Latest news with #HackneyCarriage
BBC News
5 days ago
- Business
- BBC News
'Huddersfield Station closure disruption will hurt town'
Rail bosses have said a month-long closure of a busy commuter station is necessary to give passengers a facility "fit for the 21st century", but the move has caused frustration for businesses who fear they will be left counting the cost of the Saturday 30 August to Sunday 28 September, engineers will carry out work to improve Huddersfield Station and make it more accessible with better that time, no trains will run through the station, with diversionary routes and rail replacement buses in place. Taxi driver Suhail Rashid said the loss of footfall from the closure would have a "huge impact" and had caused "panic" among his colleagues. Mr Rashid, who is a trade representative for the Kirklees Hackney Carriage Association, said: "We rely on that trade from the train station all the time."I spend about five or six hours of my day here picking up fares and a lot of other drivers are here for up to 12 hours."It is the main part of our business so where are we going to get the footfall when it's shut."The closure will also mean that a newsagents and coffee shop on the concourse will have to shut, as will two pubs in converted parts of the Victorian station. Development has been ongoing at the station since 2023 as part of the multibillion-pound Transpennine Route Upgrade (TRU) funded by the Department of closure will allow for work to be carried out to reconstruct and extend platforms to accommodate longer trains as well as strengthening Huddersfield viaduct and upgrading tracks and Rashid said drivers had already been impacted by weekend station closures."Long-term, it's a good investment, but in the short-term it is hurting people like us," he said. "The station rank takes about 25 cars, so if we can't come here, where are we meant to go? There's not enough space to go to other ranks." Naurez Anjum, who works at private hire firm X Services Taxis opposite the station, said: "We have up to 40 customers a day from the station so we could lose hundreds of pounds."A month is a long time and it's likely going to impact us in a big way."Located either side of the station are two pubs, the King's Head and the Head of Steam. The former was once the waiting room while the latter was the ticket offices when the Grade I-listed station, known for its grand frontage, opened in O'Brien, general manager at the King's Head, said the pub, which is accessible via the station, would also be closed during the said there had already been a reduction in people coming into the pub on weekends, especially from those taking part in the Transpennine Real Ale Trail. "It's not ideal and we have seen fewer customers but it is good that the work is being done and that the station is being improved."Huddersfield is one of the stops on the Real Ale Trail and villages on the route such as Marsden and Slaithwaite could also see a drop in the number of drinkers visiting pubs. A nearby cafe owner, who did not want to be named, said her business had suffered during the ongoing disruption and she was worried about the 30-day closure. "We're just going to have to try and ride it out and hope things pick up after."While Huddersfield is shut, Network Rail, which is delivering the project, said Brighouse Station would operate as the main interchange for customers travelling to and from Huddersfield with a rail replacement bus operation between the two stations. However, Huddersfield resident John O'Neil said the reliability and time it took to travel on replacement services could deter people from coming into the town."Town centres are already struggling so this isn't going to help and the these buses take so long that I can't see people getting on them."Meanwhile, regular rail passenger Perrie Coates said the closure would be disruptive but "had to be done"."It's one of those things where at least they are improving the rail service and it will be beneficial when it's finished." Samantha Sharp, manager of Huddersfield BID, said there would be some disruption but that the rail upgrades were vital to "the continuing growth of the town".She added: "Huddersfield is going through a phase of major development, which although will cause some inconvenience to businesses and visitors, the benefits of the developments will ensure that Huddersfield is a town fit for the future."Rail users will have a wealth of information given to them throughout the month and rail replacement buses will be available, to limit any inconvenience to travel."Gareth Hope, sponsor for Transpennine Route Upgrade, said by concentrating the work into a 30-day period, "we can avoid years of disruptive weekend and midweek closures, reducing long-term disruption for customers, businesses and the wider community."He added: "We understand there is no ideal time to complete work of this scale and we've been engaging with local businesses over the past year to ensure that the impact is reduced where possible."The closure has also spelled the end of the tradition of Huddersfield Station using cats as pest controllers, which began with the arrival of Felix, who became a global celebrity when she joined the staff in 2011. Transpennine confirmed that Felix's replacement, Bolt, was retiring from pest control duties because of the "confusion" the pet could experience during the engineering work, and would not return to the platforms. Listen to highlights from West Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, catch up with the latest episode of Look North.
BBC News
20-06-2025
- Automotive
- BBC News
Taxi drivers in North Northamptonshire fear zone changes
Taxi drivers in a county have told councillors they will be forced out of the profession due to the introduction of new policies include changes to vehicles and the scrapping of four taxi zones to create one covering the whole of north implementation has been delayed from April to September to coincide with a new set of byelaws for Hackney Carriage vehicles which are awaiting confirmation from the Department for carriage drivers have claimed a new enlarged taxi zone would be unworkable because they would struggle to learn all the streets. The new Reform UK executive on North Northamptonshire Council met for the first time on Tuesday. Henry Liffen, a licensed Hackney Carriage driver since 1988, said: "I am completely opposed to a new geographical test being proposed which would entail learning the whole of the north Northants zone, which is bigger than the knowledge test of London."If this new rule is passed with a heavy heart and sadness, as I operate a wheelchair accessible vehicle, I would hand my taxi licence back to north Northants council and thank them for taking my business away from me." Ricky Dunkley told the meeting he had been in the taxi trade in Wellingborough for more than 20 years, he raised concerns about the need to transition to wheelchair cars by said: "My current taxi cost me £8,000, under these current policies I would be expected to spend at least £65,000, that's a 700% increase on my investment. "If this goes through, I'll have no choice but to close my business or to move it to another council and work off cross border laws."Councillors unanimously approved a new draft Hackney Carriage and Taxi Licensing single zone was signed off last year by the previous Conservative-controlled council, but the new implementation date was approved on to the concerns raised George Candler, the executive director for place and economy, said: "We recognise the importance and livelihood of the trade and for that to be affordable, but we have a role as the licensing authority in setting out the policy and the changes we put within that."Kirk Harrison, the executive member for regulatory services, said: "It is not the final word on the matter."He told the meeting the council needed "a harmonised approach" but that a full review of the policy would be carried out by the end of 2025.A further report will be presented to full council at the end of this month for full policy and byelaws approval. Follow Northamptonshire news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.
Time of India
22-05-2025
- Health
- Time of India
Vector-control drive across all KP facilities
Kolkata: Kolkata Police headquarters at Lalbazar has initiated a comprehensive clean-up operation across its facilities, allocating Rs 56 lakh for sanitisation and greening efforts ahead of the monsoon season to prevent the spread of vector-borne diseases like malaria and dengue. The initiative extends to police stations, armed forces barracks, and various departmental buildings. "An external agency will be contracted to maintain cleanliness and manage plant care at traffic guards throughout the year," a senior police official stated. The scope includes the Tala Traffic Training School in North Kolkata, the DC (Traffic) South office, Hackney Carriage branch, stationery, and clothing store. The directive specifically addresses concerns about impounded vehicles near police stations, which can become potential breeding grounds for mosquitoes. Officials have been instructed to ensure proper drainage and prevent water accumulation in these areas. An officer said that the district and commissionerate officials across the state received similar directives for their respective jurisdictions.
Times
15-05-2025
- Automotive
- Times
Motorway middle-lane hoggers aren't a nuisance: they're dangerous
The trip meter on my dashboard has ticked over 11 miles by the time the white Hackney carriage finally indicates and pulls into the inside lane. Could it be he's had an epiphany? After all, in the time he has been driving in the middle lane he's only driven past one permanent sign that says 'Keep left unless overtaking' and — quite conveniently — a dot matrix sign emblazoned with 'Don't hog the middle lane'. Sadly it's not an epiphany. Moving lanes, it transpires, was necessary to come off at the next junction. I'd followed the taxi from Junction 1 of the M1 at Brent Cross in London all the way to Junction 6, for St Albans, in Hertfordshire, as the driver cruised obliviously up
Yahoo
12-04-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Drivers risk fines after motorists spotted ‘flouting' key High Street rule
DRIVERS in Stourbridge are being warned they could face fines if they fail to comply with night time restrictions around the town centre. Dudley Council has announced it will begin enforcement action after several motorists have been found to have been 'flouting' the rules of the night time Traffic Regulation Order (TRO) that is in place on Stourbridge High Street. The TRO restricts vehicle access to the High Street between midnight and 4.00am, with only licensed Hackney Carriage taxis permitted on the road during these hours. However, the council has said private hire vehicles have been spotted breaking the rules, with some illegally parking and utilising taxi rank points. Drivers found to be contravening the order or illegally parking could face a fine of £70, with private hire drivers also risking a review of their licence. Cllr Damian Corfield, Cabinet Member for Highways and Environment, said: 'The TRO and parking restrictions are in place to help keep people safe when they are enjoying Stourbridge's night time economy. 'Unfortunately, we have had several reports of drivers ignoring the rules and this could place people at risk, especially youngsters who are out having fun. 'West Midlands Police will now be undertaking enforcement operations in the area to ensure the TRO is not being breached. 'We will also take enforcement measures around the use of parking and taxi rank bays.' Working with West Midlands Police, Dudley Council said it is reviewing signage and markings in the area to make it clear what parking restrictions are in place. Hackney Carriage drivers will be able to continue to use the taxi ranks on High Street. Drivers of private hire vehicles and other privately owned vehicles instead should relocate their meet point away from the High Street, with Dudley Council suggesting other nearby locations, such as Lower High Street or Crown Lane.
