Council Revokes Two Taxi Driver Licences After MOT Failure Concerns and Fare Refusals
Stratford-on-Avon District Council’s Licensing Panel has revoked one taxi licence and suspended another in separate cases, citing serious public safety risks and professional misconduct.
These decisions underline the council's commitment to ensuring licensed taxi drivers meet high standards of safety and duty of care.
Hackney Carriage Licence Revoked Over MOT Failures
A 70-year-old driver from Wellesbourne lost his hackney carriage licence after driving over 1,300 miles despite receiving two MOT failure certificates within an eight-month period. The breaches were deemed a significant threat to public safety, particularly for schoolchildren being transported.
The council determined that the driver was not a “fit and proper person” to hold a licence. The decision also factored in prior warnings for other violations. The driver did not appeal the decision and is no longer authorized to operate under Stratford-on-Avon District Council’s jurisdiction.
28-Day Suspension for Fare Refusal and Careless Driving
In a separate incident, a 52-year-old driver from Stratford-upon-Avon faced a 28-day suspension following an incident of careless driving in the town centre and a refusal to accept a fare without reasonable cause. The panel ruled these actions endangered public safety and violated professional standards.
The suspension was enforced immediately, highlighting the council's strict stance against unsafe practices and fare refusals within the local taxi service.
Licensing Panel’s Stance on Safety and Professional Standards
Cllr Lorraine Grocott, Chair of the Licensing Panel, stated:
“The safety of the public is paramount when passengers are being transported in vehicles licensed by the District Council. The authority has to ensure its drivers are fit and proper to hold a licence and that their vehicles are kept in a safe and roadworthy condition. On this occasion, both drivers failed to adhere to the conditions of their licence and subsequently were issued with the respective decisions by the Licensing Panel.”
Hearings and Outcomes
The Licensing Panel met on October 16 to deliberate on these cases. The panel's findings have been published, emphasizing the importance of adherence to licence conditions.
Both drivers had 21 days to appeal the rulings at the Magistrate's Court; neither chose to contest the decisions.