Source: Burnley Express
It followed an operation by Pendle Council, Lancashire Constabulary and the Vehicle Operator Services Agency on Friday, May 14th, in which more than half the cars failed and had their licences suspended.
Some 20 were stopped and 12 of them were taken off the road due to their state. Most had repairs carried out the next day and the suspension was lifted.
The issue was a big debate at the latest meeting of Pendle Council’s Taxi Licensing Committee.
Mr Mohammed Akram, chairman of Pendle Taxi Association, pointed out weekend stop checks “crippled” the income of local taxi firms. At the meeting, he said Friday and Saturday were their busiest times and added: “We don’t mind spot checks during the week.”
But he said weekend stops were “unfair”, and added: “I think this is discrimination. I don’t think it is fair play.”
Another taxi spokesman, Mr Mohammed Saeed, said one firm lost four cars, adding: “Why don’t they just call them one by one by different firms at different times.”
However, committee chairman Coun. Pauline McCormick said a resident from her ward was a passenger in one of the taxis stopped. She said: “He told me: ‘I am so pleased the council is doing something like this. It makes me feel safer.’”
But Mr Saeed said: “During the week there are no spot checks – only on Friday and Saturday nights. This is unfair.”
Coun. Mohammed Iqbal said: “These operators need to be named and shamed in the Press who keep failing spot checks.” However, he felt it might be better to get cars ordered for an inspection by a specific registration number, giving them half an hour to attend.
“Friday nights are their busiest nights,” he explained. “I am suggesting an easier option that we contact the operator and say: ‘Look, bring your car in.’ I think the trade will happily accept that. Stopping one on a Friday or Saturday night is counter-productive.” He said it could make taxi drivers “kick off”.
However, Coun. Graham Roach said: “I think spot checks are the most important aspect. It reassures the people of Pendle. If that was my car I’d be so ashamed. I think we should be carrying on with spot checks on Friday and Saturday nights. It keeps the taxi owners on their toes.”
Coun. Nadeem argued: “I think we need to do it during weekdays rather than the weekend.”
But Coun. David Clegg said: “When you are doing a spot check it is to catch people whose cars are unfit. It is no point making an appointment to tell them to come so you can check it.”
And Coun. McCormick said: “The things that happen now aren’t as bad as they were two years ago. Things aren’t as dangerous as they used to be. As chairman, I do feel this is the way we want to do it.”
And members agreed and voted to carry on with weekend spot checks.
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