IN THE
NEWS...IN THE NEWS..
TAXI DRIVERS IN SOUTH OXFORDSHIRE AVE LICENCES SUSPENDEDWITHOUT NOTICE
Local authorities
have been criticised by taxi drivers in South Oxfordshire over
suspending
their licences with- out notice. The Oxford Mail was told that the number of drivers who have been affected is around 45. Emails from a licens- ing officer
from
South Oxfordshire and Vale of White Horse District Coun- cils
cited ‘ex-
pired’ medical re- cords as the reason for the licence sus- pensions. However drivers insist that this could be an adminis- trative error as they
have not been noti- fied of any change in policy. Both councils have refused to con- firm the claims but said that ‘it’s not impossible’. A spokesperson added: “We have over
1,500 taxi
drivers and the num- ber of drivers with temporary suspen- sions will vary from day to day. We have a duty to help pro- tect public safety and it is not impossi- ble that 45 drivers could have been suspended at one time, particularly if theirmedical assess- ment has expired.” The council said its
Stewart Moss
policy has not changed but added that the require- ments for individual taxi drivers can change depending on their age and medical
status.
Drivers aged over 45 are required to have a medical every five years and drivers
aged 65 and over, and those with cer- tain medical con- ditions, require an annual examination. At least three drivers have been affected and they have claimed that there are many more who do not want to come forward as they fear repercussions from the councils. Stewart Moss, who is diabetic, received an email on 2 June from licensing
officer
Richard Brown stat- ing that his licence is ‘suspended immedi- ately’. Mr Brown wrote: “Our records show that your last Group
2 medical was con- ducted in 2017. As an insulin dependent driver, current guide- lines are that you should have a Group 2medical every year. Therefore
your
group 2 medical expired in 2018.” While the local authority refused to comment on individ- ual cases, Mr Moss, who has worked as a taxi driver for more than a decade, said he has always re- newed his medical every five years. He said: “I have never experienced anything like this. I have two daughters and four grandchil-
dren to provide for, and with the pan- demic going on I do not know how I can get to a doctor.” Several taxi drivers have been in touch with the MP for Oxford West and Abingdon,
Layla
Moran, to put pres- sure on the local authority. She said: “I am aware of this issue affecting a signifi- cant number of my constituents, and I have been speaking to the district coun- cil on their behalf to ask whether there is an appeals process that can be fol- lowed.”
14
JULY 2020
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