St George's flag row taxi driver replaces sticker — with new, bigger one
A NEWTON Abbot cabbie at the centre of a 'local' St George's Cross row has removed her flags — and replaced them with new larger ones.
Denise Said, 56, peeled off her 'local driver' St George Cross stickers after she lost her appeal to retain them.
Now she has replaced them with bigger St George's flag stickers — but this time the words 'local taxi company' are written below the flags.
Denise said: "I have taken the old ones off as I was told to and replaced them with different ones.
"I expect that they will find fault with these ones too but I know 100 per cent that I have done nothing wrong.
"I have had so much support from people and I am amazed at how strongly people feel about it."
The move came after the council's appeals committee ruled that Denise had to remove the stickers or have her licence suspended.
They said it was the combination of the flag and the wording that caused concern.
Denise, who runs Lady D Taxis, said she is still considering whether to appeal against the decision at a magistrates' court.
The appeal to retain the signage was heard at Teignbridge Council's regulatory and appeals committee on Monday November 25.
The committee agreed the signs did not meet requirements of its Hackney Carriage and Private Hire licensing policy or the Equality Act 2010.
Rod Peers, speaking on behalf of Mrs Said who was formerly married to a half-Maltese man for 16 years, told the committee the stickers were not discriminatory and had nothing to do with race or nationality.
Licensing officer Hayley Carpenter said it was the combination of the flag and the words that caused difficulty.
A TDC spokesman said: "We will be inspecting the vehicle on a regular basis to ensure it complies with our vehicle licensing requirements and will consider further action if necessary."
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