BELFAST TAXI DRIVERS - TREATED BADLY BY DVA ENFORCEMENT

Frustrated public hire taxi drivers are set to continue their demonstrations in the city-centre following their mass rally to Stormont last Thursday (November 18) — protesting on a range of issues they claim are “seriously damaging their daily trade”.

Yesterday, (Tuesday, November 23), Sean Beckett, chairperson of The Public Hire Coalition, (the official group that speaks on behalf of public hire taxi drivers), told the Community Telegraph: “Things are going from bad to worse for those of us working in the public hire taxi trade.

“Private hire taxi companies continue to pick people illegally off the street and the laws dealing with issues are not being enforced effectively — even though we have presented evidence to the correct authorities to deal with this, we have been told by official enforcers the only way to prosecute is if they act covertly as members of the public and are picked up in this way — video evidence is not enough.

“We have serious concerns about the number of rank spaces in Belfast too — there are only 87 rank spaces in the city, that is not enough for 600 taxis. And we have to remember that not all of these spaces are workable, many drivers sit for ages before they pick up a fare. It’s difficult when you get private hire companies handing out pre-booking business cards — people don’t even have to phone up to book a private taxi now, it’s getting out of hand and we are losing a considerable amount of business as a result.

“We have had four taxi drivers fined this week alone for waiting outside Central station in the bus lane but there is nowhere else for them to go.

“Every other major city, London, Edinburgh, supports their public hire taxi trade, but we feel ignored here.”

Belfast Lad Commented:

I have been Taxiing over the years both Privately and Public Hire and to be honest each side has their own story. Public Hire are renown for ripping people off, charging £5.00 and £10.00 per head for short journeys, it's not a lie I have witnessed it myself. Those people who do not use their meter properly in Belfast have shafted all of the decent drivers out of a living. In regards to the DVA Taxi Licencing and Enforcement office, they are a useless bunch of individuals who are nothing more than blood sucking leaches on the tax payer. They do not do what they are supposed to do. You very rarely see them out catching unlicensed taxi drivers, I see it every night of the week, people with no plates, hence No Insurance. Private Hire picking up outside bars and cluns in Belfast, which they are not licensed to do, therefore " NOT Insured" What are the Taxi Enforcement Crew doing about it? ( NOTHING ), What do the Police do about it? ( NOTHING ) The Police also condone this illegal activity in Belfast by asking Private hire drivers to take people home as well as not challenging the Drivers who are clearly standing and plying for hire outside the pubs and clubs in Belfast. To be honest DVA - Taxi Licensing and the Police are a joke. One more thing to add, DVTA charge £138.50 for a PSV Licence for a car each year and we were told that the majority of this money goes to the Police for security checks on the vehicle. Only a few days back I found out from the horse mouth that this is Bull.. The DVA get all of this money and for What? Its a take -on and all of the Taxi drivers in Northern Ireland Private, Public should get together and shake this stupid system, it does not work and Mr. Spratt should be fired.

Limavady Arts and Culture Centre (Ionad Ealaíon agus Cultúir Ghleann na Ró) By Scott Smyth

Limavady Arts and Culture Centre (Ionad Ealaíon agus Cultúir Ghleann na Ró) By Scott Smyth

Located on Main Street on the site of the old Town Hall the centre is intended to become the new cultural focus in Limavady. Roe Valley Arts and Culture Centre (RVACC) has taken more than 18 months to complete at a cost of £3m, but after seeing the centre, I for one think it is time and money well spent. The imposing facade of the old Town Hall combined with modern architecture of the new building creates an air of sophistication rarely seen in Limavady and when I got in touch with the new Arts and Culture Services Officer, Desima Connolly, who is effectively managing the centre, I was eager to get her spin on the centre, its aims and function within the town and borough as a whole.

The Centre opened over the Halloween weekend so what can we expect to see as a launch for the Centre? “The staff, including myself, began only a few months ago and therefore we are having a ‘soft’ opening and the official launch will take place in January 2011. We have an exciting opening season (Oct-Dec) which will be launched within the next few weeks including a series of open days consisting of free workshops, live entertainment and more, to encourage people to come in and see the Centre and get a taste of what we’re about. Our launch event in January will focus on celebrating the cultural successes of Limavady and will have a few fantastic spectacles thrown in!”

Programming for the Centre is expected to cater for all tastes comprising theatre, music, performance, visual arts & crafts and local histories initiatives. The Centres Gallery Programme aims to entice us with established artists whilst showcasing the up and coming talent of the local art scene. The towns local film society, the Roe Valley Film Club, will no doubt take advantage of the recently acquired film screening license which will allow screenings for all ages as part of RVACC Reels launching early in the new year. The impressive Danny Boy Auditorium, with a seating capacity of 215 provides the centre with a multi-purpose space which evokes a sense of intimacy while at the theatre, a rare and pleasing sensation from an area designed to be something of an ‘occasion’.

In the upper level the O’Hampsey Studio provides a smaller performance area and with its mirrored interior is ideal for dance courses and rehearsals, while the colourful workshop rooms are designed for creative educational courses. Of course an Arts Centre would not be complete without a gallery and RVACC comes up trumps with three. The main Keady Gallery will host bi-monthly visual art exhibitions, complimented by the Broighter Gallery showcasing crafts and sculptural shows whilst the Ritter Gallery will provide us with local community and heritage-related exhibitions.

Desima discusses the value of having the large outdoor stage; “The Borough’s large seasonal events will now operate from the Centre’s Drumceatt Square such as Halloween and the Illuminations Ceremony. Drumceatt Square is a wonderful bonus to the Centre and will now fulfil the role of the community town square, which Limavady hasn’t had.”

Limavady has many links to international talent such as Cara Dillon, who will be launching the Danny Boy Festival, but Desima is eager to emphasise that the RVACC is here for the local artists, musicians and writers; “We are here to support local artists and already have pledged assistance to the Jane Ross Writers Group and the local film society. We are promoting emerging local artists, such as David McDowell and Donna Marley who are exhibiting with us in Nov & Dec and hope that the Centre will become a hub for all of the local creative practitioners, including independent artists, local cultural groups and cultural businesses. We will also offer employment to local artists where possible through our education programme and I believe that an arts centre excels when it enables the wonderful dynamic that occurs with creative engagement between grassroots and professional practice. I am so excited about our first main exhibition in 2011 which will be by Limavady-born and now internationally acclaimed painter Michael McGuinness. Now based in England, Michael went from Limavady to the Slade Art School in London and his work is both revered and sought after. What better message is there for us to proclaim, than to celebrate such fantastic local talent?”

Limavady over the past few years, has seen a surge in interest of all things artistic but there are some who still feel this is for a certain "elite" group of the community. Personally I think this couldn't be farther from the truth. You only have to look at our schools to see talent and enthusiasm shining through. When asked how the Centre aimed to reach everyone in the community Desima said “The key is to foster dialogue and mutual learning between artists and the community and to create unique projects and opportunities which facilitates this wonderful alchemy. Our outreach service will achieve this. Though I have to say I even dislike the word outreach – it implies there is reaching out to be done. Any good arts centre should have the local community at its core. Art should never be viewed as elitist. If it is, there’s something seriously wrong.”

The Centre is set to be the epicentre of all things cultural, a long awaited project since the closure of the Town Hall almost thirteen years ago. At a time when many feel the town is in decline, the council have brought to light a new, exciting and modern venue which will bring new life and enthusiasm to Limavady and the Roe Valley. For that, I personally thank them, and I hope you will too.