Can't be many vehicles written off by going over potholes - cab must have been on its last legs anyway
Taxi driver 'forced off the road by council bureaucrats'
https://www.dailyecho.co.uk/news/174909 ... reaucrats/
Image: Daily Echo
A TAXI driver says he has been forced off the road by council bureaucracy.
Keith Bottomley, 64, has specialised in serving Winchester’s residential care homes for many years, and says he’s built up a reputation for reliability and service.
But now he is off the road after his 04-reg seven-seater Citroen Dispatch, designed for ease of use by elderly passengers, suffered severe damage when hitting a pothole on Andover Road.
The damage is so severe that the vehicle has been written off and been scrapped.
Keith has been told that he must replace it with a vehicle of under three years of age but the cost of more than £30,000 is prohibitive.
He says the council rules are too strict. His Citroen was side-entry and specially built for disabled people.
Keith said he could afford to replace the vehicle with a back-loading one but the city council says it would not grant it a licence.
“It seems a little bit unfair. They have changed the rules but never told anyone. I have never been told that if a car is a write-off you would have to buy a new one. There is no flexibility. I should be able to replace like for like.”
“Now I am not driving this has left a lot of customers in the lurch as I cannot drive them anymore.”
Keith said the council have a three-year rule but that does not take into account how well a taxi has been maintained. It seems the council want to take people off the road, he said.
“I enjoy what I do. I drive a lot of disabled people every day and I want to carry on. But I am up a gum tree and I don’t know what to do.”
Keith, of Harvey Road, Bishopstoke, near Eastleigh, has traded as Keith’s Taxi and been a local driver for more than 25 years, doing about 750,000 miles.
He received a Mayor of Winchester Community Award in 2016-17. The citation said: “He is a friend to us. Unfailingly cheerful and helpful, Keith is reliable and always lets us know if he is delayed. he is flexible and makes time for last-minute changes.
In a statement the city council said: “Maintaining the safety of people using licensed vehicles is our priority. As part of the current policy, there is a minimum age of three years for an initial Hackney vehicle licence to ensure taxi vehicle standards are maintained.
“Our licensing team have advised this driver of the standards that all Winchester licensed taxi drivers are required to comply with. Drivers have a duty to make themselves familiar with the licensing policy and we will always support them in the application of this.”
A spokeswoman for Brendoncare did not want to comment on Mr Bottomley’s problem with the council but did say: “Mr Bottomley has provided a great service to residents of Brendoncare, and we are grateful for his kind and caring nature.”
