Heathrow Taxis "Trade Show"?

This photograph was taken in front of the model of Concorde that has now been replaced by the Airbus A380 as you leave Heathrow Airport.

It is a group photo of nineteen Heathrow Airport Licensed Taxis (HALT) members and committee members taken in 1997, and uses the iconic image of Concorde to symbolise the desire to "reach for the stars". That was the original aim, but like Concorde, HALT has been "mothballed" before its time.

HALT was set up to promote the interests of taxi drivers at Heathrow, but after a chequered history, it has now been hijacked by a small handful of the original committee who have set up their own private company called Heathrow Airport Licensed Taxis Society (HALTS), and have tried to convince drivers that they have done this to save the "floundering" mutual society known as HALT. Surely it can't be a coincidence that this new company uses the similar acronym HALTS; could this be part of their intention to convince drivers they still have a say at Heathrow? Many drivers are already getting the feeling that they are being side lined by these changes, and are beginning to wonder where it all went wrong.

HALTS has now begun to establish itself at Heathrow, and it uses the trading name "Heathrow Taxis". After all, the name HALTS may well have served its purpose, and a more corporate image would benefit such a group of ambitious individuals who may have spotted a "golden opportunity" of their own making.

Heathrow Taxis is holding a "trade show" at their new premises close to Heathrow Airport on Tuesday 27th, and Wednesday 28th July 2010. How successful this so called trade show turns out to be depends on how good its directors are at keeping up the subterfuge.

If you want to book a taxi online via the BAA website you will be directed to the Heathrow Taxis website.

Heathrow Taxis claim that they are "The official Taxi Provider for Heathrow", but when you click on the link for "booking" you are asked to leave your details as this service is not yet available!!!
So what do you do? Well, most people will then go back to the BAA web page that directed them to Heathrow Taxis, and find that there is an alternative in the form of either Addison Lee, for a minicab, or Tristar Cars, for a limo.

"I think I'll go for the minicab, because I've heard of Addison Lee."

The Heathrow Taxis website went live in March 2010, but it is still not possible to book a taxi on this site four months later! If this is an example of how the "official taxi provider for Heathrow" operates, it's no wonder that taxi drivers are waiting longer than ever before they can get a job at Heathrow. Not only that, but one of the directors of Heathrow Taxis is also the only person that BAA talks to when it is time to discuss the issue of how much taxi drivers have to pay to ply for hire at Heathrow. At present the drivers pay a whopping £6.30 every time they pick up a job at Heathrow, thanks to Mr. Colin Evans of Heathrow Taxis, the official provider of taxis!!!

I can only hope that drivers are happy with the representation they receive at the hands of Mr. Evans.

Double "left click" on the Heathrow Taxis image above, and then "click" once again to enlarge the image.

I have just come across this quote from the Licensed Private Hire Car Association (LPHCA) which states in "Private Hire News (Edition 49)";

"We will be seeking compliance across the board and expect prosecutions and action where compliance is not being met by Local Authorities everywhere. They have a duty of care to the public and a moral obligation to those who comply."

Are the LPHCA as keen to see an end to the illegal activities within their own industry as the Licensed Taxi Trade?

There is no doubt that satellite offices are seen as a good thing by the PHV industry, but to what extent does the "respectable" side of PHV want to see enforcement at these sites? Is the LPHCA as concerned about the lack of proper enforcement as we are?

There is no doubt that enforcement and compliance are major issues for the taxi trade, and the theft of legitimate work by uncontrolled touts and "clip-board Johnnies" is undermining the taxi trade's right to offer their services to the general public. So with all this in mind, how does this affect the respectable side of the PHV industry?

For instance, Addison Lee has sponsored ash trays outside many bars and clubs with a view to encourage people to phone them when they may want a ride home. So how much work is Addison Lee losing because many of these venues have "clip-board Johnnies" outside, so reducing the chances of anyone phoning Addi Lee?

Licensed taxi drivers see the blatant touting by minicab drivers and clip-board Johnnies as a major threat to their livelihood, and they are constantly lobbying the authorities to do something about the problem, without much success. But what effect does this all have on members of the LPHCA?

If the PHV industry is to be taken seriously, they must take full responsibility for the concessions and benefits that a licensing system gives them, and they have a duty to ensure that their industry is not undermined by the lack of control that has been allowed to flourish amongst their own fraternity.

If the PHV industry is to be accepted as a legitimate partner in the drive to attract customers, and gain respectability, they must accept that the licensed taxi trade's calls for enforcement are met, and that illegal touting damages them also.