BOLTON

Taxi drivers are prepared to take industrial action tomorrow over the council's licensing policy.

The announcement of a potential strike comes after town hall chiefs carried out a review, which resulted in a number of drivers having their licences revoked after historical convictions were discovered.

Asif Vali, chairman of the Private Hire Operators Association, said drivers were prepared to take industrial action tomorrow at 11.00 am to hand over a petition, signed by over 800 private hire drivers.

Mr Vali said: "Private Hire drivers consider the new policy to be unfair and unreasonable.

"It has been implemented with a lack of balance and transparency to the detriment of individual drivers and the Private Hire trade, without any evidence that it will contribute to the safety of passengers."

"The Council have been aware for some years of the past offences of some drivers as CRB/DBS and Enhanced CRB/DBS checks have been carried out.

"The change in policy has now resulted in the immediate revocation of some drivers licenses even though the council have been aware of past offences, for example, when these drivers have appeared before the Licensing Sub-Committee who permitted them to continue to drive, deeming them fit and proper persons."

But Cllr Nick Peel, cabinet member for environmental services, said: “The licensing authority in Bolton is determined to do its best to get rid of that small minority of drivers who are giving the rest bad name, and if the Private Hire Association thinks that by taking strike action it will deter us then they have got it completely wrong.”

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HECKMONDWIKE

 A taxi driver who sped away from police said he panicked because he had used cocaine earlier.

The officers were forced to chase Nasser Iqbal as he accelerated to 20mph above the speed limit, ignoring a give way sign and hitting a kerb.

The 35-year-old has since lost his job as a taxi driver after pleading guilty to dangerous driving.
Iqbal had caught the attention of police as he drove around Heckmondwike shortly before 1am on March 7.

The officers were heading in the opposite direction but turned around and followed his VW Golf.

Prosecutor Andy Wills said: “They activated their blue lights and sirens but instead the vehicle accelerated away.

“(Iqbal) was driving in excess of 50mph in a 30mph limit area.”

He continued to ignore the speed limit as he turned onto Redfearn Avenue, then Wood Avenue and immediately onto Hadfield Road.

Iqbal continued at an increased speed through a give way sign, making no attempt to slow down.
Mr Wills said that he then headed onto Leeside Road where he hit a kerb and continued to accelerate for a while before pulling over and stopping of his own accord.

The prosecutor told magistrates: “He said he didn’t stop because he was scared as he’d used cocaine earlier in the day.

“The defendant told the officers: ‘I drove away. I thought I could get away and I put my hands up - I’m sorry.”

Despite admitting to taking the class A drug an impairment test showed that Iqbal, of Pilgrim Crescent in Dewsbury Moor, was not under the influence while he was driving.

He held a previous related conviction dating back to 2006 for failing to supply a specimen of breath for analysis.

Paul Blanchard, mitigating, said that his client had taken cocaine the night previously while he was out with friends.

He told magistrates that Iqbal previously had an “intense cocaine habit” but has not used the drug since his arrest in March.

Mr Blanchard said that Iqbal was working as a taxi driver but lost his job following the offence and is currently claiming benefits.

He added: “Police didn’t have to take significant action to bring him to a stop.

“It seems to have been a relatively short pursuit and no vehicles had to take evasive action.”

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