The Gloucester Taxi Website

A city nightclub is applying for a 24-hour licence in a bid to reduce late night anti-social behaviour.

The owner of Liquid Diva club on Eastgate Street wants longer hours to stagger the times revellers leave.

It wants to open until 4am on Wednesday and Friday nights, and until 6am on Saturday night.

The new hours will be trialled for a six-week period if they are granted an extended hours licence by Gloucester City Council.

A spokeswoman for owner Luminar Leisure said: “Working in partnership with the local police, Liquid Gloucester has applied for a 24-hour licence to help with dispersals in the area and alleviate the pressure placed upon the police with late night venue closing at the same time.
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“The proposed changes include staying open until 4am on Wednesday and Friday nights, and hosting an after show party on Saturday nights and staying open until 5-6am.

“A six-week trial, fully supported by the police, will commence upon the licence being granted.”

A Gloucestershire police spokeswoman said: “It is anticipated that the change to Liquid’s opening hours will help to alleviate the problems that can arise when everyone leaves the clubs and bars at the same time and large numbers congregate in the streets and at taxi ranks. A taxi marshalling scheme has also recently been introduced outside Liquid nightclub on a trial basis to move people away from the city centre quickly to ensure the safety of those on a night out and reduce anti-social behaviour.”

Keith Reynolds is the head of Gloucester’s Licensed Victuallers Association, the organisation representing pub and nightclub license holders in the city.

He said the move to open later was just another example of the changing face of the country’s pub and nightclub industry.

He said: “This is just another knock-on effect of the changes in opening hours.

“With later opening, people have started coming out later and drinking at home first. Therefore, pubs and clubs are being forced to open later to retain their trade levels.

“We are seeing people having to rethink their business strategy once again.”

Justin Hopwood, licensee at Butler’s on Eastgate Street, said he did not think the extended hours would be a problem for other licensed premises in the area.

He said: “I can’t really see any problem with this, and good luck to them.

“However, I’m not sure how many people will want to stay out that long really. It has always seemed to me that the street sees a lot of people milling around before going home between 2am and 3am, I can’t see anyone wanting to stay out until 6am.”

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Lewis Hamilton will unveil his new Vodafone McLaren Mercedes Grand Prix challenger at the team factory outside Woking today (16/01/2009).

The world champion, just 24, is hoping it will carry him to a second successive world title after winning the championship by a single point on the final corner in Brazil last November.

But his challenge takes place against a back drop of the most radical changes in the sport in a quarter of century.

Such changes have historically disrupted the natural order of things and thrown up new challengers from the lower order of the grid where designers have gambled on radical car concepts.

Among the changes incorporated into this year’s cost-conscious framework is a KERS system which generates boost by harvesting braking energy.

Engines must now last three Grands Prix and gearboxes four while there have been drastic revisions to the cars’ aerodynamics in a bid to improve overtaking.

The front wings distance from the track has been halved to just 7.5cm and is 40cm wider stretching the width of the front tyres to improve grip at the front.

And the giant rear wing has been lifted and reduced in size in the hope that the vortex behind cars which torpedoed overtaking will be reduced.

Cars will now use super adhesive ‘slick’ tyres for the first time since they were banned at the end of the 1997 season.

Some drivers fear the new formula will increase the dangers.

McLaren’s launch is the third of the year following Ferrari’s unveiling last week in Italy and Toyotas a day earlier.

Most of the teams will unveil their races machines in the next fortnight with Red Bull currently slated to be last on February 9 in Spain.

Post credit to The Mirror.

Northern Ireland’s motorists are spending over £300 a year extra just to keep their cars filled up with diesel, it has been claimed.

The revelation comes after it emerged that the cost of a litre has shot up 32.2p (from 97.4p to 129.6p) in forecourts across the province, now making diesel 11% dearer for drivers than petrol.

Figures from the AA reveal that while average diesel prices have risen from 116.5p to 129.6p a litre in just 12 months, their petrol equivalent have seen a lesser hike of just 19.9p (from 96.6p to 116.5p).

The data also shows that the difference in price per litre for drivers between the two fuels was just 0.8p last year, compared to a staggering 13p this year.

Speaking to the Belfast Telegraph, AA Public Affairs spokesman Luke Bosdet put the price differential – which, he said, looks likely to stay – down to supply and demand.

“The fact of the matter is that many, many countries are now demanding diesel and there simply isn’t enough supply to meet that demand, therefore the price of diesel compared to petrol has soared,” Mr Bosdet said.

However, he also acknowledged that drivers here are paying more than those in the UK where the average fuel price difference is a little lower, at 11.41p.

“It is 1.5p more expensive for motorists in Northern Ireland in terms of the petrol diesel price differential, but that goes back to the local pricing issue,” he said.

“People in rural communities are generally most affected and what it means is that drivers in Northern Ireland pay an extra £15 a year for diesel compared to their UK counterparts on the basis of the price differential today.”

Mr Bosdett added: “The good news is that they are going to be increasing diesel producing infrastructure at a new unit at a refinery in Humberside over the next couple of years and that will actually help balance diesel production with petrol production.”

The fuel price discrepancies that exist between Northern Ireland and the UK, as well as in different locations across the province, have been consistently exposed by this newspaper.

And indeed the latest figures underline the importance of the ‘Price Watch’ campaign being run by the Belfast Telegraph to help ease the cash burden facing households during the current economic crisis.

New data supplied by the Consumer Council indicates that a family filling a 50 litre diesel car will face an increased bill of £6.15 a week, £26.65 a month or £319.80 a year, based on the year-on-year average price increase between June/September 2007 and 2008.

In the past year all|Northern Ireland drivers have been badly hit by soaring fuel costs, which many believe go up faster than they come down

Similarly, a taxi driver filling a 50 litre tank three times a week will have to fork out an extra £18.45 each week, £79.95 per month, or £959.40 per year just to stay on the road.

The fair price watchdog also indicated that a haulier using 1,000 litres of diesel each week will see an increased bill of £123.00 per week, £533.00 per month or £6396.00 annually.

Consumer Council chief executive Eleanor Gill last night said that consumers here need to know why they are paying so much more for diesel than petrol.

“This time last year the average price of a litre of petrol and diesel was almost neck and neck, and now there is a massive 13 pence difference between the two,” she said.

“Consumers need to know why. In the past year all Northern Ireland drivers have been badly hit by soaring fuel costs, which many believe go up faster than they come down.

“However, our analysis clearly shows that diesel drivers are taking the biggest hit.

“While it is bad enough that petrol drivers are having to find an extra £9.95 to fill their tank than they did last year, diesel drivers are paying a staggering £16.80 more at our supermarket and independent filling stations.

“Many households use diesel to run their family cars and many businesses depend on it to make a living such as taxi drivers or hauliers. All diesel drivers need to be assured that they are getting a fair and competitive deal.

“Fuel wholesalers and retailers need to justify why this enormous and sudden divergence in prices has occurred over the last year, otherwise consumers can only conclude that they are being ripped-off when it comes to buying diesel.”

Ms Gill advised motorists to remain vigilant when it comes to fuel costs and vowed to challenge unfair practices on behalf of consumers.

“No matter where they fill up, consumers need to be price-aware when it comes to petrol and diesel,” she said.

“If this gap in petrol and diesel prices continues, drivers may need to consider whether driving a diesel vehicle is the best value choice for them, their family and their business.

“These are challenging times for consumers who are having to make their money go further than ever before,” she added.

“The Consumer Council is committed to ensuring that all businesses are providing consumers with open, transparent and timely information to allow them to make the best choices when buying goods and services. We will challenge all circumstances where this does not occur on behalf of consumers.”
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ARMED police stormed a house in Hatherley after a man was seen brandishing a gun.

Firearms officers swooped on Hatherley Lane, at 12.30am yesterday after a taxi driver reported seeing a man with what looked like a rifle.

A 26-year-old man had to be talked out of the house by a police negotiator, and was arrested on suspicion of threats to kill.

Officers uncovered a stash of imitation firearms when they searched the man’s room.

A taxi driver had dropped a man off at the house at 11.45pm on Wednesday.
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The passenger then came out of the house carrying what the driver described as a rifle, before going back inside.

The driver immediately called police, who shut the road off and surrounded the house, which is shared by five men.

Stuart Mitchell, 21, was asleep in bed in the house when he was woken by police banging on the door. After hearing voices in his garden he went downstairs, where he was met by armed police.

He said: “I saw one of the policemen facing me with a gun, telling me to get out and get on the ground. It was terrifying.”

The University of Gloucestershire student was searched and handcuffed.

He said he had never met the arrested 26-year-old, who moved into the house 10 days ago.

A 63-year-old man, who didn’t want to be named, answered the door. He said: “I came outside and was told to put my hands up and walk towards the torch light. I was searched and handcuffed. I didn’t have a clue what was going on. It was a frightening experience.”

The pair say they were taken to the police station in Lansdown Road with a man in his 70s ,who also lives in the house, before being taken to the Express Holiday Inn at 9.30am.

A police spokesperson said: “A 26-year-old man from Cheltenham has been arrested following an incident in Hatherley Lane late last night.

“The incident happened at 11.45pm when a taxi driver dropped his passenger off at an address in Hatherley Lane. The passenger then came out of the house carrying what the driver described as a rifle, before returning to the property.

“The driver immediately called the police, who subsequently arrested the man.

“A search of the property has found a number of what appear to be imitation firearms, which are being examined by firearms officers.”

The man was last night being questioned.

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BEWARE! Murky Black Hat Tricks Used to Sell OVER PRICED iPhone Insurance…

The iPhone Insurance swindle is still steam rolling ahead, even months after the first reports about some staff at certian iPhone outlets that use some dark and murky tricks, playing on customer insecurity’s to make them ’sign on the line’ for what could be considered an over priced Insurance policy for their expensive new iPhone purchase.

It has been reported on various blogs and news posts on the internet that over enthusiastic phone sales staff have been mis selling iphone insurance to their customers at the same time as the customer has been signing up for a new iPhone. Comments like ‘if you want to take out insurance, then you must do it now, as you can’t do it later‘. This plays on the customers mind, making it a now or never kind of situation.

If that little trick did not get you to sign, try this one: ‘Our iPhone Insurance will cover you for everything, if you lost your iPhone, it will cost you about £600 to replace it‘. What has happened here is the sales assistant has quoted you the higher priced ’sim free’ iPhone, rather than the o2 sim version priced in the much more realistic region of £270 (or the price you actually paid for your contract iPhone). It seems ’some’ sales assistants may tell you about the higher priced replacement cost, surely, the only reason for this would be to shock you into signing up for the insurance there and then!

I am not saying iPhone Insurance is not worth it, as last month (August 2008) I had 7 mobile phones left in my taxi by customers, three of which were iPhones! This is clear shows that people really do loose mobiles and iPhones and figures show that millions do get damaged and stolen every year as well!

You may want to take into consideration the option that you may have of including your iPhone insurance within your house contents insurance, many home contents policies will cover electronic items like phones, iPhones, laptops as such. What you need to take into account here is that you may have a high excess fee in the event of a claim, which can be double that of the stand alone policy’s mentioned above. Another consideration is that if you claimed on your Home Contents Insurance, will this affect your no claims bonus? It is well worth checking with your insurance provider so you know just where you stand if you make a claim, as it could cost you more than the replacement value in the long run!

After you summarise all of the above, just be sure you don’t make a rash decision that could cost you more than is needed -oh, and always make sure you have your phone with you when you get out after you taxi journey!

David Miliband faces questions over his use of £2,000-an-hour RAF jets after it was revealed he has travelled on the Queen’s Flight – military aircraft usually reserved for the Royal Family’s use – at least 16 times in the past year.

Cabinet Office rules say Ministers should use the planes only when no scheduled service is available.
The planes Mr Miliband used are based at RAF Northolt in West London and are part of 32 (The Royal) Squadron, which provides transport for the Queen, members of her family and senior military officers.
Eleven senior Royals are allowed to use the special flights – the Queen, the Duke of Edinburgh, the Prince of Wales, the Duchess of Cornwall, the Duke of York, the Earl and Countess of Wessex, the Princess Royal, the Duke and Duchess of Gloucester and the Duke of Kent.
The Foreign Office was unable to say how much Mr Miliband’s journeys had cost the taxpayer.
However, the Royal Household accounts revealed that the hourly rate for use of the four-engined BAe 146, which Mr Miliband used five times, is £2,342. BA Business Class flights from London to Paris start at £319.

Mr Miliband’s travel arrangements were posted on the Foreign Office website in response to a Freedom of Information inquiry by a member of the public. The code says: ‘Non-scheduled flights may be authorised when a scheduled service is not available, or when it is essential to travel by air, but the requirements of official or parliamentary business or security considerations preclude the journey being made by a scheduled service.’
At the time, the Tories had accused Labour of using the Queen’s Flight as a ‘private taxi service’.
Since becoming Foreign Secretary in June last year, Mr Miliband has used the Queen’s aircraft for trips to 13 European destinations.

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Britain’s leading car insurance broker, AA Insurance, has welcomed today’s Ministry of Justice initiative to clamp down on careless driving.

The ‘Don’t drive distracted’ announcement from Justice Secretary Jack Straw highlights a range of new careless driving laws that come into effect on Monday 18 August.

The new laws are designed to allow courts to imprison drivers who cause death because they were not paying due care and attention to the road or to other road users. The courts will also consider ‘avoidable distractions’ when sentencing motorists, including use of mobile phones. It also identifies eating and drinking and applying make-up among driver distractions that could lead to a collision that causes death.

Simon Douglas, director of AA Insurance, says: “I believe that these new laws will be widely welcomed by the insurance industry.

“Already many insurers significantly increase premiums, or refuse cover, for drivers who are convicted of careless driving, including convictions linked to the use of hand-held mobile telephones.

“Using a hand-held mobile telephone while driving, already attracts a fixed penalty of £60 and three penalty points. However, this offence often also attracts a careless driving penalty – whether the driver is involved in an accident or not. And in the event of an accident, particularly if someone is killed or seriously injured, police will routinely check mobile telephone records to see whether use of the phone was a contributory cause of the accident.

“Insurers recognise that such penalties lead to sometimes significant insurance claims and will either refuse to insure convicted drivers or significantly increase the premium they pay.”

In a survey of insurers on its panel, broker AA Insurance discovered that half would refuse to quote for a driver with a CU80 (hand-held mobile phone) offence and a DC10 (careless driving) offence while those that did increased premiums by up to 50 per cent.

Simon Douglas points out: “That premium increase will remain for three years, significantly adding to the cost of the penalty.

“Eight people die on our roads each day. Drivers who have been convicted of causing death through careless driving can expect to find it very difficult and expensive to obtain car insurance after they have served their sentence.

“No telephone call is ever worth the risk of causing death or injury. Switch the phone off when you are driving or put it on silent and collect calls at the next service area. And if you make a call to someone who is obviously driving, hang up immediately.”

A MAN was beaten unconscious and apparently dumped in the River Severn in a vicious late night assault.

The 30-year-old victim from Westbury-on-Severn was assaulted in Gloucester Park on Friday, July 18.

He had been in the Nelson pub in Gloucester City Centre and left some time between 1 and 1.30am. He walked along Spa Road heading towards Gloucester Park so that he could get a taxi home.

He walked past a group of men who started chasing him. They then assaulted him in the park.

During the incident the victim lost consciousness and then woke up in the River Severn by Llanthony Bridge at 2.20am.

He was pulled out of the river and taken by ambulance to Gloucestershire Royal Hospital where he was treated for minor injuries.

Police want to establish how the victim ended up in the river.

Anyone who witnessed the incident or who has information relating to the incident is asked to contact Gloucestershire Constabulary on 0845 090 1234 quoting incident 31 of July 18. Alternatively call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

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