Welcome to the Taxi Drivers Association Temporary Web Site
THERE IS NOTHING WE CAN DO ABOUT IT
Over the past few years it has become more difficult and demanding being a Taxi Owner and the T.O.A.s have seen their membership and influence decline and as a result of this, falling membership has led to many Taxi owners feeling unrepresented when negotiations are held with the local authority.
A fact that seems to have been missed is that Taxi drivers have also encountered growing problems in trying to carry out their jobs and the vast majority of Taxi owners and drivers have no one to represent them or or turn to in order to bring their issues or problems to the attention of the relevant authorities.
We have seen the introduction of "Dress Codes" which pay no regard to working or weather conditions.
An unfair and uneconomical imposition of a 2 tier Taxi licensing system which ignores equal opportunities in forcing some Taxi owners to provide Hackney Style vehicles in order to continue their business, whilst others are permitted to use the much more economical saloon car (cheaper on fuel, cheaper to tax and cheaper to maintain)
The LTDA has nothing against the Private Hire sector drivers who operate within the law and within to the rules of their licenses.
Private hire car numbers increasing exponentially and the blatant disregard of some PH drivers to adhere to the constraints of their licenses by openly opportuning for unbooked hires with apparently no fear of local authority or police action to countermand this behaviour. In fact, some of those carrying out these deeds claim that they have a right to do so unaware that each such passenger they carry and the car which they are driving is subsequently uninsured as they are carrying out an activity which is not covered by PH insurance.
We now work in an environment where Taxi companies are making rules and decisions on where Private Hire cars can "rank" despite the fact that council By Laws forbid any ranking of PH vehicles.
North Lanarkshire Council now use South Lanarkshire vehicles to carry out contract work despite the fact that these vehicles have never been tested and passed as fit to carry out such duties by the NLC licensing authorities and indeed, some of these vehicles are not considered as acceptable by NLC to operate as taxis in their own licensing area.
We have the ludicrous situation of Taxi drivers being ordered off the road for wearing the wrong shoes or trousers or having a failed bulb whilst the police ignore the illegal activities of certain PH Drivers.
The T.O.A. holds regular meetings where the vast majority of Taxi owners and drivers are not represented and do not hear of the proceedings or decisions concerning the entire Taxi trade in this local authority, decisions which are made on our behalf and in our name ? by a small number of taxi owners who are given prior notice of the time and location where these meetings are to take place.
We have all heard the phrase "There's nothing we can do about it" - This is certainly the case if we do not TRY.
There is always something which can be done but even if we fail in reaching our objectives, at least we will know that we have tried and the only way to address the problems facing our business is to organise and put up a united front when putting our case to the relevant authorities
If we are prepared to remain disorganised and continue on the path we are currently following the we must accept that
"THERE IS NOTHING WE CAN DO ABOUT ANYTHING"
To address these and other problems, the answer is a Taxi DRIVERS Association manned by the people who actually do the job of driving a taxi and who have hands on experience of the problems facing the trade on a day to day basis.
Moves are already underway to set up this association but in order for it to succeed it will need members and to this end, we ask for your support if you are currently a taxi driver or owner who is employed in the business of driving TAXIS.
The Taxi Drivers Association will strive to create partnership with all relevant authorities and maintain regular contact with them to ensure that all problems are addressed.
The aim of this website is to gauge the interest in creating a representative body for the taxi drivers in Lanarkshire.
The aim of the LTDA is to promote and protect the interests of those who are working at the grass roots of the taxi trade and whose concerns are unrepresented at present.
The LTDA aims to be a democratic forum for the views and aspirations of those become members and support the organisation.
The LTDA will be an open and transparent organisation and will strive to keep all members informed via this website.
The LTDA will strive to open and maintain communications with all relevant authorities with regard to the taxi trade and provide feedback to it's members.
The LTDA web site will be updated regularly in an effort to publish all information of interest to the taxi drivers of Lanarkshire.
