Rossendale taxis taken off the road in safety checksFOUR taxis were removed from the streets of Rossendale after failing on-the-spot inspections.
Faults found with the licensed Hackney Carriages travelling through Haslingden and Rawtenstall included defective tyres, broken springs, defective lights, split suspension joint covers and oil leaks.
Rossendale Council’s Public Protection Unit ran the series of inspections alongside the police, fraud investigators and the Vehicle Operator Services Agency.
During the operation named Maestro, 14 licensed hackney carriages were stopped and inspected.
Seven will undergo further checks, while four were immediately removed from service.
Two vehicles received a suspended or delayed prohibition notice, which would come into affect if the problems were not corrected in an agreed period of time.
In addition to this, one driver is being investigated for benefit fraud.
Coun Christine Gill, chairman of the licensing committee said “There is no excuse for defective tyres and lights and other issues such as oil leaks.
“Taxi drivers are professional drivers and as such they should be carrying out basic checks before, during and at the end of each shift to ensure passenger safety.
“The council will continue to conduct these inspections regularly.”
More inspections will be carried out through out December.
Glen Bulcock, Chairman of Rossendale Taxi Association said: “Hopefully, operators will use this inspection as a reason to gain tighter controls on their drivers and vehicles.”
http://www.lancashiretelegraph.co.uk/ne ... ty_checks/
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