Kingston Today, Central London Tomorrow, Part One...From the LTDF.

Back in 2006 the LTDA were involved with local police and the PCO in agreeing to private hire taking over the Kingston Station Licensed Taxi rank between the hours of  11:30pm am 5am. Licensed Taxi drivers have to leave this busy rank so minicabs can park and wait to be hired. A port-a-cabin kiosk was erected so booking could be taken to give them a cloak of respectability. But under The London Cab and Stage Carriage Act 1907 Section 2, also the London Hackney Carriage Act 1831 Section 35, plus existing case law, they are breaking the law by illegally plying for hire in plain sight of the public.

PCO's Ed Thompson, at the illegal setting up of Private Hire rank

Unbelievable as it sounds the LTDA and the PCO agreed to this taking place. 


Now after being given an inch, this private hire company have made a change of usage planing request to take over an estate agents office inside the station so they can get at passengers before they reach the rank on a 24 hour basis. They have applied for the usage to be changed and change of name from "Estate agents" to "Taxi Office". 

Illegal Ranks,Coming to a street near you soon

Apart from the fact that use of the word Taxi is illegal other than for use by Licensed Hackney Carriage, the LTDA have decided not to challenge this request on behalf of the suburban drivers of Kingston. This was proposed at Edgware Station rank but was defeated by multiple objections. 


Many people have asked the question, why/how have minicabs been allowed to use a license Taxi rank at night?
Well the simple answer is the LTDA agreed.


The meeting regarding the set up in Kingston of PH ranks, Port-a -Cabins and road closure (St James Road) to push forward with the STaN initiative in Kingston was not advertised to those who would have oppose it. The LTDA and T&G (at that time) were the only organisations to be invited and the deal was done and dusted before anyone else new about the meeting.

The same format was to be used regarding Sutton, but fortunately for the trade, someone found out about the meeting just before it happened and attended, they heard first hand what R Massett and S Howard were going to agree to, that being to have a PH marshalled rank opposite the Police station. When it was pointed out to the police that it would be illegal to do so, they dropped the idea.


Kingston today, Central London tomorrow!