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| Photo by Legalledoff |
The order was signed by Robin Gillis integration and interchange manager (old Ranks and Highways) for TPH, as you can see in the accompanying photograph.
Both Addison Lee and Lewis Day (you remember Lewis Day, they fraudulently stole money from the National Health service) were there in large numbers openly touting and picking up passengers.
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| Photo by Legalledoff |
There was even a clipboard man who was seen taking bookings in the street, just to make it look all legal to the guests leaving the awards.
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| photo by Taxee |
This is the final straw...
What is going on John Mason?
Why was the rank suspended?
It was first noticed by the drivers on Twitter that Scabs were operating a rolling rank system at the hotel and word soon spread. Licensed Taxi drivers were fuming that the rank had been suspended with no warning (we assume) and turned up in large numbers and were soon picking up passengers who wanted a proper Taxi.
The Lewis Day marshalls were going berserk, waving their arms and screaming at the Licensed Taxis to go away.
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| Photo by Tootles |
Why would they act this way?
Had they been told they could act like Licensed Taxis and pick up just like Licensed Taxis in the street?
It didn't take long before the ("my drivers don't break the law") Addison Lee vans started turning up in a touting free for all.
This was not a private function, with all jobs pre booked. The clipboard man was observed taking cash bookings on the pavement, with two maroon coated Lewis Day marshalls escorting leaving guests directly into cars.
Who needs a satellite office license when you can just phone up Robin Gillis and get the Licensed rank suspended?
I think every driver who cares about his job should complain, first to John Mason and also to his boss Peter Hendy.
Masons email address is johnmason@tfl.gov.uk
And Hendy can be contacted at peterhendy@Tfl.gov.uk
I think every driver who cares about his job should complain, first to John Mason and also to his boss Peter Hendy.
Masons email address is johnmason@tfl.gov.uk
And Hendy can be contacted at peterhendy@Tfl.gov.uk
The Anderson Shelter would like to thank everyone on Twitter who helped with this post and also a big thank you to all the drivers who put themselves out to take the work back.
It seems to me that TFL/TPH are doing everything they can to cause trouble within the licensed TAXI trade,First we must find out who asked for the rank to be suspended,I cant see it being the Hotel itself,Or come the that the award organisers,When Lewis Day was caught fiddling the NHS,they never lost the contract,???.even though it was proved it was not just an error,It was generally thought at the time,that a nice few quid was put about,as a company that robs an underfunded NHS service but still keeps the contract dont seem right,Maybe the time has come to actually go to these HOTELS owners with a direct challenge,Do they want "TAXIS"to service there hotels or not,simple as that,This hotel gets very high profile customers,and although they are very rich,does it mean they are willing to pay say £15,when they go to Selfridges i think not,whe a TAXI will do the same journey for £6,Just maybe we have been going about all this the wrong way,We have been taling our disgust out on the minicab companys and TFL/TPH,maybe its time to get the Hotel owners to ask the questions and explain to guests why we give these hotels no service,Plus surely having a CBJ on the street,is breaking the law so the guests are leaving themselves open to being charged with aiding and abbeting a crime,No far better the CBJ stand inside the door,so the first thing that greets you in your £1000 a night hotel is a guy with a clipboard asking if you want a minicab,
ReplyDeleteSurely the police were at this event,so why did they just stand by and let the CBJ,stand on the strret clearly breaking the law,A fair question?
ReplyDeleteI have pointed out Robin Gillis and his rank suspensions, giving example a rank outside Palladium, which was suspended for a month for a false reason.
ReplyDeleteNow he follows the agenda suspending rank at Dorchester Ballroom, giving work to minicabs.
This guy and and his puppeteer must be investigated.
I have already written to Richard Massett at LTDA so he is aware of both incidents and I hope he objects and investigates it on behalf of the taxi Trade.
I and many others will put a fight.
For those who think the job is for life, I recommend prayers.[image]
so if there was a man with a clipboard [on the pavement illegal street trading]do we now have 8 hour satellite office licenses,lets work out what all the main events are on the run up to xmas and if these tfl pricks try to suspend a taxi rank lets be a pain in the arse.demo demo demo.
ReplyDeletecolinthecabby
Richard Massett!
ReplyDeleteSimco, you are a very funny man, What do you think he will do, threaten to spill his Ovaltine!
He will do what the LTDA always does:
1. Try and blame someone else (usually the RMT).
2. Go to a meeting with TfL and say nothing.
Another months subs down the karzi!!!
We are being slowly put out of business,how we all put up with this is beyond belief.Colin is right we need a some more demos,unless we keep up the pressure we will end up driving minicabs ourselves.One demo is no good we need rolling demos,remember get them by the balls and hearts and minds will follow.
ReplyDeleteDozy Dickie (The Rank Outsider!) said... he will probably do all you said. Who do you think in this trade is always putting pressure and asking questions? Last night I had a lot of emails to and from different contacts in taxi Trade. What else can I do? We will demo and this is in the pipeline, now more than ever.
ReplyDeleteMeanwhile check John Mason's view to the happenings at Dorchester.
"Thanks for your email. Understandably I have had a lot of emails and calls about the Dorchester last night which I have already started to investigate.
I will got to the bottom of this and come back to you with more detailed response as soon as I can.
I can assure you if what appears to have transpired did occur with the ranks suspended and private hire bookings being taken on thee street then the action will be taken as this is, I agree, totally unacceptable.
Regards
John Mason"
Let's see what he says then block up the Dorchester for a few hours friday night anyway. Prestige hotels like these could not stand the publicity, and it's due to rain all week so if a few rich foreigners start asking why they have to walk from park lane in the rain on this occasion it might just ring a few bells.
ReplyDeleteCan you imagine what would happen if the vast majority of us rolled into the centre of London from all corners at around 5 to 5.30 at night without our lights on until 7.30, the theatres, restaurants would be mostly empty! can you imagine the cost to them, maybe then somebody will sit up and pay attention to how much it is costing us every day through lack of upholding the laws that they created, one law for them and probably a big back hander! maybe these people in power should have there accounts looked at! after all it happens in Parliament!
ReplyDeleteWill Mason revoke Lewis Day's Licence?
ReplyDeleteWill he investigate why the rank was suspended and who asked for it to be done?
Corruption?
Incompetence?
Favouritism?
Policy?
Mr Mason, this is your final chance to redeem your somewhat tarnished reputation!
Why even bother with the west end,Why spoil the publics night out,Its been proved BORIS,HENDY, and co dont give a monkeys,All i keep hearing coming from thier and the goverment,is how wonderful the Olympics will be,Well it wont if the stadiums are not finished,So lets let them have it at Stratford,This would get tons of media coverage,As well as the Goverments intrest,Cant see BORIS even waffling his way out of that one,After all we are only asking for the laws that are there to be upheld,
ReplyDeleteWhy do any of you mugs keep on giving the LTDA your money?
ReplyDeleteWake the f*ck up!
They NEVER do anything for cab drivers, only things to line their own pockets.
And now they are so desperate for money they are recruiting scabs on the K with free membership.
Oddys head should be on a spike outside Palestra!
Agree with Annonymous who said let em have the next demo in Stratford, its a great idea it will let them know what we can do during their "great" event.
ReplyDeleteThink that we need to have another 10 demos over the next 6 months.
ReplyDeleteWe need groups of 30 cabs to block all major bus garages . Park up and than get out and walk away . Bring tents start a cabbies camp stay out for a week . Chain the cabs together. Do this on a tube strike and tfl are fu*ked. There will be no surrender. If im not driving a cab im back on the scrap heap. i have nothing to lose even if it means bird.
ReplyDelete