FIT AND PROPER
DRIVER’S OUT-DATED LICENCE COSTS WELLINGBOROUGH FIRM
Employing an unli- censed driver left a taxi company with a bill for more than £1,000. Twenty 4 Seven Travel from Wellingborough pleaded guilty to two offences and was fined £1,115 after being prosecuted by Wellingborough Coun- cil for using an unlicensed driver. John Barry Plummer, from Wellingborough, was caught out by a county council trans- port inspector in December last year during a random check. Mr Plummer claimed
to have left his badge at home but his licence had actually expired 13 months previously. A check of the insur- ance policy for the vehicle also revealed that the insurance was invalid if the driver did not hold a private hire or hackney carriage licence.
Mr Plummer was pros- ecuted by Welling- borough Council last month and was fined £795 for not renewing his licence and having inadequate insurance. Wellingborough Coun- cil’s health protection
manager Amanda Wilcox told the Wellingborough Citi- zen: “We take complaints about unli- censed drivers very seriously and the council will not hesi- tate to prosecute both the drivers and the companies who em- ploy them. It is hoped that this case serves as a warning to others. “We would advise any- one using a taxi or private hire vehicle to check that the driver is displaying an up-to- date ID badge before starting their journey.”
FIFE FIRM LOSES FIVE LICENCES AFTER INSPECTION
A Fife taxi firm has been stripped of sev- eral operating licences after councillors heard details of a shocking litany of test failures. According to the Courier and Adveriser, alarming DIY repairs were flagged up as cabs owned by GS Enterprises (St And- rews) Ltd were put under the microscope. Five of the firm’s six taxis were found to fall short of the standards required.
During a special meet- ing of Fife Council’s regulation and licens- ing committee, elected members spoke of their horror following the inspection reports. Councillors insisted that they had no option but to suspend five of the company’s operating licences -
leaving just one cab left in its fleet. Faulty handbrakes, fuel and oil leaks, damaged bodywork, excess emissions, perilous DIY repairs and faulty headlights were among the cata- logue of problems flagged up during last month’s meeting of the committee. Tom Henderson, fleet services manager with Fife Council, had to inform councillors of the reasons for the test failures. He said there did not appear to have been any programme of maintenance for the vehicles.
“In one serious case an oil leak from a steering pipe had been temporarily repaired with a piece of garden hose and some jubilee clips,” he said.
On another of the taxis a headlamp bulb had been secured by a cable tie, while on a third a wrongly-sized wheel had been fitted. Mr Henderson added that several of the vehicles were present- ed for inspection in a “filthy” condition. Councillors warned that Fifers could face significant risks due to the “appalling and hor- rific” conditions of the taxis operated by GS Enterprises.
“The message must go out that this committee will not tolerate such disregard for public and drivers’ safety,” the councillor said. Cllr Mike Rumney was similarly appalled. “This operator is thumbing its nose at this committee and the council,” he said.
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OLDHAM PHV DRIVERS TAKEN OFF THE ROAD
Six of Oldham’s pri- vate hire drivers have had their licences sus- pended or revoked. The sanctions were imposed by Oldham Council following hearings before the Licensing Panel. Mohammed Yaqub, 56; Zafar Iqbal, 59; Fur Maze, 47; and Muslin
Uddin, 36, had all been previously convicted of plying for hire without a licence and having incorrect insurance. They were all suspend- ed for 28 days.
David Briddon, 60, had his licence revoked fol- lowing a benefit fraud conviction. Faisal Manzoor Khan,
39, was suspended for seven days following an assault conviction. Cllr Fida Hussain told the Oldham Evening Telegraph: “These results show our com- mitment to protect the borough’s citizens while ensuring the driv- ers have time out to consider their actions.”
BIRMINGHAM CABBIE BANNED AFTER FOURTH OFFENCE
A cabbie was banned from driving after ille- gally plying for fares in Birmingham and driv- ing without insurance for the fourth time. According to the Birm- ingham Mail, Anilkumar Shah, 55, from Walsall, picked up two passen- gers at Birmingham New Street Station
unaware they were council officers.
The private hire driver agreed to ferry the men to the Hyatt Hotel. Appearing at Birming- ham Magistrates’ Court, chair of the bench Mrs Brunton- Davies said: “This is not the first time you’ve done it. What would
have happened if you’d had an accident? You’re just as bad as someone taking a loaded gun and point- ing it at someone, you’re just as lethal.” Shah was fined £500, ordered to pay £200 costs, a £15 victim sur- charge and banned for 18 months.
OXFORD DRIVER HIGH WHEN HE CRASHED INTO CYCLIST
Oxford City Council has defended its licensing policy after a taxi driver hit a cyclist while high on crack and heroin.
Nizagit Hussain did not even realise he had struck Muqarab Shabbir and driven over his bicycle in Oxford High Street. The 29-year-old victim suffered a broken leg and dislocated shoulder as the driver continued in his Oxford Contract Vehicles minibus. When a black cab driv- er tried to alert Hussain to the incident, the 38- year-old reversed into
him before aggressive- ly confronting the witness in St Aldates on February 23.
According to the Oxford Times, police arrived and inquired about the cyclist, but Hussain replied, “what cyclist?”
The father of two, who has previous convic- tions for handling stolen goods and obstructing police, was jailed for ten months at Oxford Crown Court. He earli- er admitted dangerous driving, driving while unfit through drugs and failing to stop after
a road traffic accident. City council licensing director Julian Alison said Hussain had held a private hire licence since 1998/99 and was later awarded a hack- nev carriage licence. Hussain’s convictions were picked up by an enhanced Criminal Records Bureau check in 2000 and he was put before the taxi and hackney carriage licensing sub-commit- tee, but was passed to continue in the trade. Mr Alison stressed new licensing criteria introduced last month were “very stringent.”
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