A splash of colour

Its been a while since I mentioned taxis in Plymouth but there could be a very interesting change ahead.

A new distinctive taxi livery for all Hackney Carriages could be introduced in Plymouth as the city gears up to commemorate Mayflower 400.

The public as well as the taxi and private hire trade are being asked what they think about the idea as part of a number of proposed changes to the city’s Taxi Licensing Policy.

The new policy also proposes that all taxi drivers must attend a Plymouth Ambassador Course so that they can fully understand what Plymouth has to offer and enhance customer care. There is also a new dress code proposed for drivers to enhance the professionalism of the service.

Other changes include requiring all drivers to receive safeguarding training, updated guidance on the relevance of convictions, code of good conduct, wheelchair and assistance dogs exemptions, and a spoken English assessment.

Councillor John Riley, the Cabinet Member responsible for Licensing, said: “I am passionate about Plymouth and with Mayflower 400 fast approaching in 2020, this is an ideal opportunity to help our taxi drivers contribute to making Plymouth a first class cultural destination to be remembered.

“We are carrying out a number of projects in the city to mark Mayflower 400 and introducing a taxi livery will help us support these projects.”

The international importance of Mayflower 400 provides Plymouth with an exceptional opportunity to show the world what the city is really all about, and what it means to be in Britain’s Ocean City.

Taxi livery for all Hackney Carriages has been successfully introduced in a number of cities such as Exeter and Brighton and has received positive comments from the public. The livery makes it easy to identify a licensed taxi which, in turn, improves customer confidence and promotes professionalism of the taxi trade.

Councillor Riley continued: “We understand that this will be a considerable investment for vehicle owners and the Council is looking for any funding opportunities that could assist with this.

“We are looking for feedback from local businesses, the public and the taxi trade about whether this should be included in the new taxi policy.”
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The consultation starts on today Tuesday 3 October and full consultation details can be found at www.plymouth.gov.uk/feedbackandcomplaints/consultations.

Anyone who wants to make a formal representation about the draft policy should email taxilicensing@plymouth.gov.uk or write to Taxi Licensing, Windsor House, Plymouth, PL6 5UF by 27 November 2017.

There will also be holding a drop in consultation session on Monday 6 November between 10am and 2pm in the Drakes Room, Lower Guildhall, Plymouth Guildhall.

This is an excellent idea and one which is well overdue. The livery is clean and smart and manages to be distinctive enough without being too expensive. The base cab is white so it just needs the green adding. The Exeter cab fleet is very smart (red and black) but it must cost quite a bit to apply.

 

 

 

VOSA Variables

The last week or so of April saw a few more changes on VOSA to some of the smaller operators:
21 April 2011
PH1080163/1 - D A C COACHES LTD, RYLANDS GARAGE, ST. ANNS CHAPEL, GUNNISLAKE, PL18 9HW
Variation Accepted by SN: Operating between Downgate Crossroads and Tavistock Bus station given service number 79/X79 effective from 22-May-2011. To amend Timetable.
27 April 2011
PH1016164/19 - HOLSWORTHY LTD T/A BEACON GARAGE, DOLTON BEACON, DOLTON, WINKLEIGH, EX19 8PS
Variation Accepted by SN: Operating between Tavistock Bus Station and Yelverton given service number 55/56 effective from 26-Apr-2011. To amend Timetable.
PH1098326/1 - MARK LEGASSICK T/A ST BUDEAUX TAXI BUS, 60 SAVAGE ROAD, PLYMOUTH, PL5 1BR
Variation Accepted: Operating between St Budeaux Library and St Budeaux Square given service number 223/57 effective from 13-Jun-2011. To amend Route, Stopping Places and Timetable.
I have updated my Plymothian Transit Extra pages for these services - follow the links below.

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Related Links

• 79 X79 79A Downgate - Callington - Calstock - Gunnislake - Tavistock Plymothian Transit Extra
• 55 Tavistock - Yelverton - Milton Coombe Plymothian Transit Extra
• 56 Tavistock - Yelverton - Dousland Plymothian Transit Extra
• 223 St Budeaux Taxibus Plymothian Transit Extra

Elsewhere on the net

• Three days to Wilts & Dorset’s network changes of 1st May 2011 and from that date, W&D is offering a guarantee of a low floor bus on all its Bournemouth & Poole routes. Dorset Bus Blog
• 90-vehicle Newport Bus, Wales, has a “new” managing director. His official task? To modernise the undertaking. Omnibuses
• Buried in the bowels of the official Red Funnel web site is a detailed history of all the vessels owned. Many do not have pictures; which is odd. You would have though the company might want to remember what boats it owned. Public Transport Experience
• There’s optimism at last that the world’s longest running busway/saga/joke (delete as appropriate) might actually be operational this summer, possibly as “early” as August. Omnibuses
• Once again, a friend and I decided to head into Derbyshire this Easter Monday, making use of the normal daytime Monday service being operated by the trains and the special Sunday timetables being operated by the buses. A Transport of Delight
• It is the night before the Royal Wedding and we are assembled at the Novotel in Hammersmith for the London Transport Awards 2011 presented in association with the Transport Times. Leon Daniels
• The original "Royal" man was Thomas Elliott, who, in 1880, began operating horse drawn vehicles from Royal Blue Mews in Avenue Lane, Bournemouth. This cul-de-sac today forms the back yard of Marks and Spencers! Public Transport Experience
• The 46, and the 47. The routes that would get you practically from anywhere, to anywhere in Plymouth (excluding anywhere East!). PTOTPA
• I was therefore quite interested to see what effect, if any, yesterday’s royal wedding had on Omnibuses, what with a bank holiday, the nation glued to its tellies, reasonable weather I think across the nation, street parties, bbqs and whatnot. How did Omnibuses perform? Omnibuses
• Well the media is full of the success Royal Wedding but a critical part of it was as a result of the excellent planning by all of the agencies involved and then its equally superb delivery by their teams. Leon Daniels

Taxi - Bus ?

A bus that thinks its a Taxi...

A Taxi that thinks its a bus...

Confused yet?

Taxi new rules

Plymouth people are to have a say in how the city's taxis should be regulated.The city council has reviewed the policies and byelaws for the taxi trade and is proposing a number of changes.

A new draft licensing policy has been published on the council's website at www.plymouth.gov.uk and the council wants customers and those within the taxi trade to comment.

Proposals include:



A recognisable livery for all hackney carriages so that drivers can choose from a wider range of vehicles.

A new dress code for drivers.

New controls to include stretch limousines, speciality vehicles and courtesy vehicles.

More regular vehicle inspections.

Door signs reminding passengers that private hire companies are only insured to carry people who pre-book.

A revised fee structure, including a new charge for missed bookings.

Taxi

A controversial limit on the number of black cabs in Plymouth is set to stay - but the city council may grant up to 20 new licences for taxibuses. Senior councillors are being urged to keep the city's 360-cab cap after consultants found that there was no "significant unmet demand" for hackney carriages.
John Preece disagrees as usual
"It fails to recognise the reality of the transport needs of Plymouth. To say that only 20 taxibuses are required is ridiculous" John Burt of Central Taxi's diagrees with Preece:
He said that there was little demand for taxibuses and the 20 additional hackney carriage licences would not be needed.
This does seem to be yet another case of John Preece against both the Council and the rest of the local Taxi industry.

All this fighting is expensive for both side of the arguement. The council is carrying out a major overhaul of its charges for licensing hackney carriages and private hire vehicles. If the changes are approved, the cost of licensing a black cab for 12 months would rocket from £80 to £691 within three years. This increase seems mainly to cover the additional costs of the legal battles.
The fight against these changes maybe the only thing which will unite the local taxi bosses.

No longer in the Pink

Pink Lady - a small but very visible 'taxi' company is no longer trading in Plymouth. No reasons have been given but the fleet of 7 distinctive Renault kangoo 'taxi's are no longer operating and the staff have been layed off.
This company caused controversy when it started as it operated in a 'grey area' as it was not licensed as a Taxi company but ran as a 'club' for its 'members'.
I am glad I got this photo when I did!

Its Pink - but is it a Taxi?

Taxi firms are in uproar over a new women-only service which has set up in Plymouth without being licensed.Plymouth City Council officers met the Pink Ladies firm yesterday, and said it may take legal advice. The company only started operating in Plymouth this month, using women drivers to ferry female passengers and their children.Estover-based Pink Ladies, running six distinctive pink Renault Kangoos, insists it is neither a hackney carriage outfit nor a private hire company.It claims to exist as a members- only 'travel club' under an exemption under Section 75 of the Local Government Miscellaneous Provisions Act 1976.Full story here

LandTrain

Saturday saw the annual Lord Mayors Day Parade which although long past its hayday when it seemed everyone came to town to see the show, is still a pretty good show if the weather is ok. Well, the weather did hold up reasonably well so I took my wife and my three year old son Zak to see the show. I will be posting several photos of vehicles in the parade over the next week or so but have to satr with this one: The Taxifast Landtrain.



A few news posting from the past year or so...

CHAMBER BACKING FOR LAND TRAIN PLAN
TONY RICHARDSON ©This is Plymouth 02 May 2005
Plymouth's business community has given its backing to a pioneering scheme to bring a futuristic 'land train' to the city. City taxi boss John Preece last week announced his ambitious plans to improve the city's transport system with a £200,000 train which could serve shoppers, clubbers and tourists. Subject to council approval Mr Preece, who runs Taxifast, says Plymouth could have its first train within two months. Now Plymouth Chamber of Commerce is supporting Mr Preece's initiative having read about it in last Tuesday's Evening Herald. Members believe the gas-powered land train, which runs on LPG, would bring huge benefits to the city, providing convenient transport for local people as well as visitors. The land train, which can carry up to 56 passengers in three enclosed carriages, would be fitted with CCTV cameras, sound equipment and a DVD system. The Italian-manufactured train would be equipped with self-levelling pneumatic suspension, and one of the carriages would have wheelchair access. It would be operated by a licensed public service vehicle driver, and a competent guard would double as a conductor.

17th May 2005:
Mr Preece said: "We were down to our last day of the option to buy the vehicle. The council is very positive in its support for the Taxifast land train project and I'm appreciative of their assistance so we can make an early start to run our pilot schemes and trials." He added that five land trains could eventually run through the city's pedestrian precincts. Fares should be about £1. Mr Preece said: "These services will require tests and appraisals. We also want to provide a service to tourists that will be attractive and practical. "The obvious routes will be around the Barbican and Hoe so we may portray the history and future of Plymouth." A city council spokeswoman said that there was no objection 'in principle' to the scheme. But she added: "We have not yet received any details on how the scheme would work, such as the routes proposed and the methods of operation. There is a lot of work to be done before this can be properly considered." The council is to look at the impact on traffic and consult with other road users. The spokeswoman said: "The land train would require approval from the Secretary of State, which would only be given once these matters have been resolved."

17 July 2005
Plymouth's first land train has now arrived in the city and is being fitted out at a secret location. The £197,000 train has been bought by Taxifast boss John Preece, who plans to ferry passengers around the city in high-tech style. The train has yet to be granted permission to operate in the city, but Mr Preece says he is confident the Government will give him a licence and that both Plymouth City Council and Devon and Cornwall Police will approve the routes he has in mind.

8 August 2005
Taxi boss John Preece is set to test drive his revolutionary 'land train' around the city centre one night this week. Mr Preece, boss of Taxifast, is planning to take the wheel of the 22-yard long, liquid petroleum gas-driven vehicle himself and give it a spin, at a top speed of 14mph, around the shopping precinct. The businessman is keen to test the manoeuvrability of the £197,000 train and work out a route for when it is in operation, possibly as early as next month, subject to Plymouth City Council approval. He will be in negotiations with police and the council about a time for the trial, but is aiming for a 4am or 5am start, and said: "I'm looking at where we can go, and can we get it up alleyways. It's a very manoeuvrable piece of equipment." He also plans to put the vehicle on display in the city centre, again subject to council approval, so people can have a good look at it before it goes into service

This gives an idea of the planned operation of this unusual vehicle. Lets wait and see what happens next!

Taxi Dispute

From This is Plymouth:
12:00 - 13 February 2006
A Plymouth taxi rank was surveyed by two people at the same time - and each came up with different cab figures, an appeal hearing has heard.Two observers working on a survey of Plymouth's Hackney carriages mistakenly went to same the rank at Old Town Street. They recorded different figures for the number of cabs passing through the rank, Plymouth Crown Court heard.Taxifast, run by John Preece, is appealing a council decision from 2003 to refuse it 30 Hackney licences.

This is a battle going through the courts for more Taxi licences in Plymouth. The council having done a survey said no more were needed and the taxi company dispute this. Most of this case so far has been into the survey itself and how accurate it was.

back on the 8th February
Taxi mogul John Preece, has launched a court battle against Plymouth City Council which could result in the city's black cab limit being scrapped - hitting existing Hackney drivers and bus firms.More than 1,000 taxi drivers, plus bus bosses and the council, are anxiously awaiting the outcome of the appeal hearing at Plymouth Crown Court this week.If Mr Preece wins, the council is likely to have to scrap its 359-limit on Hackney carriages.Dozens of black cabs, which can sit on ranks and be flagged down, unlike private hire vehicles, could then create competition for council-owned Citybus, which the court heard fears 'revenue extraction', and Hackney drivers worried about their businesses.Mr Preece, boss of the private hire firm Taxifast, is appealing against the council's decision to refuse him 30 hackney licences in 2003.The council is one of only 30 per cent of local authorities still employing controls. Mr McKee, questioned by the council's barrister James Findlay, outlined how TPi was paid £20,000 to carry out its survey in January and February last year, with observation of 44 Hackney ranks, for a total of 775 hours. Observers noted vehicles, customers, and waiting times.The test for significant unmet demand is based on whether passengers have to wait for a taxi. A complicated mathematical formula is used to reveal this from survey findings.The TPi report revealed there were excess taxis for 11.4 per cent of the time, and excess people for 4.5 per cent of the time. The court heard Plymouth's Local Taxi Association, backed by the TGWU, said that it was 'rare' for passengers to have to wait for taxis and removing the limit would be 'detrimental' for reasons including 'public safety', 'stability providing confidence', increase in part-time drivers and because business would be affected.

John Preece: The person behind Taxifast, who is based in Plymouth. He started in coaches with Plympton Coach Lines, which he built up to 17 coaches from 2 within a couple of years. He then became the Managing Director of Western National Bus Company which was sold to First Bus. He then turned his attention to taxis with Key Cabs and 70 cabs in 1989. Hs is very prominent in local politics and has had a lot of influence in the local bus scene over the years.

The problem with taxis - part two

And here we see the Citybus answer to the taxi problem - Advertise them. Yes thats right. Plymouth Citybus have painted this Dart into advertising livery to promote the use of a local Taxi company. Don't bother to wait for the bus - get a taxi instead. you know it makes sense. If the last bus passenger could close the doors behind them...

The problem with taxis part One

This was meant for posting yesterday but I was not on line so instead we have two pictures tonight on the same theme. We see here a photo taken outside the main hospital reception / bus stopping area which shows the traffic chaos caused by a taxi parked for several minutes in the middle of the road stopping any of the buses getting past. You can see four buses stuck behind it - my bus was actually the sixth bus in the line, up out of sight to the left. Of course Plymouth Citybus have a strategy for dealing with these **** taxi drivers...