Taxi Driver Online

Torquay taxi driver suspended and ordered to take anger management course



A TORQUAY taxi driver has had his licence suspended for three months and been ordered to go on an anger management course following an 'unprecedented' five complaints in four months about his conduct.

The complaints about Rodney Woolacott's behaviour while on duty were made between December 2 last year and April 3, and related to him losing his temper or being rude, and on occasions becoming aggressive.

Torbay Council's licensing sub-committee met on Thursday to determine whether the 68-year-old remained a 'fit and proper person' to hold a council licence.

Environmental health manager Steve Cox said: "It's not appropriate for a taxi driver who's licensed by the council and therefore represents the council to be losing his temper with the frequency the allegations would suggest.

"To have five complaints against a taxi driver in such a short period of time is unprecedented. There's a pattern forming and it's not acceptable. They are allegations – but there are five of them."

One of the incidents was partially captured on CCTV and some footage was shown at the meeting.

Mr Woolacott's counsel Scott Horner told the meeting: "While Mr Woolacott denies many of the things that were alleged, he accepts these altercations shouldn't be happening and are regrettable.

"Clearly he isn't going to receive any customer service prizes this year from the council. He realises he can be somewhat abrupt in his manner. He enjoys banter with his customers and sometimes jokes can be taken in the wrong way.

"I suggest it comes down to Mr Woolacott standing his ground and being firm and not accepting the behaviour that taxi drivers are sometimes subjected to."

Mr Horner also said that Mr Woolacott's step-daughter had been seriously unwell and this might have affected his behaviour as he 'had things on his mind'.

He added: "He has been professionally driving all his life. He has some health difficulties but passes his health test every year to drive his taxi. He's not the sort of man who takes this lightly and has been co-operative throughout this process. He very much wants to work. He doesn't want to rely on state handouts which would be the consequence of a loss of licence."

Mr Woolacott told the committee that he had been driving taxis in Torbay for three and a half years, and prior to that he had last driven a taxi 20 years ago. He had also driven buses in Devon, fire engines in London and lorries and coaches all over Europe.

The committee decided to suspend his licence for three months and ordered him to complete an anger management course. Mr Woolacott was told that if he proved he had completed an appropriate course within two months, the suspension would be reduced to two months.

Speaking after the meeting, Mr Woolacott told the Herald Express: "I'm not pleased because I think it's been exaggerated. But I'll have to do the course as I'm out of work now."


Read more: http://www.torquayheraldexpress.co.uk/t ... z4Dqo0VPft

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Think of how stupid the average person is, and realize half of them are stupider than that.
George Carlin

I wonder what state handouts a 68 year old would get? state pension, housing benefits, rates rebates, not much else I'd say.

There's one in every town

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lack of modern legislation is the iceberg sinking the titanic of the transport sector

greed mate

well done mate but at 68 years old, shouldnt really be driving pi$$ed up blokes/women about tbh , take up golf ! greedy fooker

You do realise Ven that if you are the age I think you are you will have to work till your 67 to get your pension

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lack of modern legislation is the iceberg sinking the titanic of the transport sector

No chance of him making that age.

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IDFIMH

im 53 mate

i concur

I think I have asked you this question before, perhaps I missed a reply. Anyway.........Do you have a (livable) pension in place, other than the State Pension?

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if you cannot be yourself, then who can you be.

In my case yes, it's called Mrs Sussex.

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IDFIMH

MR Woolacott is a mug having that clown who ever he was repping him ffs have you read it jasus that rep needs stringing up .....................and as for a 3 month suspension ffs thats excessive and vindictive.

benefits are only what he has paid in all his for all his working life he is fully entitled

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All posts by this contributor are made in a strictly personal capacity

I AM PROUD TO BE A CITIZEN NOBODY'S SUBJECT http://www.republic.org.u

F88K EM ALL WHAT GOES AROUND COMES AROUND

BOOZE BOOZE BOOZE

and you are absolutely certain you will still be together come time to draw your pension ?

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lack of modern legislation is the iceberg sinking the titanic of the transport sector

Table 4: Increase in State Pension age from 66 to 67, men and women
Date of birth Date State Pension age reached
6 April 1960 – 5 May 1960 66 years and 1 month
6 May 1960 – 5 June 1960 66 years and 2 months
6 June 1960 – 5 July 1960 66 years and 3 months
6 July 1960 – 5 August 1960 66 years and 4 months (1)
6 August 1960 – 5 September 1960 66 years and 5 months
6 September 1960 – 5 October 1960 66 years and 6 months
6 October 1960 – 5 November 1960 66 years and 7 months
6 November 1960 – 5 December 1960 66 years and 8 months
6 December 1960 – 5 January 1961 66 years and 9 months (2)
6 January 1961 – 5 February 1961 66 years and 10 months (3)
6 February 1961 – 5 March 1961 66 years and 11 months
6 March 1961 – 5 April 1977* 67
*For people born after 5 April 1969 but before 6 April 1977, under the Pensions Act 2007, State

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lack of modern legislation is the iceberg sinking the titanic of the transport sector

My state pension age will be 68 years old.

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Grandad,