HomeChauffeur NewsVOSA and Association meet with few results for operators

VOSA and Association meet with few results for operators

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Editor of TheChauffeur.com, Paul Gibson attended the latest National Limousine and Chauffeur Association meeting on 12th December 2012, and writes his thoughts on what he witnessed…

“In a serious case of Déjà vu, I was surrounded with a large number of limousine operators sharing horror stories from the last few years since the previous NLCA/VOSA confrontation. The mention of prohibitions, confiscations and an array of swear words were rife as Head of Enforcement Neil Barlow took to the stand once again in another attempt to ‘liaise’ with the industry as a whole.

So, a good opportunity to lay to rest all the confusions, claims of harassment, mixed messages and arrive at some conclusions on how the industry and VOSA can work together to make sure everyone operates legally? You would have thought so, but unfortunately, in my eyes there was no conclusion at all, apart from industry legend Bill Bowling emphasising the fact we all need to ‘sing from the same hymn sheet’ and find a way to make operating a limousine fair with clear legislations – nothing new there then!

Operators were given the chance to submit questions in advance to avoid a mud flinging session and hopefully get some answers to general operating questions – it didn’t last long as operators interrupted with random stories of ‘when I was stopped’ and demanded answers on personal cases. Neil Barlow obviously couldn’t answer these as he wouldn’t have ALL the facts in front of him. This was the point of obtaining advance questions!

For the first time, I decided to make my opinion heard as I’ve been an independent media outlet for the past ten years and witnesses many many operators come and go. I made the point that for the first time I was invited to a VOSA crackdown in London in early December, and experienced a severe inconsistency amongst inspectors at the roadside.

I also mentioned that in support of the limo industry, I could understand their frustration at the lack of consistency and confusing messages being sent out to them. Surely, this was a good opportunity to hear from the only person in the room who wasn’t an operator or civil servant. Nope, think again, it completely fell on deaf ears! The room fell silent for five seconds until another operator continued with ‘when I was stopped’.

We all remember the ‘happy’ days of the limousine industry from 2005-2009 when operators had money, new cars and a large amount of customers – it was thriving. Now, just a few years on, the meeting room was awash with sad, angry faces of those who have just about managed to stay in business and are continuing to try and do so.

The industry is getting smaller and smaller every day with operators choosing the easy option of either closing down or looking at other streams of revenue. I give it a couple of more years until just a handful of serious operators are left. For what it’s worth, I would seriously encourage the NLCA to do more than what it’s doing now. I couldn’t tell them what it is or how to go about it, but from where I’m sitting, it’s a very sad sight. Perhaps they are talking to the wrong people?

So, who is winning this extremely long battle? The Government or the industry?”

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