This news has now been confirmed by email, after a recent TOPS meeting at Palestra.
However the signage printed by the LTDA in Taxi…which accused an online blog (Taxi Leaks) of fake news and starting false rumours back in 2018…'had been cropped' - meaning the bottom section showing TfL's involvement was missing. The article went on to say the signage was actually authorised for use in Manchester.
But now the full story has been exposed in the Badge:
Taxi trade reps recently attended a TOPS meeting at Palaestra, and at no time were the introduction of e-Bus lanes discussed.
However, attendees were sent the following email.
Good afternoon,
Further to discussion at the Senior Taxi Trade Representatives meeting on 13th January, we agreed to circulate a list of the taxi access requests that you have recently requested we reconsider, specifically to provide access to ZEC taxis at these locations.
Please find attached the list that you originally put forward in 2018.
Please can you review the list and confirm they are still wanted and if there are further locations that you would like ZEC taxis to be able to access - please provide these by return email.
Kind regards ….
Email ends.
We contacted all the other trade groups that had attended the meeting, saying that this was the first we had ever heard of any such thing.
The only person who said he had some recollection of what discussions took place was Steve McNamara of the LTDA.
The key to the whole saga is "what discussions took place between TfL and the LTDA in 2018, which incidentally was the year ZEC vehicles were made mandatory in London".
We know at that time, Steve McNamara is on record as saying publicly within the next 3 years there would be 9000 Zac taxis on the road.
Could it be the slower uptake of ZEC vehicles delayed the implementation of these e-Bus lanes and the reason this had not been mentioned before now?
But then!
At the senior trade reps meeting, the new TfL commissioner Andy Lord, mentioned to all present that he and Steve McNamara of the LTDA had held a 'private meeting'.
One has to ask - was this the meeting where -taxi bus lane access was discussed?
Private meetings with the LTDA would explain why no other taxi trade representatives had any recollection of e-taxi bus lane conversations.
For the sake of the trade, the LTDA needs to clarify what has happened here.
* In an article published in Taxi in 2018, discrediting the signage, why was the image of the notice cropped, which removed TfL's name from the application?
* If it was by mistake, why didn't they subsequently clarity that the signage authorised 17th May 2018, was indeed on behalf of TfL for use in London - and not Manchester?
* And what was on the attached list that TIL sent to them in 2018 - and who sent it?
Source: The Badge.
Below is the link for the signage authorised by the DOT for TfL on 17th May 2018, featured in a post on Taxi Leaks:
https://assets.dft.gov.uk/trafficauths/case-4593.pdf
Please note all signage on this list is for use by TfL and not as was claimed by the LTDA for Manchester.
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It is now beyond doubt that the signage posted on the Taxi Leaks Blog in 2018 was 100% correct.
It is now beyond doubt that the LTDA piece published in Taxi, used cropped images and falsely accused our article of “Fake News and Spreading False Rumours”…why would the LTDA issue a cover up like this?
Although the unsigned article didn’t mention Taxi Leaks by name, we were the only ones in 2018 to publish the signage, which we had confirmed in a letter by the DOT.
We now know that the LTDA were privileged to private meetings with TfL?
Why did they keep this secret from other orgs and unions?
Why would our largest Org keep this impending issue secret from its membership (many of whom drive diesel Taxis) who it is supposed to be representing?
We believe that not only is an apology is due to Taxi Leaks, but they also need to make a full statement to their membership and explain their involvement regarding this issue!
ππππππ πππ ππππππ ππ:
In the email sent to the orgs they state: “ Please find attached the list that 'you' originally put forward in 2018.
Please can you review the list and confirm they are still wanted”.
Questions that need answers:
* Who presented the original list asking for e-Bus/e-Taxis to TfL and why?….It certainly wasn’t the UCG, LCDC, RMT of Unite!
According to the article in the Badge, they knew nothing about a list.
* How do you feel about the trade being split in two, them that drive ZEC…and them that drive diesel?
* 43% of London Taxis are ZEC. But if you drive a diesel, how do you feel about being cast out of bus lanes and certain areas?
* Again, are TfL looking to divide and conquer?
There is much more in this edition of the Badge.
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