade
@CPC TAXI,
from what i see the ‘dont understand’ club is berwick plated vehicles, and if this saga is still going on in 4 years time mate, i will bedigging holes in the ground for a living, as will most of us!
The views expressed in this site do not necessarily reflect the views of TooManyTaxis or the general U.K. Hackney Carriage Trade
@CPC TAXI, Where did you get your info from about all Taxi drivers having to have a CPC by 2013?
The views expressed in this site do not necessarily reflect the views of TooManyTaxis or the general U.K. Hackney Carriage Trade
looks like the school contracts have moved the goal posts! to allow out of town plates more access to work .looks like any & every thing can be trafficked through the trade now…
The views expressed in this site do not necessarily reflect the views of TooManyTaxis or the general U.K. Hackney Carriage Trade
rip
The views expressed in this site do not necessarily reflect the views of TooManyTaxis or the general U.K. Hackney Carriage Trade
This will only STOP when we hear the immortal words ‘tonight on the news how a customer with learning difficulties was assaulted by the driver, the driver was acutally a illegal emigrant with a out of town taxi, given to him by some numpty in a suit’.
I hope for all our childrens sake this ******* fiasco stops sooner rather than later.
The views expressed in this site do not necessarily reflect the views of TooManyTaxis or the general U.K. Hackney Carriage Trade
i’m not sure whats happening with contracts, but i presume youre saying that they will allow an out of town scenario … this is all well and fine as long as the councils agree, as the judge said out of town scenario would be acceptable if both councils were ok.
but what if then northumberland say when working from an office or plying for hire you must then return to your licencing area. most drivers in newcastle and nt would be happy with that.
the reality is we are just speculating, as the draft policy for northumberland licencing has not even been done yet, so they dont know themselves which way they will go, BUT early indications from them were that they wish to avoid a repeat of the berwick scenario.
can someone on here confirm tha berwick are renewing plate but are not giving an expirey date?
The views expressed in this site do not necessarily reflect the views of TooManyTaxis or the general U.K. Hackney Carriage Trade
@And Warhol, Berwick Plates are being renewed but the plate is not,this is why you may see some plates that are past their expiry date.
The views expressed in this site do not necessarily reflect the views of TooManyTaxis or the general U.K. Hackney Carriage Trade
@Admin,
so how can newcastle licencing allow a situation, or nt, for that matter, have taxi drivers drive round with expired dates on the plates and no one sure as to whether that plate should have been recinded or not!
are berwick just ASKING for a situation wherby someone who should have handed back the plate does something very naughty while still using it!
The views expressed in this site do not necessarily reflect the views of TooManyTaxis or the general U.K. Hackney Carriage Trade
@And Warhol, The story goes that they can use the plates they have until new Northumberland plates are issued.Waste of time having car details and expiry dates on plates as nobody takes a blind bit of notice.
The views expressed in this site do not necessarily reflect the views of TooManyTaxis or the general U.K. Hackney Carriage Trade
@And Warhol, Newcastle dont have car details or expire dates or their plates, how do the public know the plate is on the correct car?
The views expressed in this site do not necessarily reflect the views of TooManyTaxis or the general U.K. Hackney Carriage Trade
I agree Brian i have lost count the times i have seen illegal imigrants driving round Newcastle posing as Taxi drivers usually with a Blueline sticker on the side no top sign tho and the plate stuck in the back window,can you imagine these individuals picking mine or you child up it really does begger belief,me thinks a call to the DWP is in order.
The views expressed in this site do not necessarily reflect the views of TooManyTaxis or the general U.K. Hackney Carriage Trade
As if its not confusing enough now we have plates that appear to be expired !!
The views expressed in this site do not necessarily reflect the views of TooManyTaxis or the general U.K. Hackney Carriage Trade
Av got to admit lads I’m sarting to sway towards the out of town plates because if they weren’t here I wouldn’t be able to wash me car twice and read 12 papers during every shift LOL
Who in there right mind would want to make a living and feed their kids when we can sit around all night talking s***.
Its a f***ing joke
Micky mouse plates with the fragles behind the wheel!!!!!!!!
We should invite the BIG WIGS in the suits who seem to know whats best for the trade round for dinner and watch our Familys eating corn flakes again hmmmmmmm
Like BRIAN N.Peterson said on an earlier comment this F***ing fiasco needs stopped.
We are all now running out of excuses for it being quiet. ‘Its the middle of the month’, ‘people are saving themselves for the bank holiday’ , ‘Its to cold’. Blardy blardy blar. When we all know that its the ******* ********* who have allowed this fiasco to happen who are to blame.
CPC’s and the school run fiascos are like a feather falling on our heads compared to the sledge hammer in the nuts the out of town plates and the offices who allow them to work have giving to the trade.
The views expressed in this site do not necessarily reflect the views of TooManyTaxis or the general U.K. Hackney Carriage Trade
Well ive just done a 10hr dayshift at north tynesides leading ph office and it was the worst full shift i have done in 9 years.
The views expressed in this site do not necessarily reflect the views of TooManyTaxis or the general U.K. Hackney Carriage Trade
Here’s a solution to the problem. Any North Tyneside private hire vehicle (wether it be a private hire or a hackney carriage acting as a private hire)should only be able to take a fare that at some point in the journey actually enters North Tyneside. Also the vehicle, the driver and the private hire operator should all be licensed by North Tyneside.
This is what the law originally intended and is within the spirit of the law. It should be implemented by North Tyneside Council as soon as possible, if anyone has a problem with it then let them take North Tyneside Council to court !!!!
For far too long certain individuals have been bending the law and using loopholes to run circles around the Councils, its time to put a stop to it.
The views expressed in this site do not necessarily reflect the views of TooManyTaxis or the general U.K. Hackney Carriage Trade
A damn good point mate,mist sensible one evr made on this site.By the way NTC could enforce it by introducing it as a bye law then there is no recourse to courts needed?
The views expressed in this site do not necessarily reflect the views of TooManyTaxis or the general U.K. Hackney Carriage Trade
Ive also just finished a 13 hour shift with a leadind PH form in North Tyneside i worked out that my hourly rate was after take offs wait for it……………………………………………..£5.05 now i may be mistaken but me thinks this is way below the minimum wage,and still the big firms BLT etc still advertise for Bandits ive whent from shopping at Asda to Aldi what next OPERATORS LISTEN STOP TAKEN ON DRIVERS THERE IS NO BLOODY WORK OK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
The views expressed in this site do not necessarily reflect the views of TooManyTaxis or the general U.K. Hackney Carriage Trade
Well effin said ‘Live the Dream’ this is what i’ve been saying for weeks.
Trouble is these people just give us shit excuses:- recession, school holidays, wrong time of month BLAH BLAH F***IN BLAH YEAH YEAH change the f***ing record, if you were employed in a real job in the real world TWO WORDS in the voice of Sir Alan ‘ YOUR FIRED!!!!!’ do you want to know why??? not acceptable, taking on drivers is not the answer.
Operators go to the same school of bollocks as politians, Never get a straight answer and never get what we want ONLY what they want. SHITE UTTER F***IN SHITE
WE WANT ACTION
Monkeys in suits STOP issue of plates NTC and Berwick, Operators who think they know it all, STOP taking on more cars, the trade is f***ed!!!! Its about time these people started to listen. Now wheres my Horlicks i’am off to bed, and dream of the good ole’ days when i made decent money on day shift.
The views expressed in this site do not necessarily reflect the views of TooManyTaxis or the general U.K. Hackney Carriage Trade
Chronicle extra just came through the door and Morrisons are advertising for full time staff. Could be a good moove with the summer holidays coming up and with 450 ish cars fighting for the scraps. Less stress guarenteed wage not forking out at least 300 quid a week before you make out. Stacking shelves seems a good option.
The views expressed in this site do not necessarily reflect the views of TooManyTaxis or the general U.K. Hackney Carriage Trade
To be fair to drivers and operators i can see it from both side,
ive been in the trade 7 years at the same company and its got worse and worse. im working 70hrs weeks to make the same money i was when i was doing 50 hours a week a year ago so that pisses me off and i just want to quit some days when i look at my takings £4.00 to £5.00 a hour some days.
but then i can see it from the operators side we are self employed taxi drivers and no one owe you a living. you pay them £103 a week for jobs and if your not happy you can leave and work somewhere else. i know im just talking about private hire drivers and hacks are different but the taxi trade ****** and im just going to hold on aslong as i can and hopfully other drivers will quit and il make more on shift before im forced to quit. as long as im making a average of £7 a hour a week and have no boss and work the hours i want and have the time off i want il still be here.
The views expressed in this site do not necessarily reflect the views of TooManyTaxis or the general U.K. Hackney Carriage Trade
@eastcoast driver, There’s no ‘Fair’about it mate! The operators know it’s tough but they still keep takin cars on,we built their business in the good times and now they show no appreciation of that by adding more cars to the fleet when we are already losing money due to a drop off in work! So why the extra cars? ‘I’m alright jack’springs to mind!
The views expressed in this site do not necessarily reflect the views of TooManyTaxis or the general U.K. Hackney Carriage Trade
@eastcoast driver,
I have read with interest your comments above about you believing you are Self-Employed because you must obviously believe you Sub-Contract the hirings for your £103 a week rent. You then go on to say you now work 70 hours a week now instead of 50 hours a week, with your wage being as low as £4 to £5 an hour some days.
I want to ask you 2 simple questions EastCoast Driver, as you say you see things from both sides!!!!
1. Are you listed with North Tyneside Council on any Section 55 Operator Licence as one of the “Hereby Licensed” Proprietors in the SPECIFIC AREA ON ANY PROPRIETOR LICENCE on any of the 27 Section 55 Operator Licenses currently listed with North Tyneside Council?
2. Does any of the named persons on the Section 55 Operators Proprietor Licence, who is listed as “Hereby Licensed” sign your Section 48 Private Hire Vehicle Application Form, “WHO IS CONCERNED”, as a person, who is in the keeping,employing or letting on hire of your Private Hire vehicle?
Please reply a simple YES or NO to Question 1 and then a simple YES or No to Question 2, because you may not be Self-Employed after all according to the letter of the law.
This site looks forward to your Answers!!!
The views expressed in this site do not necessarily reflect the views of TooManyTaxis or the general U.K. Hackney Carriage Trade
Brian,what can be done operators such as Mr Shanks and co just sit with there fingers up there backside and are more worried about weather or not you have the right shirt on!.
I would love it for the likes of Mr Shanks and co to come on and explain what they really think about where the taxi trade is at,is there too many cars the Berwick situation etc but do they,do they **** they just sit in there glass houses and take our hard earned bit.BOLLOCKS TO THE LOT OF THEM.Every day is getting harder and harder.
The views expressed in this site do not necessarily reflect the views of TooManyTaxis or the general U.K. Hackney Carriage Trade
i see your point,,, to an extent, but …
the public should entrust their saftey to those that should do there jobs properly!
newcastle do not use there plates 60 miles up the road, where there is zilch chance of seeing an enforcement officer!
come on sc, surely you know that theres more of a chance of a newcastle hack with no test on getting collared in working in newcastle than what there is a berwick bandit driving with an expired plate and badge!
and admin,
that day will not come soon enough,
however, the lasting damage has been done, taxi drivers have been forced through the back door at a rapid rate, and for over 2 years driving round and gaining knowledge of there areas, and most will have no problem passing a locality test now.
and those with criminal convictions have had 2 years longer, and will now be able to stand in front of a commitee and argue that they have been a ‘fit and proper person’ under berwicks eyes for 2 years and have been a good boy!
and some people, we know who, will continue to protest, continue to look for a quick entry system to pile drivers regardless of who, what or where from into the trade, for there own benefit.
irreversable damage, probably not, but the consequences of the last 2 years will be here for a long time
The views expressed in this site do not necessarily reflect the views of TooManyTaxis or the general U.K. Hackney Carriage Trade
well said live the dream, just looked at my accounts this time last year.
i am down around £140 a week.dont know
how long i can keep going i see more and more out of taxis starting at blt foxhunters WHEN WILL NORTH TYNESIDE COUNCIL ACT ON THIS…………….
BLUE LINE TAXIS ie IAN SHANKS AND PAUL ERWIN JUST DO WHAT THEY WANT !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! NEXT YEAR SHOULD WE PAY THEM OUR PLATE AND BADGE MONEY WE MIGHT ASWELL
BECAUSE NTC DOES NOWT TO HELP US WHEN WE NEED TO LISTERN TO US BEFORE WE ALL GO BANKRUPT……………………………………………………………….
The views expressed in this site do not necessarily reflect the views of TooManyTaxis or the general U.K. Hackney Carriage Trade
ha ha ha herd this saying before which side of the fence are you on !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
if we all got our kits out beamish museum would take mine straight away
it is that bloody old even sopped giving me jobs only 1 job an hour now
plus tx failling <<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<< every body press x and go back to data ……………………………
The views expressed in this site do not necessarily reflect the views of TooManyTaxis or the general U.K. Hackney Carriage Trade
problem is, as all plates and badges fall on different dates, who will be sacrificed first, then will the rest follow? doubt it.
i worked six hours for £23.00 yesterday off the ranks in newcastle. a friend did the same at lansdowne on monday night, 6 hours for £18.00, theres no DRIVERS got it great, we are all struggling, badly.
however, some claim to have the answer, work longer shifts, or come and go all day, 1 hour in the house four at work. yes we are probably capable of doing this, at what price? divorces? kids who dont know who there father is? endangering the public? or meeting the grim reaper 10 years sooner?
the office owners wont here the calls for help & the council seem intent on turning there backs untill you gather en mass to protest!
me, i know this summer will be a tough one, maybe even make or break, but if i dont come through the storm, then i like many others know that the councils and office owners are heading towards a fleet of taxis that they deserve, a fleet where the majority dont give two …
The views expressed in this site do not necessarily reflect the views of TooManyTaxis or the general U.K. Hackney Carriage Trade
the council wont do a thing norman probley getin there pockets lined? brown envelope now an again
The views expressed in this site do not necessarily reflect the views of TooManyTaxis or the general U.K. Hackney Carriage Trade
and finally …
we’re in a climate of rebbellion, people are rebbelling against those who have taken so much, promised us everything and delivered nothing but further problems! banks, private sector, businesses and governements, no one is safe at the moment!
and should our comfy owners of large offices be any different?
after all, they have a verbal contract that they under obligation take your one hundred and odd pounds every week, and in return give you the chance to make a profit.
but at some offices, this is no longer happening, rising ‘bits’ or esculating driver numbers have damaged the average earnings. without either of these happening, most drivers would be able to ride out the recession, add these two and the future looks gloomy.
perhaps, it is time for some DRIVERS at large offices to form ‘unions’, a designated group of drivers, who will liase with the other drivers on the problems they face at the office there at. it could be anything from driver numbers and bits to bent deskclerks, afterall who else will look after your livelihood? do you any longer trust the offices to do this for you?
and after all, as individuals, you are nothing, but as one you have ifluence! what owner wouldnt sit down to talk when he finds out that 90% of his workforce are threatening a strike! no amount of beriwck plates could replace them overnight, and a weeks worth of drivers striking, could result in everlasting damage to the company, and the owners pocket!
just a thought …
The views expressed in this site do not necessarily reflect the views of TooManyTaxis or the general U.K. Hackney Carriage Trade
What are you trying to say?
The views expressed in this site do not necessarily reflect the views of TooManyTaxis or the general U.K. Hackney Carriage Trade
That post is for ifyournothappygetyourkitout.
The views expressed in this site do not necessarily reflect the views of TooManyTaxis or the general U.K. Hackney Carriage Trade
@Andy Warhol, tbh I dont think the big offices will recognise unions. Blue Line has aways said “every driver can talk for himself”
The views expressed in this site do not necessarily reflect the views of TooManyTaxis or the general U.K. Hackney Carriage Trade
Enlighten me mr peterson what am i trying to say about what?
The views expressed in this site do not necessarily reflect the views of TooManyTaxis or the general U.K. Hackney Carriage Trade
but thats the point, by keeping the drivers as individuals, they know that they have no real ‘weight’, get everyone singing from the same song sheet and things could be different…
… do you think licencing or councillor shipley would have had meetings with newcastle hack drivers have several drivers representing themself had requested so? i doubt it.
get a group who are one voice for the many,,, thats the only way to do it unfortunately!
one man protests never achieve much, en mass you stand a better chance of getting your goals
The views expressed in this site do not necessarily reflect the views of TooManyTaxis or the general U.K. Hackney Carriage Trade
then maybe someone will show the initiative to form a private hire drivers association.
unfortunately, without such a group, these large offices will continue to ‘employ’ more cars and drivers, and up there weekly rents. office by office, or all together, you can challenge the greed, but as individuals you would just be martyers.
how long will private hire drivers leave it i wonder? is it too late for many already?
The views expressed in this site do not necessarily reflect the views of TooManyTaxis or the general U.K. Hackney Carriage Trade
We should all start a rebellion take to the streets, come on brothers lets unite and stand up against these Meglamanics when are the Big firms ie BLT Eastcoast etc see that it is Cattle Trucked, its a beast that has gone way out of control and they dont know how to get it back.
We need help MR ALAN NEWTON never mind not having a bloody yellow sign on the side of your car sort these firms out just as Newastle City have or we are all going to fail big style.Its been that bad ive had to take a day off,on a Friday as well i have just been to stressed this week need to recharge the batteries for my 24 hour shifts coming up Sat,Sun,Mon,Tues,Wed,Thurs,Fri!!!!!!!!!!!!!
The views expressed in this site do not necessarily reflect the views of TooManyTaxis or the general U.K. Hackney Carriage Trade
SC COME ON IF YOU VOICE YOUR OPPINION TO THE CLOWNS AT BLUELINE YOU WILL BE ASKED TO LEAVE…. NO IF,S OR BUTS,,,,,
The views expressed in this site do not necessarily reflect the views of TooManyTaxis or the general U.K. Hackney Carriage Trade
@ Andy Warhol, I agree with you, but maybe Newcastle should have car details on their plates so the Police can make an easy check that the cars status.
The views expressed in this site do not necessarily reflect the views of TooManyTaxis or the general U.K. Hackney Carriage Trade
Myself and mb 27 are in the process of forming a newcastle private hire drivers association , we’ve set up a social networking site at http://www.nphda1.ning.com and are currently awaiting a response from Newcastle city council to acknowledge and recognise us. we started about a month ago and our logo NPHDA is on this site with a link . at present it is very much a work in progress but we are getting there bit by bit
The views expressed in this site do not necessarily reflect the views of TooManyTaxis or the general U.K. Hackney Carriage Trade
Hahaha!
April 1st was a couple of weeks ago. Lol.
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,
Look who are you ya mug ???
Gettin a bit sick of your sniping in taking the p*ss everytime am on here.
Least we have shown the initiative and bollocks to do something.
So come on then , you gave my annonimity away so tell me who the fu*k you are ?…………………………………………………..
The views expressed in this site do not necessarily reflect the views of TooManyTaxis or the general U.K. Hackney Carriage Trade
We have already started to form a private hire drivers association Andy mate.
I have had a few chats with Newcastle councilors who all agree it is an excellent idea. We have wrote a constituition, Developed a social networking site (see link) and are now just waiting for a response from stephen savage as we have requesed a meeting.
We havn’t adverised to the massis yet because we want conformation that the council will recognise our group before we crack on.
we have already got backing from members of the licensing committee is just the licensing department that are holding us up.
We would however be grateful Andy if you would registar on or site and let us know what you think of our constituation and and welcome pack (they are in the groups section) and the other bits and bobs we have collected.
Cheers mate MB 27
The views expressed in this site do not necessarily reflect the views of TooManyTaxis or the general U.K. Hackney Carriage Trade
Anybody else noticed the Bandit plated silver Toyota Avensis that always sits blatently flimping outside the Percy arms on percy street every weekend?
He sits with his topsign lit and is just taking the p!$$.
Will try and get some pics of it to post on here.
The views expressed in this site do not necessarily reflect the views of TooManyTaxis or the general U.K. Hackney Carriage Trade
@Annoyed Newcastle hack,
not my neck of the woods mate, but i did try and take a few photos of cars parking on ranks the other week, but the picture quality was poor, i’ll be getting a loan of another camera next week, a bit better, so i will try and sort out what we see every weekend, and what i promised admin so long ago,,,
,,, the original plan was to buy one, but moneys so tight i’m eating ceral with a fork to save milk.
The views expressed in this site do not necessarily reflect the views of TooManyTaxis or the general U.K. Hackney Carriage Trade
@Andy Warhol, >, Annoyed Newcastle hack we should all carry cameras & get these repeated flimpers photos on this site.At least it points the enforcement in the right direction to what vehicles to look for.For example the fiat skudo that was posted on here a few weeks ago sitting at munchies.The same N/T hack was driving around in circles around past tut tut then back again.The poor lad must be lost.Lets just see how many times he’s spotted tonight. Its plate 125 Lets see who spots him the most & may be Admin might give a prize
The views expressed in this site do not necessarily reflect the views of TooManyTaxis or the general U.K. Hackney Carriage Trade
sc,
the police already have a system set up whereby they can see if a driver is insured, has a driving licence and has a vosa test on his vehicle.
a camera on the front of the police car will not confirm who the driver is, or whether he has a badge. not untill 3045 ad, when facial reconition cameras are invented that can pan 360 degrees! only a stop and check can do that untill then.
but i do here what your saying sc, but i dont think the police have to worry about someone not renewing there plate in newcastle!
The views expressed in this site do not necessarily reflect the views of TooManyTaxis or the general U.K. Hackney Carriage Trade
mb and am,
good luck lads, it makes common sense, without such an organistaion who will tackle the expanding offices when there is less work, ever growing bits, and also simpler things like letting the drivers have a voice in contracts, fares, to even dealing with bent deskclerks.
as a newcastle hack, this effects us aswell, as the more the offices are flooded, the more likely drivers come seeking for work in the city centre. and its great to see ph take control and tell there ‘cough’ employers that enough is enough!
when i get the chance i’ll take a look on your site.
good luck
The views expressed in this site do not necessarily reflect the views of TooManyTaxis or the general U.K. Hackney Carriage Trade
norman fisher,
i dont think that would just be blt, all of the ‘big’ offices would try and stop people from rocking the boat.
thats why one person is no good going alone, but, if you get the entire office to see that it’s only a good thing for the drivers, then most will be on board.
now say the office sacks the spokesperson, what would the office do when told that they would have no drivers monday morning? or tuesday? what about those contracts? bookings? a strike for one week could finish an office, that work would go elsewhere, and so could you as self employed drivers, now wouldnt it be in the best interests of any office to sit down and here the concerns?
The views expressed in this site do not necessarily reflect the views of TooManyTaxis or the general U.K. Hackney Carriage Trade
Just done a 12 hour shift 11am to 11pm for 52 quid ON A SATURDAY!!!!
The views expressed in this site do not necessarily reflect the views of TooManyTaxis or the general U.K. Hackney Carriage Trade
WELL SAID WEASEL OF THE ROAD RULES FOR ONE AND RULES FOR ANOTHER ,,,,,,,,,,,
MR SHANKS THINKS THE SUN SHINES OUT OF THE NEW BERWICK COMPANY DRIVERS REAR A***S…………NO SHIRTS,, NO TOP SIGNS,, SOMKING IN CARS,,, CARS FILTHY IN SIDE AND OUT,,, AND THEIR BODY ODER STINKS,, COME ON MR SHANKS GET YOUR OWN HOUSE IN ORDER
The views expressed in this site do not necessarily reflect the views of TooManyTaxis or the general U.K. Hackney Carriage Trade
Lets just D regulise the whole of the taxi industry no hacks no ph no greedy money grabbing meglamaniac operators the whole industry run by central government one plate per person etc.
The views expressed in this site do not necessarily reflect the views of TooManyTaxis or the general U.K. Hackney Carriage Trade
@Roadrunner beep beep,
by deregulising the whole of the taxi trade, you would infact be playing into the operators hands.
how long could you survive making a living off the ranks in newcastle if there were nearly 2000 hacks, or more if you want to go as far as one national plate. believe me it’s bloody hard enough with nearly 800!
so, that would leave the vast majority of the trade with no other option to have an office datahead, aswell as the option to pull on a rank in any specific area. but how long would it be before the offices relised that without them in this situation we would be unable to maintain any reasonable level of living? and when they relised they had the monopoly? expect bits to rise faster than hits to a paris hilton porn site!
The views expressed in this site do not necessarily reflect the views of TooManyTaxis or the general U.K. Hackney Carriage Trade
@Andy Warhol,
and dont believe the auld the more cars we get the cheaper bits would be, i’ve heard them promises before, and they dont last long, as soon as the offices have a steady clientel, the drivers get s*** on and the bits soon rise…
… an office where the owners dont get greedy, drivers capped depending on the quantity of work and bits are calculated by the office running costs with a little added on for the owner …
… carling dont do taxi offices, but if they did …
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@Roadrunner beep beep, Don’t you see that’s what operators want,De-Regulate and everyone has to be in an office.Put a search in Google for Dublin Taxis and educate yourself!
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@Admin,
i know of one lad who went to derwentside for his plate, in the hope that newcastle would have to give him a newcastle hacks plate in order for him to go back, bannana boat springs to mind.
but he told me, and a few others confirmed it, (maybe others on here can to?) that a while ago newburn had there own plate system, and newcastle took it over, and all those that had newburn plates were giving newcastle hack plates.
i dont know if, when, or how it exactly happened, just what others have told me, however, sometimes when others tell me its raining, i stick my head out the window to check.
but if this is right, then its entirely possible that some hoped they would be ‘awarded’ plates in the area they were working, or more likely, offices hoped berwick would win, continue to issue licences from afar, and local licencing would be forced into deregulation, scrapping locality tests, and passing whatever cars operators see fit.
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A big thank you to Mr Skanks, 160+cars on dayshift,happy days,can things get any better.
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@Fruit Pie(Cherry),
only going to get a lot worse as he takes more drivers on to line his pockets even more. And if it true that has is now giving £500 & 1 month free rent for your Berwick plate. As most drivers will just take the money & run. When really you should be taking one step back & asking why he wants your plate and then what the consequences would be for the future if he gets your plate.I have heard that Northumberland Council are going to put it to the drivers them selves to which way they would like it to go. Meaning one plate for the hole of Northumberland or just kept the way it is. They work there own area. Maybe that’s why he wants your plate as this might mean one vote for every plate. If this is true then let’s just hope Northumberland Council see what has up to and make it one vote per person. But then again there’s ways around that. But this could be all rumours & no truth in it at all.
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well thats it. mr shanks thinks he can let alomost all of his berwick plated cars run around with no top sign on the car ,he dosnt give a flying fcuk about anyone but himsef or filling his pockets (hence his absence from this site )and he is fooling the public to belive his company are investors in public safety when all along most of there berwick plated drivers have no idea where they are going or how to be polite to the general public . why is there nobody to stop this i have personally taken over 50 photos into the local police station showing how this man and his company are beaking the law , i await a reply from the police .
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Topsigns on berwick/derwentside cars is a double edged sword for me, as a newcastle hack, but consider this…
£80.00 for a topsign,
supposedly renewing your NT/Ncle badge as we are led to believe that most are ex local drivers
and now insurance companys are acting properly and basing the insurance on which area the vehicle will be used in
does this really make any financial difference in having a berwick plate?
and my hounest opinion, IF these rumours are right regarding mr. shanks, and purchasing berwick plates, then he is being very clever indeed …
… firstly, it solves the problem of getting these drivers to pass NT locality tests, and plate there cars, it sounds like they are being rewarded somewhat to coushin any blow of failing, they will surely go straight back in for it …
… now with x amount of berwick plated drivers now on NT cars, and x amount of berwick plates in ians hands, he hasnt ‘lost’ any drivers … now if he can get people on those berwick cars …
… so, berwick still issue badges, and why not, ian can use those cars as ‘learning’ cars for whoever cannot get a nt badge for whatever reason, and after a while make the transition onto NT cars …
… it makes common sense, in theroy, expanding his office by x amount of drivers overnight!
i would be worried if i were a blueline driver, if this is right of course.
and if it were right, i would be very tempted to keep my berwick plate, to see what any outcome will be, and prevent an overnight growth, as a supposed £500 reward and a months free bit sounds great, but will it compensate for 80 extra office cars all year round?
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Mr warhol your right in what you are saying Ive been at derwentside for 3 years now I paid 80 quid for a top sign I also pay for 2 badges wich come to 110 quid and my plate is 201 quid so at the end of the day im out of pocket.But if i were to leave blueline and go to ace or lansdowne i could jump ship without taking another locality test.
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@derwentside hack,
and you think thats right?
that a driver can leave an office in newcastle then pop up at another 100 miles away, where the local authority has no control as to whether he drives, or the licenced vehicle he drives?
and if you do, who is this right for, the driver or joe public?
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If the berwick plate belongs to bluline (as seems to be the case)it shoulnt be up to the driver to pay for a top sign.makes you wonder if bluline or holding back on these top signs for a reason.
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I didnt realise consett was 100 miles away from newcastle.
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@derwentside hack,
you know what i meant, that in your theory you could go and work at any office with your derwentside plate across the uk, now do you hand on heart, think that is the right way to go?
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It is if you go the long way. Lol.
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@derwentside hack, There are Berwick plated cars as far afield as North Wales.
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I was refering to your post about stacking shelves in a supermarket?????
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THEY THINK THAT WE CAN”T RECONISE THEM
MR SHANKS IS BENDING THE RULES TO SUIT
HIM SELF AGAIN. NORTH TYNSIDE COUNCIL
LET HIM DO WHAT HE WANTS AND HE IS MOVING TO GATESHEAD FILLING IT WITH CARS
RANKING BEHIND THE BACK OFF THE HILTON HOTEL (BERWICK PLATES).LETS SEE WHAT GATESHEAD COUNCIL DOES………
ALSO HAS ANYBODY SEEN THAT VAUXHALL BLACK ZAFIRA DRIVING AROUND NEWCASTLE ALWAYS OUT SIDE OFF SUBWAY ON ST NICOLAS STREET BLUE LINE(BERWICK) NO STICKERS PLATE IN BACK WINDOW AND HAS A BIG CB ARIEAL ON REAR ???? IS THIS A REAL TAXI OR A BANDIT PLEASE WHATCH OUT FOR HIM
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@Norman Fisher,
yes i too have seen that car, blacked out windows, no plate on the rear, and i belive a telephone number stuck in the rear windows, if its the same one i passed it at the weekend, as i was heading out the city, he was parked outside flairs
i’m not entirely convinced that that is a taxi neither,,,
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RANKING BEHIND THE BACK OFF THE HILTON HOTEL ?
where are the hiding so i can keep alook out ? and i will make damn sure everyone other ghd driver knows where thet hide .
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