Taxi Driver Online

Licence Ban On Burnley’s Danger Taxi Owners

26th August 2008

Taxi operators who do not look after their fleet have been warned they could be shown the door by Burnley Council.

The council's Executive Committee approved plans to introduce stricter testing for Hackney carriage and private hire vehicles, with the result that officers could refuse to renew licences.

Under the new rules, which take effect from Monday, any taxi under three years old which fails its annual compliance test must be tested a further three times that year.

If any taxi fails its test three times in 18 months and the reason for failure is two or more serious faults, officers can refuse to renew an operator's licence.

Councillors backed the changes and said public safety was paramount.

Coun. Roger Frost said: "Our main concern is the protection of the public. These rules disadvantage those firms that do not look after their vehicles properly."

A range of taxi operators were consulted on the proposals but none were at the meeting when the rules were passed.

Mr Mohammed Ibrar, who represents 10 Hackney carriage drivers, believes the report is too severe and thinks a penalty points system would be more suitable.

In a letter, he asked the council for a clear definition of a "serious fault". He wrote: "I know you (the council) have said tyres, brakes, steering and suspension but how serious does the fault need to be? We feel there should be an immediate suspension of the licence, but to take the vehicle off the road indefinitely would be a bit harsh."

Chairman of the Private Hire Association Mr Mohammed Arif accepted test failures of a serious nature are unacceptable, but believed the proposals were excessive.

Mr Jamil Munir, chairman of the Hackney Carriage Association, agreed with the principles of the report. He asked that drivers who keep their vehicles well-maintained are allowed to have them tested twice a year instead of three times.

Over the last five years, the compliance test pass rate for private hire cars has remained static between 38% and 40% although it fell to 36% last year.

The figures for Hackney carriages over the same period has fluctuated between 8% and 6% but recently improved to 23%.


Source; Burnley Express

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