New Computer System For LTPH...All Licensing Accounts/Renewals To Be Online.

 New TPH contact numbers  

Transport for London is moving away from higher rate 084 and 087 contact numbers across the whole organisation. These are being replaced with 03 numbers which are charged as a local rate number and are also included in many fixed line and mobile phone bundles 

With effect from Tuesday 1 October 2013 this change will be implemented within London Taxi and Private Hire (TPH). 

The new numbers to contact us on are: Driver and operator licensing queries Vehicle licensing enquiries 0343 222 4444, s 0343 222 5555 

The existing numbers will also remain open for a short period of time to allow customers to transition to using the new numbers. 

Update on Vehicle Licensing Service 

Our new vehicle licensing service went live in February and so far we have undertaken 10,900 taxi and 22,654 Private Hire Vehicle inspections. 

The overall feedback from customers is positive and now that the new service has settled into a steady state, we will be looking to undertake a customer satisfaction survey in the near future. The survey will be carried out at each of the six inspection centres over the course of a week. If you are asked to take part then please do take the time to answer all the questions as your feedback is important to us.

You can book a vehicle inspection by calling 0343 222 5555. We will also soon be launching our new online service and once this is live you will be able to book your vehicle inspection online. 

Keep an eye out for more information about this in the coming weeks. 

New Licensing System 

Over the past three years we have been working hard to deliver a more efficient and modern licensing service to you and today we take another large step in this programme of work as we launch our new licensing system for drivers and operators. Whilst our old licensing systems were heavily paper based and disparate, the new system called TOLA provides an end to end licensing system for TPH staff.

While you may not realise the benefits immediately, once we have bedded in the new system and new ways of working it will speed up the licensing process and make the whole process much more transparent. 

In the near future you will also be able to apply and renew online as well as track the progress of your application. We have no doubt that it will take time for the new system to settle in and we appreciate your patience during this transition. To enable us to migrate data to the new system from our old systems, and to allow for final staff refresher training sessions our Customer Support lines will be unavailable for the remainder of today - Monday 30 September. 

We are sorry if this causes any inconvenience. However, any enquiries can be directed to TPH.Enquiries@tfl.gov.uk and from Tuesday 1 October 2013 you can contact our Customer Support team on 0343 222 4444.

Please do be patient with our staff as while they have undergone extensive training, nothing can replace using the system in a live environment.

This does mean we anticipate an increase in call answering and handling times for the next few weeks.

Please rest assured that if you are one of the drivers impacted by recent changes to the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) and are currently unable to work, we are regularly checking every day for the results of new disclosures. Any results received for renewal applicants whose licences have expired, or are close to expiring, are treated as a high priority case. 

We aim to make decision on these high priority applications within 24 hours of receiving the results of the disclosure. 

Benefits of the New System 

Our new licensing system brings a range of improvements to the way we work. As well as helping us move away from paper based files which can taker longer to process than the new electronic applications, the system will also improve our operational capabilities. 

We will be issuing compliance officers with handheld devices. 

These will enable the compliance team to undertake on-street licensing checks on drivers, operators or vehicles in real time. Handhelds will be capable of scanning barcodes printed on the new licences, which will instantly bring up the licence holder’s details. Handhelds will also allow the printing of notices on street, enabling the compliance team to spend less time in the office completing paperwork and more time conducting enforcement activities. Additionally, as the new system will allow operators to upload details of drivers and vehicles online in the future, part of the compliance inspection will be able to be completed remotely.

New Taxi Driver Licences and Identifiers 

Transport for London will commence issuing replacement taxi driver licences and identifiers to all licensed London taxi drivers from October 2013. The new licences and identifiers will be of a similar design to existing ones but will contain a number of new security features, including a hologram and a barcode unique to the driver. In addition, following feedback from the trade, the new suburban identifiers have a larger space to show the areas in which a driver is licensed to ply for hire. 

Drivers should display their replacement identifiers and carry the copy of their replacement licence as soon as they receive them. Drivers renting taxis should give the original licence to the owner of the taxi and ask for the return of the existing licence. Accompanying the new documents will be instructions advising how to return existing documents to TfL. 

We will shortly be issuing a TPH notice containing further information about the new licences and identifiers.

Guide to New Online Accounts for Licensees 

As part of our new vehicle licensing service and modernisation programme, we will shortly be introducing new functionality for licensees. Once live, this system will enable all licensees to manage their licences and applications through a new online account, allowing us to move away from our current paper based file system. Later on this year you will receive a letter from us providing details of your individual account and a password. 

Once you have received this letter you will be able to use this information to access your new online account through our website. Keep an eye out for the letter in the coming months. As we have records for a number of licences with the same address, or more than one business name linked to an address, you may receive more than one set of account details. 

Don’t worry if this happens – we will include instructions about how to contact us to get these accounts merged. 

We really believe the move to a new licensing system and the imminent introduction of online accounts will revolutionise the way we work and the service we offer, making our licensing process more efficient and effective for you. If you would like to be included on the distribution list for our regular In Gear bulletins, please email TPH.

Enquiries@tfl.gov.uk or alternatively all information on our new vehicle licensing service can be found at www.tfl.gov.uk/tph

Editorial Comment:

This is all very well, but what if you don't have a computer or smart phone?

Upcoming Changes To The City Airport, Due Early October 2013.

The feeder rank at City Airport is changing and from next month there will be a new taxi feeder park, which will have 10 taxi lanes. This will be located just off of Hartmann Road. Taxis should move from the feeder park to the new small feeder rank on Hartmann Road.

The new feeder park is due to open in early October and initially there will be marshals on-site to assist drivers.

Finsbury Park

We’ve recently received reports about problems at Finsbury Park Bus Station. The problems involve taxi drivers and the use of the loading bay outside Costa Coffee, mainly from 20:00 onwards and on all days of the week.

The problems include: 

- Taxis blocking the cycle lane which runs alongside the loading bay

- Taxis not allowing delivery vehicles on to the loading bay

- Taxis not moving up on the loading bay when there is space

We have been working to try and officially appoint a new night time taxi rank in the loading bay and also a part-time taxi rank in the loading bay in Rock Street. While this work has almost been completed we have now had to suspend it following reports about the above problems.

If these problems continue then the additional taxi ranks will not be appointed.

Following a significant amount of work and engagement with taxi drivers at Finsbury Park there was an informal agreement to allow drivers to use the loading bay outside Costa Coffee under certain conditions and for a third taxi to use the designated taxi rank after certain times. The actions of the drivers causing these problems risk this informal agreement being revoked, the loading bay being enforced and drivers parked on the loading bay being issued with Penalty Charge Notices (PCN). 

If taxi drivers block the cycle lane in the bus station this means that cyclists cannot use it, are forced around the taxis parked there and put at risk of colliding with buses coming into the station.  Taxis parking next to the loading bay also blocks the entrance to the station causing problems on Seven Sisters Road and St Thomas’s Road.

There have also been reports of drivers:

- Using their mobile phone while driving through the bus station

- Turning left out of the bus station on to Stroud Green Road which is not allowed

- Reversing out of the bus station

- Not using their lights when it is dark

- Being abusive towards bus drivers and police officers

These actions are unacceptable and put other road users, including taxi drivers, at risk. Action will be taken against any driver caught committing any of the above offences and their fitness to remain licensed will be reviewed.

Morden taxi rank

Taxi drivers picking up passengers at Morden Station after 19:00 should use the shared taxi rank/loading bay on London Road.

Increased enforcement to prevent other vehicles parking in the rank is taking place to help keep this space clear for taxis.

Rest ranks

We are often asked by drivers where can they stop to take a break and a list of TfL appointed rest ranks and refreshment ranks can be found in the TfL Taxi Ranks booklet which is available here.

There are also rest ranks in the City of London, these are free to use and drivers can stop for up to 30 minutes. The City rest ranks can be found at the following locations:

- Aldersgate Street

- Angel Street

- Cheapside

- Gresham Street

- Noble Street

- Queen Victoria Street

- Ropemaker Street

- St Andrew’s Street

- St Martin's Le Grand

Waterloo Station

We’ve received reports that taxis are over-ranking at Waterloo Station resulting in buses and other vehicles being obstructed and delayed. If the rank at the station is full then drivers must not over-rank and instead should move on. operations involving the British Transport Police and our compliance officers are planned to address any problems at the taxi rank. 

Marylebone Station

There are ongoing works in Harewood Avenue resulting in the northbound lane being closed between Hayes Place and Harewood Row but the southbound lane is still open and the taxi rank is still working as normal.

Turnham Green Terrace taxi rank

We’ve recently received a number of calls about which taxi drivers can use the Turnham Green Terrace taxi rank.

The rank is in the London Borough of Hounslow and whilst the borough boundary for Ealing is very close to the rank it actually runs along the far western side of the pavement on the northbound side of Turnham Green Terrace, meaning that the carriageway and rank are not in the London Borough of Ealing. This means that only ‘All London’ drivers and those taxi drivers who are licensed for the London Borough of Hounslow are permitted to use the taxi rank.

Prior to 2000, the Turnham Green Terrace rank was outside any suburban sector but was designated as an ‘island rank’ which suburban drivers were allowed to use. When the old sectors were converted to the current ones, drivers formerly licensed for Sector 5A who customarily used the rank could no longer do so as their new sector was Ealing and Hillingdon. To address this disadvantage these drivers were therefore allowed to apply to be licensed for the London Borough of Hounslow subject to undergoing a knowledge assessment of that one borough. However, this concession was only available to drivers licensed prior to April 2000 and is no longer available.

Any driver first licensed since 2000 for the Ealing and Hillingdon sector only is not permitted to use the taxi rank at Turnham Green Terrace. These drivers would only be permitted to use the taxi rank if they were licensed for the Hounslow, Kingston upon Thames and Richmond upon Thames sector or had become ‘All London’ licensed drivers.

Our Compliance Officers will be conducting visits to the Turnham Green Terrace taxi rank to ensure that only drivers who are licensed to use this rank are using it.

Bressenden Place – taxi drop offs

Please don’t forget that if you are dropping off passengers for Eland House, Portland House or other buildings in the area please do not stop next to or just in front of the lorry holding area on Bressenden Place.

A dedicated taxi drop-off space has been provided on Bressenden Place, before the lorry holding area.

Works at Palestra

Between mid-July to October 2013 there will be works around Palestra with these starting on the side of the building facing Blackfriars Road, meaning that the nearside southbound traffic lane will be suspended for about three weeks.

From early August work will be carried out on the Union Street side of the building and Union Street will operate eastbound only between Blackfriars Road and Nelson Square. Signage at the Great Suffolk Junction will advise westbound vehicles that entry into Union Street is for access to Nelson Square only, with other westbound traffic diverted north along Great Suffolk Street and via Southwark Street and Blackfriars Road. A contra-flow cycle lane will operate westbound on Union Street, with a barrier to segregate this from the main eastbound traffic. The attached map shows the diversion route.

Union Street will be returned to two-way operation as soon as possible and the remaining works, on Gambia Street and on the north side of the building, will be carried out in October.

Events and road closures

You can find information about major public events and works in London that involve road closures and could therefore disrupt traffic on the TfL website here.

Upcoming events include:

- Sunday 6 October 2013, The annual Royal Parks Half Marathon will start in Hyde Park and will follow the route: Hyde Park Corner, St James's Park, Parliament Square and Victoria Embankment. Approaches onto Victoria Embankment will be closed.

- Saturday 2 November 2013, the annual Harrods Christmas Parade will form up at 08:00 and move off at 08:15. The parade route is Trevor Square, Knightsbridge, Bowater House, Brompton Road, Hans Road, Basil Street, Sloane Street, with the finish at Knightsbridge at around 09:15.

- There are various events at Alexandra Palace and two taxi ranks – one near the main entrance to the Palm Court bar for smaller events and one in the east car park for larger events such as concerts. Information about upcoming events is availablehere.

- Find out what’s on at the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park and the venues in the park by clickinghere

Live traffic news and disruptions taking place on London's major roads can also be found on the TfL website here.

You can find information about street works, road closures and events in the City of London here.

Consultations

Open consultations currently include:

A10 Bishopsgate Footway Scheme

Read about the proposed changes to the footways along A10 Bishopsgate between Camomile Street and Primrose Street here. The closing date for commenting on the proposals is 4 October 2013.

Euston Area Plan

A draft Euston Area Plan has been prepared and a consultation seeking comments and views is currently being held. The plan includes proposals for taxis. You can find a copy of the plan and details of how to comment here. The closing date is 7 October 2013.

Improving Tottenham Hale – Proposed reduction of the speed limits

It is proposed to introduce a lower speed limit of 20 miles per hour on Broad Lane and the surrounding roads within the current one-way system. The closing date for the consultation is 18 October 2013 and you can find out more about the proposals here.

A4 North End Road – Proposed parking changes

Changes to some road markings are being proposed in part of North End Road, read about the proposalshere. The closing date for commenting on them is 18 October 2013.

More consultations can be found on the TfL Consultation Hub and on the London boroughs’ own websites.

Is This New Service From DBS, The Answer To Present Fiasco Over Bill Renewals? By Jim Thomas

 The Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) has today launched a new service, called the Update Service, a continuous check that roles over from one year to the next, so your DBS disclosure never runs out, all for a £13 annual fee. 

From today, individuals can now join the Update Service putting them in greater control of their information; allowing them to reuse their DBS certificates when applying for similar jobs.

This will reduce bureaucracy and save them time and money. If an individual subscribes to the Update Service their employer can go online, with their consent, and carry out a free, instant check to find out if the information released on the DBS certificate is current and up-to-date.

This has to be the solution the present fiasco where licensed Taxi drivers are being told they can no longer recieve temporary licence extensions allowing them to carry on working, while waiting the arrival of a licence renewal.

The applicant will never have to apply again as the service is automatic and ongoing. 

There are a couple of points that have to be taken into consideration. 

1. The applicant can only apply for the update service after the expiry of any existing DBS check certificate.

2. If you have recently made an aplication you have 14 days in which you can still subscribe to the service.

 Quick answer

DBS update service

Not what you're looking for? ↓

The Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) update service lets applicants keep their DBS certificates up to date online and allows employers to check a certificate online.

DBS checks used to be called CRB checks.

Applicants

How to register

You can register online as soon as you have your application reference number. You can ask for the number when you apply for yourDBS check.

Or you can wait and register with your certificate number when you receive your DBS certificate. If so, you must do so within 14 days of the certificate being issued.

To check the progress of your DBS certificate use the DBS tracking service.

Registration lasts for 1 year and costs £13 per year (payable by debit or credit card only).

You’ll get an ID number with your registration that you need to log on to the service. Make sure you write it down.

What you get

When you join, you’ll get an online account that lets you:

• take your certificate from one job to the next
• give employers permission to check your certificate online, and see who has checked it
• add or remove a certificate

See detailed guidance for applicants

Employers and other organisations

Employers and other organisations can check someone’s DBScertificate status online and get a result straight away.

There’s no registration process or fee for employers to check a certificate online, but employers:

• must be legally entitled to carry out a check
• have the worker’s permission

See detailed guidance for employers.

Help

DBS customer services
customerservices@dbs.gsi.gov.uk
Telephone: 0870 90 90 811
Minicom: 0870 90 90 344
Welsh line: 0870 90 90 223
Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm
Find out about call charges

Transgender applications
sensitive@dbs.gsi.gov.uk
Telephone: 0151 676 1452
Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm
Find out about call charges

Data protection and fair processing

The Disclosure and Barring Service will refer the details provided on this application form to government and law enforcement bodies in accordance with any relevant legislation. The details provided to these bodies will be used for identifying possible matches to records held by them.

Where such a match is established, data may be released to the DBSfor inclusion on any certificate issued. The details provided on this form may be used to update the records held by the bodies specified above. The details provided on this form may be used to verify your identity for authentication purposes.

The DBS may use any information provided by the DBS on a certificate or otherwise held by the DBS to inform any of its barring decisions made under its powers within the safeguarding Vulnerable Groups Act 2006.

Taxi ranks update - 18 September 2013

Tour of Britain – Sunday 22 September 2013

On Sunday 22 September 2013 the final stage of the Tour of Britain cycle race takes place in London. The race route goes along Tower Hill, Lower Thames Street, Upper Thames Street, Victoria Embankment and around Whitehall.

 

The first race is scheduled to start at 10:00 and the final race is scheduled to end at 17:30.

 

More information about stage 8 of the event is available here and attached is a map showing the route.

 

Kenwood House and Tobacco Dock

Thank you to all of the drivers who supported and worked at the recent events at Kenwood House and Tobacco Dock. The feedback received has all been very positive.

New taxi rank – Regent Street

A new taxi rank has been appointed in Regent Street. The taxi rank is for eight taxis and operates between 00:00 and 04:00.

The rank, which is on the western side of Regent Street, starts just to the south of the junction with Heddon Street.  The taxi rank is in the bus lane but operates when the bus lanes is not operation and has been marked out. 

North Greenwich Station taxi rank

The essential works at North Greenwich Station have now finished and the taxi rank has reopened.

 

During the works the taxi rank was remarked and drivers should use both lanes when the rank is busy.

New taxi rank – Vigo Street

 

A new taxi rank for 2 taxis has been appointed in Vigo Street. The taxi rank is outside the Burberry shop and operates 24 hours a day.

Marylebone Station

There are ongoing works in Harewood Avenue resulting in the northbound lane being closed between Hayes Place and Harewood Row but the southbound lane is still open and the taxi rank is still working as normal. 

Bressenden Place – taxi drop offs

Please don’t forget that if you are dropping off passengers for Eland House, Portland House or other buildings in the area please do not stop next to or just in front of the lorry holding area on Bressenden Place.

 

A dedicated taxi drop-off space has been provided on Bressenden Place, before the lorry holding area.

Works at Palestra

Between mid-July to October 2013 there will be works around Palestra with these starting on the side of the building facing Blackfriars Road, meaning that the nearside southbound traffic lane will be suspended for about three weeks.

 

From early August to early September work will be carried out on the Union Street side of the building and Union Street will operate eastbound only between Blackfriars Road and Nelson Square. Signage at the Great Suffolk Junction will advise westbound vehicles that entry into Union Street is for access to Nelson Square only, with other westbound traffic diverted north along Great Suffolk Street and via Southwark Street and Blackfriars Road. A contra-flow cycle lane will operate westbound on Union Street, with a barrier to segregate this from the main eastbound traffic. The attached map shows the diversion route.

 

Union Street will be returned to two-way operation as soon as possible and the remaining works, on Gambia Street and on the north side of the building, will be carried out in September and early October.

Events and road closures

You can find information about major public events and works in London that involve road closures and could therefore disrupt traffic on the TfL website here.

Upcoming events include:

-        Thursday 19 September 2013, 17:00- 20:30 the Bloomberg Square Mile Run takes place in the City, information about the run can be found here

-        There are various events at Alexandra Palace and two taxi ranks – one near the main entrance to the Palm Court bar for smaller events and one in the east car park for larger events such as concerts. Information about upcoming events is available here..

-        Find out what’s on at the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park and the venues in the park by clicking here

Live traffic news and disruptions taking place on London's major roads can also be found on the TfL website here.

You can find information about street works, road closures and events in the City of London here.

Consultations

Open consultations currently include:

Old Oak – a vision for the future?

HS2 provides an opportunity to regenerate Old Oak Common and a consultation on the future vision for the area is being conducted. Find out more about this exciting new vision and how you can have your say here. The closing date is 20 September 2013.

 

Westhorne Avenue/Burnt Ash Hill

Read about the proposals to improve accessibility, particularly for pedestrians, on A205 Westhorne Avenue & St Mildred’s Road at the junctions with Baring Road and Burnt Ash Hill here. The closing date for commenting is 25 September 2013.

 

Euston Area Plan

A draft Euston Area Plan has been prepared and a consultation seeking comments and views is currently being held. The plan includes proposals for taxis. You can find a copy of the plan and details of how to comment here.. The closing date is 7 October 2013.

 

More consultations can be found on the TfL Consultation Hub and on the London boroughs’ own websites.  

Useful links

-         tfl.gov.uk/tph – taxi licensing information

-         Taxi ranks booklet

-         Find the latest TfL press notices

-         Planned traffic impacts from events, road closures and tunnel maintenance

-         TfL Consultations

-         TfL Projects and schemes

-         Taxi rest ranks in the City of London

Transport for London: Taxi and Private Hire Review

Road closures in central London for the World Triathlon Grand Final - 11 to 15 September.

Road users advised to avoid driving near the route of the Triathlon, particularly around Hyde Park Corner, and in Westminster and the City of London on Saturday 14 and Sunday 15 September. 

Transport for London (TfL) is advising road users, including bus passengers, to check if their journeys this week will be affected by the road closures in place for the World Triathlon Grand Final and to plan ahead.
 
Thousands of triathletes, including Olympic medal winners Alistair and Jonathan Brownlee, will compete on the same course used last summer in the London 2012 Olympic Games, with closed roads in and around Hyde Park, Westminster and the City of London.

From Wednesday 11 to Friday 13 September the triathlon will be limited to Hyde Park. 

On Saturday 14 September a number of major roads in central London, including Hyde Park Corner, Park Lane and roads around St James Park and Buckingham Palace will be closed in the morning.

The same roads will be closed for most of the day on Sunday 15 September, while a number of additional roads - including Whitehall, Southwark Bridge, Victoria Embankment, Lower and Upper Thames Street - will be closed until the early afternoon. 

TfL's key travel advice ahead of the World Triathlon Grand Final is: 
 
The on-street Triathlon Events on Saturday 14 and Sunday 15 September will take place on fully closed roads. 

Avoid driving near the route in Westminster and the City of London, in particular:

• Hyde Park Corner
• Park Lane from Marble Arch towards Hyde Park Corner
• Constitution Hill, Link Road, Spur Road
• Birdcage walk, Great George Street
• The Mall, Horse Guards Road, Marlborough Road

On Sunday 15 September there will be significant road closures in Westminster and the City of London including:

• Northumberland Avenue, Victoria Embankment
• Southwark Bridge
• Lower and Upper Thames to Tower Hill
• Parliament Square
• Whitehall, Parliament Street

Plan ahead

 

A number of Barclays Cycle Hire docking stations on the route will be suspended.

Additionally due to an upgrade of the operating system the scheme will be unavailable to unregistered users as new upgrades are implemented over the weekend.

Public transport, walking and cycling will be the best ways to get around the area. 

If driving is your only option, please allow more time for your journey or travel at a different time if possible.

Buses in the area will be on diversion or will finish earlier than usual due to the road closures.
 
Leon Daniels, Transport for London's Managing Director of Surface Transport said: 'After last year's amazing Games, London continues to show the world we are the go-to destination to host major international sporting events. 

'The World Triathlon Grand Final this week will bring excitement and draw crowds as will the final day of The Tour of Britain next Sunday 22 September.  I would encourage drivers and bus passengers to avoid the route if possible 'and plan their journeys ahead so that they don't get caught out and can continue to get around.'
 
The last day of the Tour of Britain will also take place on full closed roads in Westminster and the City of London next Sunday, 22 September. 

Road users are again asked to avoid driving near the route and advised to plan ahead and use public transport to make the most of everything going on in central London that weekend. 

Source: TfL website