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Dad's anger over unlicensed taxi driver on school run
A FATHER from Grays has spoken of his anger at Thurrock Council who allowed his daughter to be transported to school in the mini-bus driven by an unlicensed driver.
The Council has now sacked Ladycars UK, the transport firm used to take Daniel Reynolds' daughter to Castledon special needs school in Wickford.
Mr Reynolds, 45, of Crammavil Street says that he knew something was wrong on the first day a Ladycars driver turned up to take his 14-year-old step-daughter, who has autism, to school.
He and his wife Penny noticed that the driver did not have a taxi license displayed, and when they questioned her about it they were told that it had been applied for and was in the post.
Mr Reynolds said: "We smelt a rat so my wife rang up Transport for London who told us that if the taxi firm were registered in Thurrock then they should have a big green badge. They didn't have them and every time we asked where it was they said 'it's in the post, it's coming'."
When this same excuse kept being given on subsequent trips with different drivers, the worried parents contacted Thurrock Council several times, to be told each time that the firm had been checked out and that they shouldn't worry.
Last week, several months after he voiced his concerns, Mr Reynolds received a phone call from Thurrock Council informing him that after a random spot check was carried out, a driver from the firm had been found to have only ever been licensed to drive a vehicle with less than eight seats.
The council's contract with Ladycars has now been removed.
Mr Reynolds added: "It was always a different driver and a different chaperone who turned up. A driver once pulled up in her pyjamas, another time a driver turned up with bloodshot eyes and appeared to be drunk.
"Whenever we rang the council and they said don't trouble yourself, its all bona fide. Every time I spoke to them they told me it was all above board.
"We knew we were being told nonsense."
Ladycars UK, the all-female Leyton based cab firm, became a council-approved operator in September 2007, taking over from Thurrock firm Tilbury Taxis on the Castledon school run.
Thurrock Council maintain that at the time of awarding the contract to the company the operator and the drivers were properly checked out.
But Mr Reynolds is angry that the contract was ever awarded to a non-Thurrock firm in the first place.
He said: "I want to know why on earth this firm, from Leyton was transporting our children around anyway? I'm appalled. Why not a Thurrock firm?
"They took my daughter out of the mini-bus of a tried and tested operator, and put her into the vehicle of an unlicensed and therefore uninsured driver."
No apology has been offered to Mr Reynolds, who is holding the council responsible, saying: "I said to the council you're carrying the most precious possession in our household.
"It's a dodgy firm but I hold the council responsible because they gave out that contract. We're chuffed that it's Tilbury Taxis again, and my daughter is chuffed too. They are a lovely firm."
Andy Lever, spokesperson for Thurrock Council said: "Ladycars UK joined Thurrock Council's approved operators list in September 2007.
"Initially there was some confusion over rules that apply in Thurrock and those in London - where the firm is based.
"At the time of Mr and Mrs Reynolds' first complaint the council carried out checks on the drivers and each had been vetted and each had a current operator's licence.
"Last week the council received a complaint that the licence of one driver had expired.
"On investigation it was found that the driver was only licensed to drive a vehicle with less than eight seats.
"Ladycars was severely reprimanded and the contract was removed.
"Emergency cover was found for the next morning and the council's licensing department has been informed."
A spokesperson for Ladycars, whose registered office is 8a Rigg Approach, Leyton, said they were too busy' to speak to the Gazette.
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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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