Movida rank finally up and running... By Thomas the Taxi

Cant help thinking I've seen this Photo before on huge billboards all over England. Oh yeah, Labour isn't working, the famous Saatchi and Saatchi Poster.

The Likely Lads are taken on a tour, to see three of the new taxi ranks.

photo by TtT

In a bid to quell the escalating calls for direct action, currently reaching boiling point, amongst the disgruntled, hard-working Licensed Taxi drivers of London,and after many years of inaction from our supposed trade leaders, we find we have a new night rank. The powers that be have thrown us a crumb to keep us quiet.

Although Nobu has been a huge success , ranks have been implemented of late that are badly placed (Babble, Mahiki, Abacus) with the cabs facing away from the exit,plus we have the Jalouse rank finishing an hour before the club closes. This is surprising, as Westminster City Council commissioned a survey that told them Taxis should be placed right outside the exit of venues,as customers will normally use the first available transport they see when leaving, including unlicensed touts. It is imperative that they should be able to see for hire signs to realise there is a rank with vacant Taxis waiting to take them home in safety.

The trade has been crying out for a rank on this site for many years, finally it has been marked out. When oh when is Tiger Tiger going to be marked out properly?

I decided to have a look at the new rank and to my surprise; John Mason, Martin Low, Joe Royle, Peter Rose, Grant Davis and Bob Oddy were standing by the point of the rank after a visit to Nobu where the doorman had told John Mason where to go.

Peter Rose was the first to break rank and came forward to greet me, shaking my hand. As I had a few questions, I said hello to Bob Oddy who turned to his colleagues and asked who I was. When he was told, he quickly retreated into the shadow of the night muttering and gesturing. Strange behaviour from my representative on the board of TfL. So I decided to say hello to Martin Low, who in the past has refused to see me in an official capacity. I thanked him for replying to my last email albeit the same reply he sent to every other driver, but I think he thought I was being sarcastic, judging by his expression.

The disappointing fact of this meeting was that although there seemed to be at least three warrant card holders alongside Chief Superintendent Royle, no one took a blind bit of notice of the illegally ranked touts surrounding our ranks. One tout got a ticking off for driving the wrong way down Little Argyll Street. Apparently he then assaulted the officer and was chased to Poland Street where he was arrested. One Hit and you're out?

Tout ticked off by plain clothed policemen

Photo by Steve

The delegation then moved on to Tiger Tiger.

Well better late than never I say and I have heard tonight that we will soon be getting another new rank for 3 cabs outside Cipriani's and one in Shaftsbury Avenue just west of Wardour Street.

The Anderson Shelter put forward an idea over two years ago, that the only way to combat the illegal lines of PHV's nicking our work, is to have official ranks outside the exit of every club, bar and restaurant in the West End.

It seems at long last someone is finally listening to sensible suggestions.

As Kevin Costner found out in the hit film Field of Dreams, "Build it and they will come".

Put the ranks there and we will use them.

Now watch the aggressive

way the Nobu doorman speaks to John Mason and Martin Low

Taken from the LCDC Web blog.

Shame to hear the LTDA people carrier got a parking ticket while Bob and co stood outside Nobu's, still his mate Martin was heard to say he would take care of that for him. Mind you, as it was illegally parked on double yellow lines, can you legally do that Martin?

The Anderson Shelter...Always first with the news that counts TtT.