There seems to be a policy of noncompliance under the new administration of interim General Manager Helen Chapman. We have had reports from many drivers, that complaints to LTPH are not receiving replies.
As we have had no response from either TfL of LTPH, over the problem with minicabs they license, illegally plying for hire and forming an illegal rank in the bus lane at the junction of Regent Street by Swallow Street's Archway causing congestion, one of our researchers decided to write to a Ward Councillor Glenys Roberts.
The Councillor refreshingly, replied almost by return of post.
Below is the reply from Councillor Roberts.
Another of Taxi Leaks researchers sent off a number of freedom of information requests, to find out how many parking tickets have been issued to cars parked in Regent Street between the hours of 22:00 and 05:00. The answer we received back was truly astonishing.
Available data shows, in the 5 years ending in December 2012, there has been a massive reduction in PCNs issued in the whole of the Regent Street area; 1721 in 2007, down to 381 in 2012.
In sector F3 Regent Street, 11 tickets were issued in 2012, that's less than 1 a month, at a time (22:00-05:00) in an area that is constantly packed with licensed PHVs illegally plying for hire in a bus lane, every night of the week.
The enforcement camera at the junction of Vigo and Regent has also recently been removed and so far, there are no plans to reinstall.
Amazingly, the Fifty yards of the actual Swallow Street from Piccadilly are kept clear.
In the 5 years to 2012, 416 tickets were issued in this small street. This has insured the minicab touts do not illegal park in Swallow Street.
So why are the council wardens unable to keep the touts away from the Regent Street side of the Swallow Street Arch?
NSL have stated that their wardens have been victimised and violently attacked at this location and therefore had been instructed not to issue PCNs at this location, unless accompanied by police officers.
It Seemed strange to us that the minicab touts inside Swallow street had not attacked the wardens, just the ones out in Regent Street...
We have now received evidence in the form of FOI requests that would suggest frequency of attacks at this location are no higher than any other area, currently being patrolled by NSL wardens. These new FOI statistics (which NSL were very reluctant to part with) cover other boroughs such as Camden and Fulham and Hammersmith.
Recently, on the BBC we saw a program that showed the corruption (and not for the first time) that is occurring on a daily basis in the area, with wardens from NSL accepting bribes from drivers.
Our team has written to Westminster Parking Services on many occasions and they have been made completely aware of the situation. But again like TfL, LTPH and the Met Police, they choose to ignore and do nothing.
Amazingly, in other parts of London NSL operated a "clandestine quota system" to issue tickets to motorists in a "predatory and dishonest" way, (a judge found in January this year).
A ruling seen by BBC London details how NSL, working for Kensington and Chelsea Council, set its wardens a minimum target of 10 tickets a working shift. The quotas came to light after one traffic warden, Hakim Berkani, lost his job in February 2011 and took NSL to court.
With all the controversy over corruption allegations, TfL still chose NSL to take over the licensing of Taxis and Private Hire Vehicle from SGS.
One or two emails are not enough to get the wheels of action moving. If enough drivers take the time to email Westminster councillors, eventually they will sit up and take note and hopefully get NSL wardens to do the job they are paid to do, instead of giving the area and the illegal touts, a wide berth.
Look out for our campaign later this month, to bring this situation into the spotlight of the councillors, London Assembly Members and MPs.
We will shortly be publishing email addresses for all relevant councillors, London Assembly Members and MPs for the area covering Regent and Swallow.
We will also be giving details of local and national news papers.
It's time this situation was bought to conclusion as its been ignored and allowed by TfLTPH, Westminster City Council, their parking agents NSL and the Metropolitan Police, for far too long.
EDITORIAL COMMENT:
But it's not just Westminster City Council that is a problem.
It seems with every aspect of the administration of Taxis and Private Hire, there is corruption and malpractice of some sort.
We've seen:
* the issuing of PH roundels to un-inspected vehicles at SGS
* Corrupt staff at Palestra, fraudulently taking cash from drivers
* LTPH inability to enforce against illegally plying for hire
*Harassment of Taxi drivers while PH drivers are left alone
*Unlawful issuing of satellite office licence variations
*The Director of LTPH moved on the whim of PH operators
This is just the tip of the iceberg, just the bits we know of.
We believe much more is going on behind the scenes and there needs to be a immediate investigation of LTPH and a complete overhaul of the present incompetent administration.