We Are Taking Our Rank Back.....By Thomas the Taxi

The Licensed Taxi rank in Charing Cross Road has been under attack by Touts for some time now and many drivers have complained to the authorities. 
All agencies have done virtually nothing to protect our right to use our ranks.


Finally, the rank markings have been laid out clearly, which would indicate the Traffic Management Order (TMO) is now in place and enforceable.
Perhaps the CCTV camera that has been used to issue so many PCN's to licensed Taxis by Bear Street could now be focused on the Rank.


From tomorrow night (Monday 8th Aug) we will be attempting to take this rank back from the touts. Drivers are asked to service this rank from 10pm-4am. So please, if you're close or just passing and there is a space, put on. Even if just for a few minutes to show support. It will really aggrieve the touts who have become accustomed to using these eight spaces as their own personal rank.


Messages will be put out by the Twitter action Group (@TaG_Squad on Twitter) and we hope updates will also go out via radio circuits.
Updates will also be put out on Twitter by @AS_TAXIBLOG so please follow.
  
This is a great opportunity for all trade groups to attend and hand out leaflets and recruit drivers, including work related groups such as Hailo, TLC and Get Taxi. 
All trade leaders should put in an appearance this week and support the drivers who are doing work that you, as our trade representatives, should be organising.  


Charing Cross Road Taxi Rank 

is one of the worst abused by private hire touts. Every night the eight spaces are occupied by illegally parked licensed private hire vehicles. The Taxi notice board from the PCO has been vandalised and spray painted black. 
Some drivers have taken it upon themselves to try to clean the plaque but without success. It now needs to be replaced by the carriage office.


Some months ago, a militant group of drivers organised themselves through twitter and formed a parallel rank by parking next to the illegally parked vehicles. This went on for a few days but the Police made it clear that the protesting Taxis were causing obstruction and would be charged if this protest persisted. 


Private hire cars have been allowed to park in the loading bays, bus stand and Taxi rank on both sides of the road between Cranbourn Street and Irving Street, with no action whatsoever from the authorities, even though there is a maximum fine of £2,400 for illegally plying for hire from a Taxi rank. The police recently told protesters they can't enforce this even though touting is a criminal offence. 
Anyone found to be touting can be arrested finger printed and DNA tested. 
So the truth is they just can't be bothered. 


Its time this situation was sorted out by LT&PH enforcement and the Local authority. Complaints have also been sent to the Joint Ranks Committee, but as of yet, no reply has been received. Not a single word has appeared in the trade media.



BORIS: Cleaner Air?  Then Give us more ranks:
With the Mayor's cleaner air policy and the constant going on about Taxi exhaust emissions, you would think TfL/LTPH would be bending over backwards to facilitate Taxi drivers needs to use their ranks. But this doesn't appear to be the situation as ranks are disappearing at a speed of knots. Taxis are being made to circumnavigate as the ranks that are still available, fill with PHV's, touting outside clubs and bars.





Private hire has been given a free hand to park wherever they like every evening, which causes mass congestion and adds to air pollution. A blind eye has been turned by enforcement and the safety of young females has been compromised in order to clear the streets of potential trouble makers.