LTDA Members Disgusted With Oddys Dirty Tricks...By Jason Byrne

When I saw the latest issue of taxi, I felt sick to my stomach.

How could a once great association, built on half a century of the sweat, hard work and commitment from ordinary, working London taxi drivers, sink to such depths of depravity.

General Secretary of the LTDA, Bob Oddy (who, incidentally hasn't driven a Taxi for over 25 years) was asked for help in sorting out a few of the troubles this trade faces but refused point blank. He went as far as to tell the young driver who had gone to the trouble to seek an appointment, to F**K off and get out of his office. You can hear the whole interview nick named Oddy Gate here.

He made it perfectly clear, that he wasn't looking to rock the boat, after being given an unelected seat on the board of TfL.

Oddy has made a habit of using the associations in house publication for his own personal agendas and for spreading malicious lies. He almost destroyed the London taxi branch of the RMT (now fully recovered), regularly printing page after page of lies in "Taxi" Paper and persuading his friends on the UTG to do the same. But this time he has sunk to an all time low.

The young drivers scheme (which has full support of LTPH) has now been taken on board by the UCG and has recently gone into operation with help from new hotel management. With the implementation of the bribery act, hotels are keen to clean up their act as penalties are massive.

After months of negotiation, which involved staff members being sacked, the Cumberland Hotel management have done their best to eradicate the "Faces" and regular scabs. This problem is something that can not be completed dealt with overnight and is still ongoing, as a few licensed touts prove to be tenacious. Hotel management is currently monitoring the situation on CCTV and staff found demanding bribes are immediately sacked.

Early signs are promising and many more airports are going in honest taxis. Plus customers are no longer being charged a fortune by bent porters. There has been much interest from other hotels, also keen to clean up their door staff in light of the new legislation.



Instead of praising the efforts of fellow taxi drivers, freely volunteering their services, many of whom are actually LTDA members, Oddy has published a discussing slur and attack on the Cumberland Hotel management. He has republished photographs from an old issue taken years ago when the LTDA was a proud and proper association (before he sold the trade out for a seat on the board of TfL).

Members are leaving the LTDA in droves because of the actions of this man and they now give free associate membership to try and shore up the numbers. LTDA diaries are spotted in the windows of minicabs daily.

(Could be embarrassing if they turn up for their Marks and Sparks vouchers)

I used to be a proud member of the LTDA, but now every time I hear the name it makes me feel quite sick. I have spoken to many drivers on the ranks this week who will be cancelling their direct debits.

How can honest, hard-working taxi drivers pay subscription to this man is beyond me.

Jason Byrne.

PS. Have also noticed how many Taxi-mags have remained in the drop bins lately, as drivers refuse to read. Wonder what your advertisers feel about that Bob.



This is an email sent to LTPH by Cumberland Hotel Management.

To whom it may concern

I request the following taxi be banned from using our rank with
immediate effect. LT57 WXP.

This driver has been monitored as suspicious by my in house security
team for a number of weeks. He works early hours of the morning
predominantly, sitting off the rank on our front door or on the rank
both with his light off. He waits outside his taxi just outside our
front door and solicits airport fares only by questioning guests as they
depart the Hotel. He declines local fares awaiting the airport
opportunities.

This is both illegal and detrimental to my business. Having received a
number of guest complaints and complaints from other taxi drivers I
request this car be removed immediately.

Kind regards
James Berry | Hotel Manager | The Cumberland | Guoman Hotels

Editorial Comment from Semtex 8829:

In all my time in this trade, I don't think I have ever seen or heard of a major hotel manager, who is so obviously bending over backwards to play the game with us.

Well done James Berry, you have restored my faith in yours and our profession.

What this driver is doing is tantamount to theft from his colleagues, that's not being dramatic, but truthful. It's blatantly robbing his own mates and he is no better than a minicab driver.

James, thank you mate, you have taken an initial slating, gone on the LTDF forum and said you wanted to work with us and instead of talking bollox, have done what you said you would do!

Well done Sir, you are a credit to your professional position and a massive assistance to The London Cab trade.

Best regards mate and best of luck.

8829