Hey Joe....By Thomas the Taxi

Below is part of an email sent to leading licensing and compliance officers at the PCO/TfL on the 2nd of January. A copy of this email was also sent to Martin Low and Westminster Parking Services.

The emailed complained about the continued flaunting of Hackney Carriage Laws and parking contraventions outside the late night Bar venue, O

n Anon.

As of now, we have received no reply whatsoever, not even just to acknowledge receipt of the email.

Every night, as most night drivers will have seen, a line of PHV's would form an unlawful, unauthorised taxi rank outside this venue. Many complaints have been made to the PCO and Westminster Parking Services.

Up to last night, no attendance from compliance or TOCU squad officers

has been witnessed at this venue and it has taken a bus lane to stop this illegal practise. Although even with the new bus lane, last night touts were still parking outside OnAnon until a bus would come along and they had to move.

What bloody use is the TOCU squad, when PHV's can just flaunt the law in this fashion. In the wake of a car bomb left outside Tiger Tiger in the middle of a line of PHV's, this situation should never have been allowed to carry on in this manner.

Hit Squads from TOCU can be seen on Thursdays and Fridays harassing, hard working Licensed taxi drivers on Bayswater road, Chelsea bridge road, The Strand and Charring Cross road. Sometimes within yards of lines of illegally parked PHV's still touting away in the full knowledge they have little or no chance of being disturbed, let alone arrested.

Joe Royal you are a disgrace to your position and should think about resigning.

John Mason this is not Good enough.

...................................

"The Car Company currently operating at OnAnon, are not complying with the regulations set down by TfL/PCO and staff openly tout for business in the street outside. Combined with the unauthorised ranking of touting PHV's, we believe that this is grounds to revoke their license to supply Mini cabs at this venue.

Below is a list of most frequent offending vehicles from our data base. These vehicles openly ply for hire and tout for business outside both venues.

Toyota Picnic Gls; S 480 JGM,

Vauxhall Zafira club Dti; KF 04 TYC,

Toyota avensis Tr D; WR 57 YGK,

VW Sharan S Tdi Y 339 NLT,

Honda Shuttle 2.3i Ls R 977 AVX,

Mercedes C200 Classic auto, V 292 ERC,

Totota Picnic, R 576 KWV,

Peugeot 406 Glx Dt R 737 HGS,

Toyota Privia Gi N 320 ADP,

VW Sharan S Tdi LM 07 FHJ,

Volvo X 63 CLO,

Nissen Primera Activ, Y 277 UUS,

Bmw 520i Se Auto, M 6 SRY,

Ford Galaxy 16v Auto, LT 59 WLU,

Toyota Avensis T3-s, AD 03 UBA

Ford Galaxy Zetec Td Auto, Y 867 ACS

The drivers of R 576 KWV (white Toyota) and WR 57 YGK (silver Toyota) are very violent and have on occasion assaulted Licensed taxi drivers.

It has become a worrying trend that Westminster Parking Services rarely attend the scene after receiving complaints by phone, probably because of the frequency of complaints.

Local police station phone numbers are no longer available to our drivers as they are to the club staff. Phoning 999 after an assault has proved almost impossible to get assistance to the scene.

It is our understanding that over the past year, many drivers have been sending pictures and video clips of offending PHV's to the complaints department at the PCO and as yet, no one has received a response to their complaint.

Something has to be done at these venues now as the clock is ticking and it is only a matter of time before we see violence breaking out nightly this touting hot spot. You have the power to stop this happening before it starts.

The buck is now in your hands."

Click on image to enlarge.