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Taxi firm loses signage appeal
BOSSES of a Basingstoke taxi firm have lost their appeal against Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council over signs on their vehicles.
The owners of Oakview Station Kars, in Station Hill, took the council to court after it required all private-hire vehicles operating in the borough to fix vinyl stickers to the side of the passenger and driver doors.
The stickers - which must be permanently attached to reduce the risk of them falling off or being stolen - carry the council name and logo alongside the message no booking, no ride'.
The case was heard over two days at Andover magistrates court.
Peter Maddox, representing the owners of Oakview Station Kars, John Greenaugh and Andrew Mulley, told the court that members of the public only needed to be able to identify a private-hire vehicle if they had booked it.
He said: "The appellants are more than happy to display the signs, but they do challenge the need for permanent signage when the car has other uses."
Taxi drivers are not employed by the council and are not paid by the council. At the end of every day, they go home to their lives, but this condition means they cannot do that Peter Maddox
He added: "Taxi drivers are not employed by the council and are not paid by the council. At the end of every day, they go home to their lives, but this condition means they cannot do that."
Peter Savill, for the council, said the interests of the public needed to be put first.
He said the conditions were introduced in September 2005 in order to protect the public from unlicensed or bogus taxi drivers.
The aim was also to distinguish them from hackney carriages, which can be hailed in the street.
Mr Savill said: "There is a potential problem in the Basingstoke area, but it's not just a Basingstoke issue."
In a written judgement, District Judge Gillian Babbington-Browne ruled against Mr Mulley and Mr Greenaugh.
She said: "Officers receive regular reports of the public trying to access people's private cars at night when waiting for friends or relatives on the assumption that they are private-hire vehicles.
"I conclude that these issues are sufficient to support the council's contention that it is reasonably necessary to introduce permanent signage to achieve their legitimate objective of protecting the public."
Speaking after the court case, the chairman of the council's licensing committee, Councillor Rita Burgess, said: "We are glad that the court recognised the importance that we place on public safety"
The judge said both sides should meet to discuss the payment of costs, but if no agreement was reached, the matter would be heard in court on February 14.
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Think of how stupid the average person is, and realize half of them are stupider than that.
George Carlin
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