MANSFIELD

An 'aggressive' taxi driver who was ‘putting public at risk’ with his driving has had his licence revoked.

Mr Appleton, aged 55, had his licence revoked in July 2017 by Mansfield District Council for being intimidating, aggressive and putting members of the public at risk with his driving manner.

His appeal was dismissed at Nottingham Magistrates’ Court yesterday, Thursday March 8, and magistrates found that he was not fit and proper to hold a licence.

Four separate incidents were considered by the court. Two members of the public gave evidence that the driver had put their safety and that of their unborn baby at risk as a result of his driving.

Another member of the public gave evidence about the taxi driver distressing her colleague by being intimidating and making a racist remark.

Written evidence was considered by the magistrates detailing a further incident of driving and failing to provide his name when asked, responding with “Eric Cantona”, and a fourth incident was considered where the taxi driver had intimidated a passenger by accusing her of theft of his wallet.

Jacqueline Collins, director of governance and monitoring officer at the council said: “I would also like to thank those members of the public who took the time and trouble to report their concerns to the council and give evidence at court.

“Without their assistance Mr Appleton would still be operating as a taxi driver.

“The safety of the public is a paramount consideration for the licensing authority and we will not allow this to be compromised.

“Mansfield District Council requires the highest standards for all drivers and will not hesitate to take action against those failing to meet the required standards.”

http://bit.ly/2GfLEpV 
-------------------------------------------

SCOTLAND

 Taxi drivers in the north have accused the council of endangering their livelihoods by overcharging them for licences and failing to cap the number of cabs on the streets.

Official figures show fees for taxi licences in the Highlands can reach more than double the equivalent charges in neighbouring areas.

In Aberdeen, a taxi driver’s licence costs £105 for three years, over the border in Aberdeenshire it is £88, and £98 in Argyll & Bute.

By comparison, a driver in Inverness or Dingwall can expect to pay £272 – the highest of all the surrounding regions.

Although Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire are more expensive for taxi operator or vehicle licences – a separate charge – north charges are again near the top at £422.

In Perth and Kinross, the same licence costs £275, Dundee is £230 – and even in Glasgow, it is lower at £402.

That does not include additional charges to put taxi on the road of external plates, identification badge, vehicle inspection, and meter tests that can add hundreds to the total bill.

Louise Carle, office manager at C&E taxis in Dingwall, said that since she got her licence costs have spiralled.

She said: “I have held my badge forever 20 years, the first year I got it the cost was £30, the next year it jumped to £90, that’s a 300% increase.

“The cost increments went up yearly after that and if it goes much higher then there will be a lot of people who can’t afford it.”

Miss Carle added: “There used to be a limited number of plates, now there is no cap and people are seeing business diluted.”

The chairman of the Inverness Taxi Alliance, Andrew MacDonald, claimed the council increased the number of taxis from about “300 in 2010 to 450 in 2018”.

He said: “Our livelihoods are being swept out from under our feet. The council is blatantly ignoring the situation, they refuse to cap licenses because they would need an unmet demand survey.”

Raising tariffs also dealt another blow to the trade in the city according to Mr MacDonald as “the council are unnecessarily penalising the trade, the public by these irrational increases”.

A Highland Council spokesman said: “There is a requirement to ensure that the total amount of such fees is sufficient to meet the expenses incurred by them which includes the cost of administering and enforcing the taxi and PHC licensing scheme.

“These fees are reviewed annually to ensure that they are sufficient to cover the costs of the aforementioned. The majority of all taxi and private hire car licenses are issued for a period of three years.

“At the last taxi tariff review a decision was taken by the Highland Licensing Committee to increase the taxi tariff.

“This was taken purely to bring the maximum charge per running mile at Tariff 1 into line with the Scottish national average of £1.80, as Highland was previously one of the lowest in Scotland and had not been increased for a number of years.”

http://bit.ly/2FMkzwR
-------------------------------------------

CLITHEROE

  A Taxi firm is being investigated following claims a driver left a group of children alone in a car during a school run while he went to pray in a mosque.

A driver for taxi company Tiger Taxis, based in Clitheroe, has been accused of ‘negligence’ after a group of children, believed to be between 12 and 14, were left alone in one of the firm’s taxis while dropping them home from Coal Clough Academy, in Burnley after 1pm on Friday.

Tiger Taxis is contracted to provide transport for school children from the Swindon Street academy by Lancashire County Council.

The taxi driver is alleged to have gone to the mosque after he received a phone call from one of his friends who told him it was “time to go and pray” while the children were being driven home in the taxi.

The driver stopped his car near a mosque in Nelson and left the children in the car for 15 minutes, it has been claimed.

One of the children in the car, Paul Jackson Jr, was then 30 minutes late getting to his home in Kelbrook, Barnoldswick, his father said.

Paul Jackson, 44, who lives in Kelbrook, a 30-minute car journey away from the academy, said he was furious after he learnt his 13-year-old son was one of the children left alone in the vehicle.

He said: “It’s highly unacceptable and unsafe to leave children alone in a car.”

The 44-year-old, who runs Roof Rangers Ltd in Kelbrook, has now called for the driver to be sacked following the incident.

He said: “I want to see an apology from Lancashire County Council and for them to sack the company because they are responsible for this.”

Coal Clough Academy, which was contacted about the incident, said the issue has been ‘escalated’ to County Hall.

A spokesman from Coal Clough Academy said: “We have been made aware of the issue and escalated it to Lancashire County Council who organise transport on our behalf and they are dealing with it in the appropriate way.”

Lancashire County Council is now investigating the allegations made by Mr Jackson.

A spokesman said: “I can confirm that we have been made are aware of an issue which we are currently investigating.”

Burnley Cllr Tony Martin, who represents the area, said the taxi firm should be ‘reprimanded’ if the company and driver are found to be guilty of the allegations levelled against them.

He said: “I hope a thorough investigation is taking place and if that is the case make sure they are reprimanded.

“It’s about the safety of the children, which is paramount.”

Tiger Taxis was contacted but declined to comment.

http://bit.ly/2HtzclM