John Griffen

John Griffen gives Conservative party hefty donation

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The Electoral Commission is an independent body set up by the UK Parliament; they regulate party and election finance and set standards for elections. Registered political parties are required to report quarterly donation and loan returns within 30 days of the end of each calendar quarter. The latest figures show that John Griffin, founder of Addison Lee is the largest donor for the Conservative Party in the last quarter, donating £500,000.

John Griffen

Taxicabnews

 

£40 cleaning bill after mum gives birth in cab

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A Redcar mum gives birth in cab then receives bill to clean the vehicle. Two days after the incident the cab driver turned up at their family home and presented them with the cleaning bill of £40.

The woman went into labour in the early hours so her partner called a cab to take her to hospital.
The 22 year old mum said: “My partner told them it was maternity and when the driver came he had plastic sheeting on the front seat and said it was fine to sit there.

“By the time we got to hospital the baby was coming and five midwives dashed out and I had to deliver him in the cab.” But two days later the cab driver turned up at the couple’s home and presented them with a £40 cleaning bill.

The mum-of-three said: “I was mortified. He knew I was going to maternity and had put sheets on the front seat. “We’re on benefits and £40 is a lot of money.”
The driver who is responsible for cleaning his own cab as part of his contract with the taxi firm said: “Someone’s got to pay for it. I don’t think I’m being nasty.”
Owners of the firm said the driver had the right to pass on his bill to the family in accordance with a council bylaw.

Football players forced to take Minicab to QPR

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Brighton and Hove Albion players were forced to take a minicab to Loftus Road for their game with QPR after their coach broke down en route to West London. Goalkeeper Tomasz Kuszczak took to Facebook to share a picture of himself and teammates squeezed into a private hire vehicle as they travelled Queens Park Rangers. “On the way to the game, our coach broke down and we had to take a taxi to the stadium!” Kuszczak wrote.
“That doesn’t happen every day, but it didn’t affect our solid draw!”
TaxiCabNews

Milton Keynes Taxis fail test

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A staggering 17 out of 19 taxis in Milton Keynes failed an MOT after an operation by Thames Valley Police. As part of Operation Troll, police, along with taxi licensing officers and fraud benefit officers, targeted all taxis in the city which had damage or defects with their vehicle, and escorted those to the council depot where they were tested by trained mechanics. A total of 19 taxis were taken for tests, but only one passed without advisories, with 17 of them failing and needing retesting.

The London look for Toyota’s cab of the future

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It’s tall, black as Newgate’s Knocker and can probably turn on half a yen in the middle of a rush-hour snarl-up in Nagoya. What are we talking about you may ask. It’s Toyota’s vision for a new generation of Japanese taxis. In terms of basic appearance the taxi looks like something that might be flagged down in Shoreditch rather than Shinjuku. The new JPN Taxi Concept was the first off the rank at the Tokyo motor show on 20th November, where it made its debut appearance. Although there’s no “for hire” sign yet shining on the blue display panel above the windscreen, it’s been conceived by Toyota in line with the Japanese government’s programme for designing buses and taxis that are more user-friendly.

The vehicle’s proportions and packaging have been tailored to give it the manoeuvrability that’s essential in urban traffic, and to make access easy for passengers, especially children and older people, with a high cabin, low floor and electric sliding door. It also comes with a new powertrain, an LPG hybrid system that offers better environmental performance around town. The cab seats five and is equipped with a large interior monitor showing passenger information including the route to the destination and the fare.

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Nissan suspends its London taxi programme

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On 21st November came the surprise announcement from Nissan that it has suspended its London Taxi Project pending the outcome of London’s Ultra-Low Emission Zone consultation. It was being eagerly awaited by many in the taxi trade, following a launch event earlier this year, when Nissan said that this meant the taxi would have “exceptionally low CO2 emissions that start from 139g/km (89hp engine) – a figure that comfortably undercuts existing London Taxi offerings. Versions fitted with the 89hp engine feature a five-speed manual transmission, while 110hp variants benefit from a six-speed unit.

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Both powerplants are fully compliant with the latest EuroV emissions regulations.

Earlier this year, when Nissan announced the new taxi at the O2 Arena, it said that by 2015 the taxi would also be available with a clean, zero-emission electric motor. Nissan said its key goal was to have its electric version on sale “before any other manufacturer”. The NV200 Taxi was successfully launched in New York City recently and will be soon introduced in Tokyo and other cities in Asia. Last month the electric e-NV200 Taxi started commercial operations in Barcelona and it is expected that it will be soon introduced in other European cities.
James Wright, Managing Director, Nissan Motor GB said: “Nissan is a strong supporter of air quality and CO2 reduction measures and is encouraged to see the recent consultation launched by the Mayor’s office. However, if this were to be implemented then our planned petrol taxi, designed to meet the challenging
London taxi standards, would not meet the requirements from this date and it would be obsolete just a few years following its introduction. As such, we have decided to suspend our current taxi project until the regulation of the market has been decided.” He added: “Nissan will continue to work with Transport for London and the Mayor’s office to use our expertise and support the Capital’s transportation future.”

Knowledge student dies in freak accident

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Abdullah Haji Weli Bakar died in a freak crash when his car broke loose from an AA tow van. A licensed private hire operator who was studying the KoL had called the AA to his vehicle.

The AA was unable to fix the problem with the clutch at the roadside and so had attached the Vauxhall Zafira to a fixed rigid tow bar. Mr Bakar was steering the car when it veered into a verge, where it detached from the recovery van and collided with an oncoming car. The accident took place in Combe Lane, Croydon, on 1st October 2013.
TaxiCabNews

Taxi drivers join forces with Crimestoppers

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Independent charity Crimestoppers has join forces with Radio Taxis Group to create a new project called London Taxi Watch.

The new initiative is hoped to involve all the Group’s taxi drivers in utilizing Crimestoppers as a means of giving information on any suspicious behavior or intelligence in respect of security or criminal activity, by being the eyes and ears of the police and reporting crimes they see on London’s streets. It is hoped that the nature of their job will enable taxi drivers to alert the authorities to suspicious behavior and pass on information to Crimestoppers anonymously.

Metropolitan Police Commissioner Sir Bernard Hogan-Howe said: “London’s cabbies are the best in the world. With police officers they are there all hours, all weathers and all places. They can be our eyes and ears and help victims of crime.” Crimestoppers’ London campaigns manager, Regan Hook, said the drivers could become “everyday heroes” by reporting crime. “Cab drivers can invaluably help fight crime by contacting the charity anonymously and play a part in making London safer,” he added.

Crimestoppers
TaxiCabNews

Nissan suspends its London Taxi programme

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On 21st November came the surprise announcement from Nissan that it has suspended its London Taxi Project pending the outcome of London’s Ultra-Low Emission Zone consultation. It was being eagerly awaited by many in the taxi trade, following a launch event earlier this year, when Nissan said that this meant the taxi would have “exceptionally low CO2 emissions that start from 139g/km (89hp engine) – a figure that comfortably undercuts existing London Taxi offerings. Versions fitted with the 89hp engine feature a five-speed manual transmission, while 110hp variants benefit from a six-speed unit. Both powerplants are fully compliant with the latest EuroV emissions regulations.

Earlier this year, when Nissan announced the new taxi at the O2 Arena, it said that by 2015 the taxi would also be available with a clean, zero-emission electric motor. Nissan said its key goal was to have its electric version on sale “before any other manufacturer”. The NV200 Taxi was successfully launched in New York City recently and will be soon introduced in Tokyo and other cities in Asia. Last month the electric e-NV200 Taxi started commercial operations in Barcelona and it is expected that it will be soon introduced in other European cities.

James Wright, Managing Director, Nissan Motor GB said: “Nissan is a strong supporter of air quality and CO2 reduction measures and is encouraged to see the recent consultation launched by the Mayor’s office. However, if this were to be implemented then our planned petrol taxi, designed to meet the challenging

London taxi standards, would not meet the requirements from this date and it would be obsolete just a few years following its introduction. As such, we have decided to suspend our current taxi project until the regulation of the market has been decided.” He added: “Nissan will continue to work with Transport for London and the Mayor’s office to use our expertise and support the Capital’s transportation future.”

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WCHCD Liverymen’s Dinner

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On 21st November, the annual Worshipful Company of Hackney Carriage Drivers Liverymen’s dinner was held at the Cutlers’ Hall in Warwick Lane. The Worshipful Company of Hackney Drivers were delighted to have Lady Victoria Borwick, Deputy Mayor of London as their guest speaker for this occasion. Before the dinner, the Master, Graham Woodhouse, clothed seven Freemen of the Company in the Livery. These are Gavin Davis OBE, William Ives, Carlos Oliveira, Silvi Oliveira, Chas Reilly, Dean Thomas and Gary Wilcox.

Then the Master was delighted to welcome five new Freemen to the Company, namely Vasil Bagashki, John Coughlan, Lee Hilligenn, Martin Lyons-Applebee and Marios Stavrou. Having completed these ceremonies, it was the turn of 14 students who have recently completed the Company’s Cab Guide Course to receive their certificates. Following a drinks reception, the dinner was held in the magnificent surroundings of the Cutlers’ Hall, where the Master Cutler was also one of the guests. Following the WCHCD Master’s speech, he introduced the guest speaker, Victoria Borwick. With a wealth of knowledge about the cab trade as both her father and her husband, Jamie Borwick have been involved in the business, Victoria gave an informative speech and in particular recognised the good work that the annual Magical Taxi Tour carries out and the joy it brings to the children who go on the trip.

LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD

This is the first time that the WCHCD had awarded it newly created Lifetime of Achievement Award. This award is presented to someone who has worked in the cab industry for many years and made a difference to the trade. The inaugral Award was presented to Bob Oddy, a licensed taxi driver since 1966, who has worked at the LTDA for many years, joining in the early 1970s. Bob took over as General Secretary at the LTDA from Harry Feigen, who was Master of the WCHCD for two years from 1990. He has been actively involved in many issues affecting the taxi industry; he was instrumental in the creation of the Taxi Cost Index, the formula used to decide fare increases and has worked in the interests of the LTDA members throughout his time at the LTDA. Bob said: “I was delighted, and extremely surprised to receive the award. I’m sure that there are many others within our trade who are equally deserving. The Company of Hackney Carriage Drivers does wonderful work for charity, in particular its organisation of the annual Magical Taxi Tour to Disneyland Paris. I’m confident that the enthusiasm of the Company’s members will drive its charity achievements to even greater heights.”

 

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