FIT AND PROPER
AYR DRIVER SUSPENDED FOR REPEATED VEHICLE FAILURES: PASSING 1 OUT OF 5 MOTs
A councillor said he ‘wouldn’t want his family in a taxi’ maintained by an Ayr taxi driver who was unanimously suspended for repeated vehicle failures. Balkar Singh appeared before South Ayrshire Council (SAC) Licensing Panel after a series of issues with his taxi. The panel heard that Mr Singh had avoided a suspension a year ago when councillors agreed to
address
issues with the maintenance of his cab by demanding it be tested every four months. The taxi failed an inspection in April this year and Mr Singh was again cited to appear before the panel. The matter was continued to allow Mr Singh to attend. However, no further action was
taken before his vehicle failed its MoT in July, where it presented with a exhaust mounting defect, broken spring coil and was given an advisory on a worn tyre. While it passed a subsequent MoT, it still had the tyre advisory. Officers asked the panel to consider suspending Mr Singh as no longer being a ‘fit and proper person’ to hold a taxi licence and that granting a licence would create ‘undue public nuisance or threat to public order or safety’. SAC Fleet Inspector Graeme Beattie said that the fact the car had failed four out of its last five MoTs indicated that ‘it appears a minimum is getting done’ to get through tests, adding: “It is very, very poor upkeep of the car.”
Mr Singh claimed he’d been
getting his taxi checked every month and everything had been ‘fine’ other than the one fault. He added the garage said the broken spring could happen to any car and suggested it happened as he transported seven passengers with suitcases on a bumpy road. Cllr Iain Cavana said: “I’m dis- appointed to see four out of five (fails). I don’t know who does your maintenance.” He pointed out Mr Singh should have made sure the vehicle was alright before it went for an MoT. Cllr Hugh Hunter called for Mr Singh’s immediate suspension. He said: “I’ve heard enough. I do not believe Mr Singh is a fit and proper person to hold a licence.”
PHTM NOVEMBER 2023
33
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