One Swallow Does Not A Summer Make

[balli hi]

I read an article in the London Evening Standard yesterday stating that the London cab trade had turned the corner in light of the recession , accompanied by quotes from one of our most respected members at the LTDA and one other cabbie , fair enough , yes i have seen a slight increase in work levels in the past fortnight , but turned the corner ? to quote that most famous of phrases " "One swallow does not a summer make, nor one fine day; similarly one day or brief time of happiness does not make a person entirely happy."

Here is the news article ; London taxis finally emerge from gloom of the ash clouds

Mark Prigg, Science and Technology Editor

07.06.10

http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/standard/article-23841905-london-taxis-finally-emerge-from-gloom-of-the-ash-clouds.do

Londoners are returning to black cabs after their business was hit by the recession and the ash cloud crisis, it was claimed today.

"The early part of this year was just desperate, and worse than when we were in the middle of the recession," said Steve McNamara of the London Taxi Drivers' Association.

"The ash cloud really affected us and was the worst week most people can remember. But in the past few weeks, things are beginning to change.

"We've seen business getting back to something approaching normal levels. People are using cabs again."

The Square Mile was worst hit, with expenses crackdowns and meetings being cancelled by flight disruptions.

"The City is returning to normal now and drivers aren't having to wait for hours in cab ranks between fares," said Mr McNamara. "We're cautious, but we hope we've turned a corner - and the weekend market is doing very well from the number of euro tourists."

Taxi driver Lee Neary, 35, from east London, said: "Business has picked up since the pound went down. I've seen a lot of American tourists now coming over to buy electrical goods."

Another, John Dennehy, 43, said his takings were also hit by the ash cloud stopping flights to London.

Meanwhicle Eco City Vehicles, which makes a green alternative to the traditional cab using Mercedes Vito six-seater vehicles, reported a 30 per cent increase in revenues last year. Chief executive Peter Da Costa said ash-cloud jitters among drivers had eased off and the return of bankers' bonuses had also led to more journeys by taxi.

There's nothing wrong with a bit of optimism , of course not , but , caution is the key word for me , the chancellor will reveal his first budget shortly and we will see just what it will mean for all of us as regards the economy and how it will effect any recovery , but that's not all , the cab trade in London faces some very difficult times ahead , but not just the cab trade but businesses as a whole due to some tough decisions being taken down at city hall , basically the Mayor is under pressure to improve London's air quality or face having a fine of £300million imposed , so how does he plan to improve london's air quality ? ... by whacking London Taxi Drivers yet again , only this time white van man is to be clobbered as well .

Here is the story below , or click on the link : http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/standard/article-23752412-boris-makes-u-turn-on-green-charges-for-vans-and-taxis.do

Boris Johnson makes U-turn on green charges for vans and taxis

Katharine Barney

Boris Johnson is to press ahead with an air-quality scheme he shelved to avoid a huge fine from the European Union.

The U-turn means that from 2012 he will charge van drivers to use London's roads unless they spend thousands of pounds making their vehicles more environmentally friendly.

The Mayor had originally said he would delay the third phase of the Low Emission Zone, which would hit "white van man", to help smaller businesses through the economic downturn.

But at the Tory Party conference today he was due to announce it will go ahead as part of a series of measures designed to ensure London and the UK avoid a £300million fine if they fail to meet strict new rules on air quality by 2012. Other proposals include:

Refusing licenses for black cabs which are more than 15 years old by 2012 and 10 years old by 2015.

Planting plane trees alongside busy roads and hedges at congestion hot-spots, such as Marble Arch and Hyde Park Corner, to protect pedestrians from dust particles.

Rerouting traffic away from busy roads during particularly hot periods when pollution is at its highest.

The Mayor's environment adviser, Isabel Dedring, said the stricter Low Emission Zone would be brought in because City Hall had realised there was no other way to meet EU targets.

She said: "At the time, we didn't know just what effect the implementation of Phase 3 of the LEZ would have but, looking at the figures, it's something we have to do. Also we are hoping the economy will have sufficiently recovered by then to help soften the blow.

"The Government has announced a new policy of handing out cash for scrapping old vehicles and we want to encourage further incentives for retrofitting, not just buying new vans."

Drivers of heavy goods vehicles, buses and coaches already have to pay a £200 daily charge or a £1,000 daily fine for an unpaid charge if their engines do not meet green standards.

Phase 3 of the LEZ will mean the rules also apply to smaller vans. Their owners will be told they have to meet new Euro 5 standards of air quality, which could have a huge impact on delivery vans for smaller businesses.

They will face a £100 daily charge or a £500 penalty if the charge is not paid when the rules come into force. Around 90,000 smaller vehicles across the UK fall into the category, with an estimated 10,000 of those in London.

Today's announcement comes only months after Mr Johnson said the charge was too much for drivers of small vehicles to handle in a recession.

Steve McNamara, of the London Taxi Drivers' Association, said: "I think it is fair to say London taxi drivers have just fallen out with Boris. We spent a lot of money in 2007 converting our cabs to make them greener and now to do this is outrageous."

Stephen Alambritis, spokesman for the Federation of Small Businesses said: "This could tip businesses over the edge. Although we might not be at the height of the recession, small businesses will still be recovering and might not be able to cope.

"There has already been a 600 per cent increase in white van men on jobseekers' allowance and we would urge Boris to hold off on this."

Britain does not currently meet EU standards and has applied for an extension that would give it until 2011 to meet the required levels of fine particles to avoid the fine. It is also about to apply for another extension until 2015 to meet the required target for the amount of nitrogen oxygen.