With UTG Victories like this who needs Defeats!...By Travis B

Dear All,

Published in the Badge.

Remember the greatly announced UTG victory about getting Mr Mason to suspend any more satellite offices being issued until the result of the 'yet to be announced' consultation.

I quote Mr Mason's response in red, to an email after complaints that satellite office licences are still being issued;

Thank you for your email and I apologise for the delay in my response.

The two main exceptional circumstances we refer to are;

(1) a recommendation from the police supporting the application due to transportation issues for the customers late at night

Where would this be, you can hail a cab anywhere in the Met? They could even call a PHV or Radio Taxi?

and

(2) where the premise has a licensing condition from the local authority in that it must make provision for its customers to have access to transportation late at night.

As Above where would this be? Give us some examples?

We would, on a 'ad hoc' basis review an application that may have a unique situation supporting it.

I hope this answers your question, please do not hesitate to contact me if you require further information.

Regards

John Mason

Taxi and Private Hire Director.

So lets looks at what this means in practice:

• 
  
  
  When someone applies or renews their entertainment or licensed premises it often enters into a negotiation with the Council and Police about what conditions are required prior to the licence being issued/renewed.
• 
  
  
  It is assumed that both the Police and Council would be receptive to any such condition being included:

1. 
   
   
   It allows the licensee to circumvent the Satellite Ban.
2. 
   
   
   It makes it looks as if the Police and the Council are concerned about the public.
3. 
   
   
   What premises WOULD NOT WANT this condition imposed.

So there we have it a ban not worth the paper it's written on, The UTG and the PCO claiming action and as ever the working cab driver being shafted by the continuation of the 'licence to tout' that the satellite office set up permits allowing vulnerable people to be ferried about in unsafe uninsured vehicles.

Please Mr Mason no more attending meetings of cab trade organisations telling us you are acting on an issue when you know your action will be totally ineffective or issuing notices that are in effect works of fiction.

Any news on the 'We have just appointed Night Enforcement Officers', Have they started?
Have you permission to recruit them even?

Please UTG no more taking the trade for mugs, I am a member of NONE of the UTG organisations, surely this is the last straw for those still loyal to them.

Safer Travel at Night!!!!!!

Editorial Comment, TtT:

One Question that must be asked is;

Did the UTG know that the LTPH were still going to keep issuing satellite office licenses?

If so then why the big headlines saying ALL satellite offices suspended.

If Not WHY NOT.