The End for Pink Ladies?

[tara_dad]

LatchfordDad you are right in one sense but you will find that the council lawyers comes under the council tax payer remit. But you are right some of the cost will come from the honest taxi licensing fund. And one last thing is that they are still driving around with out licences still. The company if I am right have gone bust so why is Mr Barns not acting still or better still why as he a job ?. How long will they get away with it before some one will get hurt as the council and councillors don?t care about public safety?

[tara_dad]

i was doing the rounds I was amassed that the disability partnership are advertising for the pink ladies and they say The Pink Ladies taxi company is a members club for ladies only, to ensure safety of women. They accept only credit cards or accounts. All drivers are women and wear pink uniforms to match the interior and exterior of the car. They have one Green wheelchair accessible vehicle that will carry both men and women.

 

Surly they can not use this as the vehicles are not licensed and are breaking the law can some one have a quick word with them before I send them a letter which will be used against them as for putting the public and the disabledin danger.( which i do not think its there intentions to do so) the ad need to come off the web site

 

 

sent them a letter below

Dear Mr Thompson

Are you aware that the Pink ladies do not hold a valid Taxi or PH vehicles licence because they are not plated by the council? I see that you advise them on your web site. As they are breaking the law by not having there vehicles council plated and the law sates they have too. The government and police warn the public not to get into unlicensed vehicle as fact. I would like to fetch this to your attention and ask what your views on this matter are as you know there is no such this as members club the law says that the vehicles should be council plated as you could be putting your readers into a dangers situation. As the council can not one guarantee the public safety of the vehicles they use?

I would like to here what you have to say on this matter as I am writing about this issue on Warrington world wide on which this letter will be put on along with your reopens if any I hope that you will soon address this uses ASP

Thank you

Ste .peacock

[bubby]

sent them a letter below

Dear Mr Thompson

Are you aware that the Pink ladies do not hold a valid Taxi or PH vehicles licence because they are not plated by the council? I see that you advise them on your web site. As they are breaking the law by not having there vehicles council plated and the law sates they have too. The government and police warn the public not to get into unlicensed vehicle as fact. I would like to fetch this to your attention and ask what your views on this matter are as you know there is no such this as members club the law says that the vehicles should be council plated as you could be putting your readers into a dangers situation. As the council can not one guarantee the public safety of the vehicles they use?

I would like to here what you have to say on this matter as I am writing about this issue on Warrington world wide on which this letter will be put on along with your reopens if any I hope that you will soon address this uses ASP

Thank you

Ste .peacock

 

 

 

Have u had a reply yet?

[observer]

In these days of "equal rights"; would anyone be allowed to set up a "men only" taxi company?!

[Dizzy]

It's not a taxi company it's a 'members club' Obs

[observer]

So if you set up a "members club" that was "men only" - would it be allowed by the PC Authorities?!

[asperity]

Horrible Harman would have your guts for garters

[Dizzy]

[tara_dad]

bubby........ no i have not had a reply from Disability Partnership or Mr Thompson as this is bad press and most of all puting people in danger by advertising unlicensed vehicles. I do not think they ever will only when its suites them ie good press... I think gary should ask this question or have you had a reply on this matter as it is public safty ?

[tara_dad]

found this on the council web site look at the hight lighted i have used

 

 

Changes to licensing legislation - January 2008

'Specialist' private hire vehicles - restricted drivers licences

From January 2008, the exemption provided within section 75 of the Local Government

(Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1976 ? which permits unlicensed vehicle/drivers/operators to

conduct their business in relation to ?contract only? work ? is removed.

In short, from January, any vehicle, which is hired with a driver, will have to be licensed

by the Local Authority. In common with other areas ? Warrington has had a particular

problem in relation to the hire of ?American Stretch Limousines? and their driver?/operators and

these vehicles will be amongst those who will be affected by the changes to the legislation.

Examples of other types of businesses to be affected are ?Executive/Chauffeur? services,

?Corporate Transport services? hospital day patient cars, and many others (we will surely be

approached at some time to Licence unusual/novelty vehicles - eg. de-commissioned Fire

Engines. From January 2008 they will clearly be operating unlawfully and therefore there will

be insurance implications.

The changes to the legislation will mean that all of these vehicles operations will be

properly regulated, the vehicles properly and regularly inspected and the drivers vetted.

We have previously already amended our ?vehicle conditions? to specifically relax the conditions

in relation to the exhibiting of plates/signs on ?American Stretch limousines?. There are many

doubts/concerns in relation to the safety of these particular vehicles and we now have a good

level of specialist knowledge in relation to their construction/maintenance.

There are two important considerations now to be made. The first is in relation to the conditions

of licencing in relation to vehicles providing these types of services only, and secondly the

requirements/suitability of drivers solely driving this type of vehicle.

I have previously put pressure on some these Operators (who have been advertising in ?Yellow

Pages? and the local press) to become Licensed or to risk prosecution. Unfortunately, this has

not proved successful although I have now started to receive enquiries from some of the

present local operators of these types of services. At present we have one ?American Stretch

Limousine?, and the owner/driver is properly licensed in Warrington.

It is apparent that WBC?s application procedure is seen as an inappropriate obstacle to drivers

submitting themselves to the Licensing process particularly in relation to the standard?Knowledge Test? set by us. Additionally, the present requirement for all vehicles Licensed by

Warrington Borough Council, as Private Hire Vehicles, to display ?plates? and door signs is seen

as an obstacle, particularly in relation to ?prestige? vehicles.

To consider the ?driver? element firstly:

There is absolutely no doubt that the ?Criminal Records Bureau Enhanced? vetting procedure is

wholly appropriate, as is the ?Group 2 Medical? (the same as that for Heavy Goods and Large

Passenger Vehicle drivers) and I recommend should both remain as at present.

well in advance where they are to collect/deliver patients from/to.

may not be a particular consideration in relation to these vehicles, semi-ambulant

wheelchair users (where the user transfers to a normal seat) would fall within this

category.

If the proposal to provide the facility for a special ?restricted? Private Hire Drivers Licence is

accepted, then we would have to produce a badge/authorisation which is obviously different

from the standard issue, so that there could be no doubt about the nature of the Licence held by

the driver. The Licence itself would have to have additional conditions attached to it ?spelling

out? exactly what the holder is entitled to do. In addition, we could require that the driver exhibits

his badge in a prominent position within the vehicle, where it can be seen by the passengers as

opposed to the present condition of ?wearing the badge?.

There follows, consideration in relation to the fee for any such Licence (if these proposals are

adopted). There is the obvious view that a ?Restricted Licence? should, perhaps, attract a

?restricted fee?. My personal view is that the fee for any such Licence should be set at 25 ? 50%

higher than that set for an ordinary ?unrestricted licence?. The reasons for that are:

1. The ?discounts? attracted for dealing with the ?norm? ? i.e. large numbers of

similar Licences ? would be lost.

2. Small numbers (and therefore more expensive) distinctive Badges and

Licences would have to be produced for these applicants.

3. Additional work would be created in setting revised, amended knowledge

tests.

4. We would wish to maintain the bias of applications towards full,

unrestricted licensed drivers as opposed to creating an attractive

alternative for drivers to specialise in more restricted type of work. An

increased fee for this type of licence would deter presently licensed

?unrestricted? drivers to embark on this route.Second consideration ? the marking of the vehicles

Many of these services use high class/value vehicles and indeed an integral part of the service

is to provide a very high level of comfort/facilities to the passenger whilst travelling. In other

cases, the journey will be to celebrate a special occasion or to provide a novelty element.

Finally there will be the vehicles that are providing a ?specialist? or restricted service (e.g. patient

transfers).

Therefore, solely because of the type of service being provided, there would be no advantage in

requiring our ?Plates? and ?Door Signs? to be displayed. However, it would be important to be

able to identify that the vehicle is properly licensed and to that end, we could require the display

of a vehicle disc to be displayed in the front windscreen, alongside the Vehicle Excise licence.

It would follow, that each application for licensing businesses, drivers and vehicles under this

scheme would have to be considered on an individual basis and a Business Plan from the

applicant could be used as a major deciding factor.

There are obvious advantages in encouraging these services to submit themselves for

Licensing. If we do embark on a series of prosecutions for these activities which will soon be

clearly unlawful, and we have made our conditions of Licensing more appropriate to this type of

service, we will be seen by the Courts to have made significant moves to cater for their

specialist services.

Time is now pressing and I ask that this report now be considered and decisions made, readyfor implementation in January 2008. I would further suggest that we circulate these proposals

for consultation to existing Licence holders with our next newsletter and that these issues be

included as an ?agenda? item for the next Joint Liaison meeting on 4th December 2007.I believe that if we adjust our policy in order to cater for this type of service ? we will be seen to

be moving forward and making proper provision for the new legislation.

Phil Barnes

 

 

all this back in 2007 but still nothing was done

 

so under the Changes to Taxi and Private Hire Vehicle (PHV) Legislation in the Road Safety Act 2006

In summary

 

1......Section 52 (power to suspend or revoke a driver's licence with immediate effect) will come into force on 16 March 2007

2.....Section 53 (repeal of the contract exemption outside London) will come into force in January 2008.

3...Section 54 (re-defining "private hire vehicle" in the Private Hire Vehicles (London) Act 1998) will come into force by 31 March 2008 at the latest.

power to suspend or revoke a driver's licence with immediate effect

back in 2007, a taxi or PHV driver (outside London) could continue to work as a taxi or PHV driver whilst appealing to the magistrates court against a decision by the local licensing authority to suspend or revoke his taxi or PHV driver's licence.

Section 52 of the Road Safety Act gives licensing authorities the power to suspend or revoke a taxi or PHV driver's licence with immediate effect where they are of the opinion that the interests of public safety require sSection 52 will be commenced on 16 March 2007. This means that licensing authorities can only start to use the power in relation to decisions to suspend or revoke which are made on or after 16 March; they cannot use the power in relation to suspension or revocation decisions which had been made before that date. The section applies outside London; TfL already have similar powers in London.

uch a course of action.

It will be a matter for individual local licensing authorities to determine how they wish to make use of this new power. The Department has not issued any guidance on this issue. However, Ministers will keep under review whether general guidance to authorities on the use of this new power would be appropriate or necessary

 

 

 

At that time , in England and Wales (outside London) a vehicle is exempt from the requirement to be licensed as a PHV if it is used for contracts lasting not less than seven days. This is commonly known as "the contract exemption". Neither the driver of the vehicle nor the operator who arranges hirings need be licensed.

and should be repealed.

Ministers decided that this exemption posed a significant safety risk Section 53 of the Road Safety Act repeals the contract exemption

Section 53 of the Act will be commenced in January 2008

 

and Finally the last word by government

From the date jan 2008, it will be irrelevant whether a vehicle is provided for hire to a dedicated group or to the public at large; any vehicles which fall within the definition of private hire vehicle in the 1998 Act will have to be licensed. The driver and the operator (the person who arranges the hirings) will also have to be licensed. The only exemptions from licensing will be for vehicles used solely for weddings and funerals.

 

 

last Thoughts

All elected Warrington councillors and local MPs and up and coming councillors and local government parties have known about this but will not follow this public safety issue up all local. Conservatives, Labour, Lib Dem Parties also have known about this.. i say do you what to elect people like this who do not care on any public safety issues. and it make you wonder why not. And why no action will be taken or that no one is willing to step up to answers the question.

[wolfie]

God - this is getting really boring now.

 

We have had Pink Ladies Taxis, The End of Pink Ladies Taxis, Pink Ladies Taxis the sequel, Pink Ladies Taxis convert to diesel

[P J]

God - this is getting really boring now.

 

We have had Pink Ladies Taxis, The End of Pink Ladies Taxis, Pink Ladies Taxis the sequel, Pink Ladies Taxis convert to diesel

 

You forgot "Pink Lady ate my hamster " and "Pink Ladys Cab found on moon"

[tara_dad]

wolfie what up... there there ? have to reply to every post ? never mind hay nothing to say usefull.... here a tip dont say anything easy sorry to hard should not be so hard on you wolfie Anyway the more you reply to my post`s the more successful it get so you do some good afther all . and that gose to you PJ Callands make it more successful my post are Becoming legend most viewed and posted on just one topic so keep me up there pitty you dont have the same one day hay and i do not feel i have to reply to everything how cool is that hay gary do i still hold the record on one topic where every one feels they has to reply.... god and i do not even post every day or feel the need to come on every day as well but i know this was stared by bill

[wolfie]

If I knew what you were talking about I would respond It's obviously something to do with taxis that are pink but God knows what else.

[P J]

wolfie what up... there there ? have to reply to every post ? never mind hay nothing to say usefull.... here a tip dont say anything easy sorry to hard should not be so hard on you wolfie Anyway the more you reply to my post`s the more successful it get so you do some good afther all . and that gose to you PJ Callands make it more successful my post are Becoming legend most viewed and posted on just one topic so keep me up there pitty you dont have the same one day hay and i do not feel i have to reply to everything how cool is that hay gary do i still hold the record on one topic where every one feels they has to reply.... god and i do not even post every day or feel the need to come on every day as well but i know this was stared by bill

 

 

Tara Dad seriously if you are going to send out letters to people and you wish them to take you seriously I am more than willing to proof read them for you and send back an amended copy. I am no expert at letter writing but if I can help I will. Please feel free to email me whenever you wish.

 

p.s. I still think coilatiting should be in the dictionary.

[asperity]

If I read right, the council is proposing making volunteers, who provide transport to hospitals free of charge, pay for a licence at a cost 25% to 50% higher than for an unrestricted licence for private hire. Well that will stop those nasty volunteers in their tracks won't it!

[Paul Kennedy]

Pink who.

 

PS Still see them driving around....or maybe more correctly, I still keep seeing pink vehicles driving around

[Paul Kennedy]

If I read right, the council is proposing making volunteers, who provide transport to hospitals free of charge, pay for a licence at a cost 25% to 50% higher than for an unrestricted licence for private hire. Well that will stop those nasty volunteers in their tracks won't it!

 

Where did you read that.

[the taxi team]

If I read right, the council is proposing making volunteers, who provide transport to hospitals free of charge, pay for a licence at a cost 25% to 50% higher than for an unrestricted licence for private hire. Well that will stop those nasty volunteers in their tracks won't it!

 

Where did you read that.

 

 

all vehicles that carry passengers and the driver receives a payment (ie towards fuel) must be licenced by the LA as private hire or taxi or get a PSV lic from vosa (more than 8 passenger seats). that include volunteer drivers as they receive cash or goods or service in return. that is not warrington rules that in central government and the pinky come under that. the only exception is wedding car or funeral cars

[Dizzy]

found this on the council web site look at the hight lighted i have used

 

Changes to licensing legislation - January 2008.

 

TD (I didn't quote your whole posting as it was so long but......)

 

Just after the new legislation came into force back in Jan 08 the council's licencing team and other council bods were having meetings over the PL's issue to determine what action they could should take. At the time they themselves were actually advising people who enquired that the PL's were infact 'probably' trading illegaly as their loophole had been closed and they should be licenced.... but until they (the licensing team) had discussed the issue they were unsure of what to do.

 

I have no idea what the outcome of these meetings were but the fact that PL's were still allowed to trade does make you wonder

 

You could ask for copies of the minutes/discussion notes, details of minutes etc under a Freedom of Information request.

 

I'm still not against the concept of the PL's by the way as it was a great idea

[Dizzy]

Pink who.

 

PS Still see them driving around....or maybe more correctly, I still keep seeing pink vehicles driving around

 

You will still see them Paul cos they are still trading and still taking on members... although on somewhat of a smaller scale at the moment it seems

 

Only 'parts' of the split company has gone bust .... allegidly

 

Got to hand it to them though.. they don't give in easily... but then again they are women

[tara_dad]

Yet again I must say I am not against the concept of the PL's is a good idea but they must be licensed for safety reason and to be open like the rest of the hard working Taxi and PH drivers.

 

And as for the mins of the meetings who cares we have asked question on public safety and the council and taxi licensing office have not answered and intend not to

 

Like I have said in the past Pj Callands the letter sent out are different to what are post on the forum the ones on the forum are drafts and for legal reasons until the letter is replied then the full letter will be put on with the reply so do not worry about spelling mistake but your views are wellcome and any input allways coilatiting

[Tilly]

Hi TD , well I hope?

[tara_dad]

hi tilly long time how are you? fine i hope.. I am still on the same post as you can see ..lol nice to hear from you miss the banter

[Tilly]

Fire away then