Licence d-day for private hire firm
Dec 8 2006
Chester Chronicle
A CITY private hire business faces a hearing to decide the future of its licence next week.
KingKabs, which is authorised to run up to 344 private hire vehicles, at present operates from premises at 53 Bridge Street, 4 Stanley Place and 30 City Road.
The City Road office is not readily accessible to the public, according to a city council report.
It does not have planning permission as a waiting room and does not appear to be staffed.
The only apparent booking facility is an intercom phone installed in the doorway and linked to the Bridge Street office.
A report by city council licensing officers says the licence was renewed annually until earlier this year.
Following complaints regarding the premises in City Road, it was renewed for a six month period.
This was later extended on a temporary basis until the end of the year.
The application was due to be heard at the end of November but was deferred at KingKabs' request.
At a hearing in the spring, which followed complaints regarding noise, nuisance, litter and general anti social behaviour around the City Road premises, solicitors on behalf of KingKabs argued it was out of their control how people behaved.
The company pointed out the office in City Road had been in use for many years and was in an area covered by the city council's night time strategy.
It did not accept that all the noise came from the taxi queue.
Councillors are due to told in the report that previous complainants have been contacted and invited to attend to update councillors.
Officials are recommending the licence should be renewed for a 12 month period subject to conditions involving 30 City Road or the closure of the office.
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