A councillor said he ‘wouldn’t want his family in a taxi’ maintained by an Ayr taxi driver who was unanimously suspended for repeated vehicle failures.
Balkar Singh appeared before South Ayrshire Licensing Panel after a series of issues with his taxi.
The panel heard that Mr Singh had avoided a suspension a year ago when councillors agreed to address issues with the ongoing maintenance of his cab by demanding it be tested every four months.
The taxi once again failed an inspection in April this year and Mr Singh was again cited to appear before the panel.
The matter was continued to allow Mr Singh to attend. However, no further action was taken before his vehicle failed its MoT in July, where it presented with a exhaust mounting defect, broken spring coil and was given an advisory that a tyre was worn close to the legal limit.
While it passed a subsequent MoT, it still had the tyre condition advisory.
Officers asked the panel to consider suspending Mr Singh as no longer being a ‘fit and proper person’ to hold a taxi licence and that granting a licence would create ‘undue public nuisance or threat to public order or safety’.
SAC Fleet Inspector Graeme Beattie said that the fact the car had failed four out of its last five MoTs indicated that ‘it appears a minimum is getting done’ to get through tests.
He added: “In my opinion it is very, very poor upkeep of the car. It appears there is very little in the way of a maintenance regime in place to catch these before the MoT.”
Mr Singh made his case to the panel, claiming that he had been getting his taxi checked every month and everything had been ‘fine’ other than the one fault.
He added that the garage said that the broken spring could happen to a car whether it was old or new and suggested it could have happened he was transporting seven passengers with several suitcases.
This, he said, combined with driving in heavy rain at night on a ‘bad road with a very high speed bump’ could have led to the damage.
Councillor Iain Cavana said: “I am a wee bit worried. The last time the gentleman was in front of us, we gave him, shall we say, a second chance by keeping it to four-monthly checks.
"I am disappointed to see four out of five (fails). I don’t know who does your maintenance."
He pointed out that Mr Singh should have made sure the vehicle was alright before it went for an MoT. He added: "I make sure mine is alright and it isn’t my livelihood.”
Councillor Hugh Hunter called for Mr Singh’s immediate suspension.
He said: “I’ve heard enough and I’ve read enough about the history of this and I do not believe Mr Singh is a fit and proper person to hold a licence, so I would move for suspension of the licence.
“I just think you run out of patience eventually. There has been plenty of opportunities. Four fails in five tests is completely unacceptable. I wouldn’t want any of my family to be in a taxi maintained by Mr Singh.”
Source: https://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/ayrshire/councillor-wouldnt-want-family-taxi-31086502
A taxi driver was attacked in Birmingham and had his phone stolen.
BirminghamLive reports that the driver was punched and kicked before his mobile was snatched.
West Midlands Police issued CCTV images of four people, two men and two women, who may have information.
The four were black, with one man wearing a white bucket hat, green jacket, white top, black trousers and white trainers.
The second man had a black jacket and wore a light-coloured top and same colour shorts and white trainers.
One of the women had a royal blue crop top, black trousers and black trainers with white soles. The second was dressed in an all-black outfit with black shoes.
West Midlands Police said: “Do you recognise these people? We think they may be able to help us with our enquiries after a taxi driver was assaulted in Birmingham.
“The incident happened on Clive Passage, Newtown just before 6.30am on September 4.
"The victim was punched and kicked and his phone was stolen.
“Anyone with any information is asked to contact us via LiveChat on our website or call 101 quoting 20/770286/23.”
Alternatively, anyone with any information can contact independent charity, Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.
Gedling Borough Council has successfully prosecuted a Nottingham City private hire driver who fled when approached for a safety check.
In December 2021, a Gedling BC licencing enforcement officer approached a Nottingham City Council private hire vehicle being driven by Mr Manzoor Alam of Arnold.
The vehicle was parked opposite the entrance to Asda on Front Street, Arnold, near to an area reserved for taxis to drop off and pick up passengers.
The enforcement officer approached the vehicle driven by Mr Alam to ask him what he was doing and to perform a safety check on it.
The officer announced that they were going to perform a routine inspection on the vehicle, at which point Mr Alam drove off, ignoring the officer’s request.
CCTV footage also showed the driver mounting the pavement to get around other vehicles after the offence.
Gedling council officers used this footage to identify the driver and worked in partnership with Nottingham City Council’s Licencing Team to carry out an interview under caution, later taking legal action against the driver through the courts.
Mr Alam was convicted of wilfully obstructing a Gedling BC licencing enforcement officer, fined £336, and ordered to pay a £34 victim surcharge as well as £720 in prosecution costs.
Councillor David Ellis, Portfolio Holder for Public Protection said: “We are committed to ensuring the safety of our residents and checks like these by our licencing officers help to protect the public from unsafe and illegal practices, such as drivers who are not properly licensed, insured, or who are operating outside of their licensed area.
Not only that, but they also help ensure that our Gedling Borough licenced drivers, don’t lose trade to those trying to take advantage and operate outside of the rules.
We will continue to work in partnership with other licensing authorities to keep our borough safe, and this conviction sends a very clear message that these offences will not be tolerated.”
On Saturday 30 September, the company participated in Herts Young Homeless ‘Great Big 11 Mile Walk.’
Not only did the firm provide ground transport for walkers from St. Albans to the start of the walk in Markyate; four drivers also took part and the firm raised £640 through fundraising and donating £1 for every app booking made during the month of September.
A mum is looking to thank a "kind and thoughtful" taxi driver who came to her rescue this morning when her tyre burst on the school run.
According to the St Helens Star, mum-of-six Toni Owen from Sutton Heath was driving her three youngest children, one aged six and two others aged nine, to school this morning, Tuesday, October 3, when her front tyre burst near Jubits Lane.
Having never changed a tyre before, she was struggling taking tips via Facetime from her husband how to sort it when a kind taxi driver came to her aid.
Toni, 39, said: “I must have hit the front tyre on a kerb and it went and my head went then. I got the kids out and it started lashing it down with rain.
“I was struggling on Facetime to my husband when a Britannia Taxi Driver pulled up and said that he’d just driven past me dropping off a client then circled back to help me.
“I was just so grateful, he even let the kids sit in the back of his taxi to stay dry while he changed the tyre for us. He was just in a t-shirt and got absolutely soaked.
“He wouldn’t take any money for helping, just goes to show how kind people can be.
“Instead of my kids missing a day of school, thanks to him they were only 10 minutes late.
“I just want to find out his name, as he never told me, and thank him so much for being a kind person to a mum in need.”
Source: https://www.sthelensstar.co.uk/news/23830327.bid-find-taxi-driver-came-aid-mum-children/
A local councillor has sparked a debate on passenger safety after claiming that using locally licensed taxis is safer than hailing an Uber.
A taxi driver was attacked and subjected to racist abuse after two brothers refused to pay him up front.
Christopher Hilling, 64, admitted to engaging a child in sexual activity at Chelmsford Crown Court on Thursday 8 August.
Abdigani Ebrahim, 38, of Grangetown, admitted charges of affray and criminal damage following the incident in Northcote Street, Roath, last July.
The crackdown targeted drivers operating across council boundaries to ensure public safety and compliance with regulations.
Lucio Valentino relies on his six-year-old Border Collie, Pixel, to help manage his mental health conditions, including depression and personality disorders.
Taxi drivers across the Fylde Coast are set to receive a briefing note aimed at clearing up confusion over out-of-area private hire vehicles.
Police are appealing to find a taxi driver who may have "vital clues" about the murder of Ryan Passey seven years ago since he was fatally stabbed in a Stourbridge nightclub.
A joint operation by Hull City Council, Wolverhampton Council, and Humberside Police has uncovered a number of safety issues with taxis operating in the city.
French taxi drivers are calling for government compensation after suffering significant revenue losses during the Paris Olympics.
Coventry city centre has introduced a new taxi marshal service aimed at improving safety and efficiency for late-night revellers.
A court heard harrowing details of the moment a drink-driving uninsured motorist killed three people in a 90mph crash.
The Taxi Charity for Military Veterans was amongst the thousands who enjoyed the Battle Proms at Highclere Castle on 3 August.
Swindon residents could be facing a hike in taxi fares from October after councillors gave the green light to a £1 increase in the standard fare minimum charge.
Ricky Harold, a 20-year veteran of the town’s taxi trade, was parked in a lay-by when his vehicle was struck from behind by a black Audi A2.
Chinese automotive giant Geely has deepened its commitment to the UK electric vehicle market with a £120m cash injection into London Electric Vehicle Company (LEVC).
North Tyneside Council is facing a backlash over plans to increase taxi fares by 6.3%.
Nazim Asmal preyed on his victims after nights out in Preston and Darwen, driving them to secluded spots before carrying out horrific sexual assaults.
Newcastle is set to see a surge in pink taxis driven by women as part of a new initiative aimed at improving passenger safety.
An unlicensed taxi driver who picked up two vulnerable women in Aberdare has been ordered to pay nearly £1,500 in fines and costs.