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Santa’s top tip: use licensed taxis after Christmas parties!

Santa’s top tip: use licensed taxis after Christmas parties!

As the jingle bells start ringing and the holiday season (and Christmas Party) kicks into full swing, Guildford Borough Council is reminding residents and revellers to stay safe by using licensed taxis for their Christmas and New Year travels.  

With mistletoe, mulled wine, and merrymaking in abundance, it’s easy to get caught up in the Christmas cheer and holiday spirit. But after the last carol has been sung and the last mince pie devoured, it’s important to make sure you get home safely. Guildford licensed taxis are the secure, reliable, and Santa-approved way to travel, ensuring everyone gets home in one piece (even if your dignity got a bit dented at the office party).

Why Choose licensed taxis?

  • Santa-approved safety: Just like Santa’s sleigh, licensed taxis are subject to rigorous safety checks prior to setting off. Drivers are thoroughly vetted, ensuring they are all on Santa’s “Nice List” by meeting the council’s standards.  There will be no Grinches looking to ruin your journey.  Using a licensed taxi also means lost items such as presents or phones can be found easily.
  • Naughty List CCTV: All Guildford Licensed taxis have CCTV to provide that extra level of safety, particularly for individuals worried about getting home on their own.  CCTV is there to protect drivers and passengers.  
  • Elf-sized insurance: Licensed taxis are fully insured, protecting both drivers and passengers in the event of Santa’s sleigh landing unexpectedly in front of the vehicle.  
  • Festive cheer with change left over for the January sales: Licensed taxis do not use surge pricing so the fare will be set by the council and you can be sure of what you will pay for your journey.
  • Stay on the Nice List for next year:  If you’re out enjoying yourself and need to get home, make sure you use a taxi rather than placing yourself and others at risk by driving under the influence. You may not be able to avoid a hangover but you will prevent a serious accident and criminal record.

Santa’s tips for using licensed taxis:

  • Plan ahead: book your taxi in advance, especially on Christmas Eve, to avoid any last-minute dashes.
  • Check the licence: look for the taxi’s license plate and driver ID before you dash through the snow and climb aboard.  All Guildford licensed vehicles display official identification on the rear plate and front doors.
  • Use trusted services: there is good availability of taxis from official ranks in Guildford town.  Head here to get home safety or book with well-known taxi companies or licensed operators that are on Santa’s ‘Nice List’.  National App based operators are not licensed by Guildford and not subject to our rigorous standards, including not having CCTV to keep you safe.  The council recommends not to use these so that any concerns can be dealt with effectively by us.

Councillor Merel Rehorst-Smith, Lead Councillor for Regulatory and Democratic Services said:

“As we deck the halls and enjoy the festivities, let’s also remember to prioritise our safety. Using licensed taxis ensures a sleigh-safe journey home, so we can all have a holly jolly Christmas. Stay merry and safe, everyone!”

For more information on licensed taxi services and safety tips, visit Guildford Borough Council’s website.

Photo supplied:

Licensed taxi rank in Guildford

Have yourself a green Christmas: Top tips for a sustainable festive season

Guildford residents are being encouraged to choose options for a greener, more sustainable Christmas.
At this time of year around 30% more waste is generated, which includes 1 billion Christmas cards that are thrown away every year[1]. There are many Christmas items that can’t be recycled, including glossy and printed wrapping paper, glitter-covered Christmas cards and single-use Christmas crackers.
With that in mind, Guildford Borough Council is sharing top tips to help make this Christmas a more environmentally friendly one.
Cllr George Potter, Lead Councillor for Environment and Climate Change, said:
“Christmas is a time for celebration with friends and family. It’s a time for great fun but it’s also a time when we consume more and generate more waste.
“I hope residents will take on board some of these tips to enjoy a greener and more sustainable Christmas.
“It’s important for all of us to be aware of the environmental impacts of the season and, where we can, incorporate those small changes that make a difference. It’s vital that we all play our part in minimising the impacts of climate change so that we can create a greener Guildford for all.”
The top tips for residents wanting to discover a more sustainable Christmas in 2024 are:
1. Wrapping paper and cards
Look for wrapping paper and cards that are made from recycled or FSC-approved paper. Avoid plastic bows and tape, and steer clear of foil-backed wrapping paper.
Try out tape-free methods of wrapping such as furoshiki, a traditional Japanese method of using cloth to wrap and transport gifts. It creates beautiful, unique, and reusable packaging!
2. Plan what you’re going to eat
It’s very easy to eat a bit too much at Christmas. It’s also very easy to end up throwing away a lot of food.
Take time to write shopping lists and meal plans in advance, this will help you to eat only what you need, and prevent unwanted food from being thrown away. As well as saving on food waste, it helps to cut carbon emissions and reduce your shopping bills.
Transform leftover food into tasty meals thanks to recipes from Love Food Hate Waste.
3. Eat seasonally
Continuing the food theme, a great way to cut down on carbon emissions is to eat only those vegetables that are in season in December. This saves on the environmental cost of importing out of season food from overseas.
Luckily, most of your Christmas dinner staples (potatoes, carrots, leeks, sprouts and parsnips) are all in season throughout the winter so you can rustle up a delicious guilt-free feast.
If you have food waste that can’t be eaten, such as peelings and cores, you can use our food waste recycling service that’s available to Guildford residents.
4. Shop local
Every year an estimated 21 million people receive at least one unwanted gift at Christmas[2]. Some of these end up in landfill. Buy fewer, high-quality items that will last longer.
A good sustainable option is buying locally-sourced gifts. It’s a great way to support local businesses and these products will have travelled fewer miles, resulting in a smaller carbon footprint.
You can even get creative with presents that you make yourself, or gift an experience such as an electronic gift voucher, event ticket, a day out, or an animal sponsorship.
5. Think about your tree
If you’re planning to buy a real Christmas tree this year, make sure it’s FSC-certified. If it is potted, think about replanting it in your garden afterwards so that it has a second lease of life.
Be clear on how to dispose of your tree once Christmas is over. You can find out more about our Christmas tree recycling service on our website.
If buying an artificial Christmas tree, choose carefully. Make sure you buy a good quality one that can be reused for several years to enjoy the sustainable benefits over a real tree.
Guildford residents can keep up to date with the changes to our waste collection service over Christmas on our website.
You can also read more about Guildford Borough Council’s response to the Climate Emergency.

Footnotes:
1: 24 ways to waste not this Christmas – GOV.UK
2: Alarming Christmas Waste Statistics and How you Can Have a Zero Waste Christmas – Zero Waste Week

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