FACT: Westminster City Council has a network of CCTV that is second to none.
Their Wardens are super efficient and ruthless, sticking tickets on Private motorists like confetti. I defy you to take a private car into the Westminster area and park illegally; you will be ticketed one way or the other.
There is no doubt in my mind that WCC are covertly supporting the failed STAN agenda, logically there can be no other reason.
Mr Mason is going to speak to the Grosvenor House Hotel Management, Why???
What authority do the Hotel Management have for the public highway outside their premises?
Does Mr Mason think the hotels door staff are going to enforce the parking regulations, by what authority will they do this?
This is nothing more than a gesture.
Mr Mason should be contacting TfL Red Rout Network and TPH Enforcement, who between them are responsible for enforcing taxi rank and red rout parking laws in Park Lane.
Plus he should be contacting TPH Enforcement and Westminster Parking services about PHV parking contraventions causing major congestion in Mount Street, Park Street and Upper Grosvenor street.
This problem did not suddenly spring up over night, we have been complaining about touting and PHV's parking on our rank at the Grosvenor House Hotel for many years. There is no doubt in my mind that Mr Mason is covertly, either willingly or under orders, supporting the failed STAN agenda.
Editorial comment Breaking news:
I have just received this statement from John mason laying out exactly what is being done at the Grosvenor House after the recent successful email campaign. This statement has been made in reply to Nick de Bois, MP for Enfield.
Dear Mr De Bois
Thank you very much for your email regarding your constituent Mr XXXX and the enforcement of the taxi rank at the Grosvenor House Hotel in Park Lane.
This matter was recently raised with us by taxi driver associations and since then TfL has been actively looking at the problem and how it can be addressed. The email from Mr Burnett is part of a wider email campaign by a group of taxi drivers which has been sent to the Mayor, Peter Hendy, TfL officers and many Assembly Members and MPs.
Given that many of the problems that occur in the area coincide with events at the Hotel we have been in contact with them to arrange a meeting with them to discuss the situation and on going issues in the area in terms of transportation issues relating to taxis and private hire vehicles. This meeting has now been arrange for Friday 25th March. At a minimum we hope to be able to secure a forward plan of all events in order that we can focus enforcement activities in the area if required.
We have flagged this location as a high priority for both our in house Compliance Officers and the Metropolitan Police’s Cab Enforcement team and are due to undertake compliance operations in the vicinity later this week. Like any enforcement of parking restrictions whilst we are unable to provide a permanent presence at the location we hope to visit as often as possible and especially during times when events which could lead to increased demands for road space are taking place.
We have recently undertaken a review of current CCTV enforcement activity taking place at the location and are investigating how compliance with parking regulations, including the taxi rank can be improved through targeted enforcement using the CCTV cameras at the location to issue Penalty Charge Notices. We expect to increase enforcement through CCTV from the evening of Saturday 26th March.
We have flagged this location as a high priority for both our in house Compliance Officers and the Metropolitan Police’s Cab Enforcement team and are due to undertake compliance operations in the vicinity later this week. Like any enforcement of parking restrictions whilst we are unable to provide a permanent presence at the location we hope to visit as often as possible and especially during times when events which could lead to increased demands for road space are taking place.
We have recently undertaken a review of current CCTV enforcement activity taking place at the location and are investigating how compliance with parking regulations, including the taxi rank can be improved through targeted enforcement using the CCTV cameras at the location to issue Penalty Charge Notices. We expect to increase enforcement through CCTV from the evening of Saturday 26th March.
I would like to assure you and Mr Burnett that TfL does monitor the situation on taxi ranks on it’s roads very carefully and works very closely with Local Authorities with regards to the enforcement of ranks within their boroughs. Whilst I am sure you will understand that it is simply not possible to guarantee every taxi rank will be free of illegal parking during hours of restriction we will always take action where necessary and are in constant dialogue with taxi driver associations with regards to particular hot spots and areas of focus that require our attention. This dialogue includes attendance by Senior TfL Officers at the London Cab Ranks Committee, arranged by the three main taxi driver associations as well as holding a Taxi Touting Problem Solving meeting with the Metropolitan and City Police, Local Authorities and taxi driver associations.
Thank you again for writing.
John Mason
Director - Taxi & Private Hire
Well lets see what happens.
ReplyDeletePrevious 'form' from TfL does not give much hope.
You will notice that instead of giving the 'complainers' credit for bringing it to the GLA's attention, John Mason decides to give the UTG a gee up after years of doing nothing!
Remember The LCDC said there were no problems here!
No doubt all in order that they stay as his poodles!
My prediction we lose at least half the rank and we end up well back from the doors of the function rooms.
the meeting with the hotel is to discuss where the scabs can wait
ReplyDeleteIn this weeks "TAXI" comic they are singing thier praises about how they have got us a rest rank in Lincoln Inn Fields,They make no mention of the 4 space rest rank that has just been handed over to "BUSES" in St Martins Le Grande.
ReplyDeleteNo mention of Balham loosing 2 spaces and a 2 space rank outside sainsburys or Wimbledon loosin a hole line outside the station or center court going ,Cheam rd sutton gone ,scabs paking in marshalls rd sutton on rank ,,,the are going to get their cars smashed next week for this one LTDA ??? TAXI paper ?? where are you.
ReplyDeleteSo now we'll get done as well for waiting to feed onto the cleared rank. There's 40 plus cabs trying to get onto there, backing up beyond Culross St, now we'll get done as well.
ReplyDeleteCan't the RMT leave anything alone?
Well done.
Agree with Dozy's prediction and Butterboy comments, this rank will become smaller to allow for waiting of Scabs.
ReplyDeleteAnother own goal!
ReplyDeletePlease read the email from Mason and not just the comments.
In your rush to accuse the RMT of complicity in this action, you failed to notice that they were indeed not mentioned.
The email campaign was organised by a web blog run by Jason Byrne who is not a member of the RMT.
But that aside Mr Mason goes out of his way to state that the meeting held on Friday was arranged because
"This matter was recently raised with us by taxi driver associations and since then TfL has been actively looking at the problem"
Infact this is a lie as observers fom the LCDC (Alan Mac and Danny Sullivan) reported to him that there was nothing illegal occurring.
As Mason will not engage with the RMT then it should be taken that they are not part of the taxi driver associations who bought this matter to his attention!
Many individual taxi drivers sent emails to MP's Assembly members and top TfL officials, complaining about the situation at the Hotel. these drivers are from every trade organisation and because of a backlash from MP's Mason has had to do some thing.
Had this action been co-ordinated by the RMT I can assure you Mason would not have meet with the Hotel.
What is needed at this Hotel is a Much larger rank to accommodate many more Taxis at peek times fed from Feeder ranks in Upper Grosvenor Street (doesn't take a genius to work that one out John).
The Point of the Rank has to be sited outside the exit used by leaving guests so as they walk out they are greeted by the sight of illuminated "For Hire" signs. The current rank, like many arranged by Richard Masset and co, is sited in the wrong place.
Surely HENDY and MASON are classed as Public Servants.Which means they are answerable to the Public. US.surely we have enough proof that they are not doing thier jobs properly,or are not fit enough persons to hold such positions.With MASON the list is to long to mention.And HENDYS denial of thier own websites statistics,The question is who do we raise this with
ReplyDelete