Council Halts Pub’s Offbeat Transport
Thursday 2nd July 2009
A popular offbeat vehicle that dropped customers between two Bewdley pubs has been taken off the road on the orders of Wyre Forest District Council.
Customers were able to take the tuk tuk – a Southeast Asian motor vehicle – from the Cock and Magpie, in Severnside North, to the Hop Pole Inn, for their dinner reservations.
Paul Glover-Winfield, who owns both pubs with his daughter, Emma Passey, 25, set up the free service three weeks ago because of the lack of parking spaces at the Hop Pole.
Customers were parking on the footpath and outside neighbouring homes in Hop Pole Lane, as there was nowhere else for them to park, Mr Glover-Winfield said.
The district council, however, told him he could no longer provide the service without a licence because it was classed as private hire.
Last week, The Shuttle reported the council had also forced Sean McGahern, landlord of the Royal Forester in Callow Hill, to scrap the free lift service he was offering customers.
Mr Glover-Winfield, 40, said: “The council say I’m getting a reward out of it because people are coming up to my pub and buying a meal.
“They also said it doesn’t meet criteria because it’s not a red vehicle. My argument is I’m not doing it for private hire but that isn’t strong enough because I’m getting a commercial benefit from it. It’s extremely frustrating.”
He explained that people who booked a table at the Hop Pole would meet him at the Cock and Magpie 30 minutes before their reservations for a lift in the tuk tuk.
“I wanted to do it for a bit of fun,” said Mr Glover-Winfield, “It’s frustrating really because it’s a great little thing.
“It’s extremely economical and it keeps people off the road drinking and driving.
“There’s been a hell of a downturn in business in the Hop Pole since it’s gone. Considering the state of the pub industry you would expect the council to be more supportive.”
Mr Glover-Winfield said he brought the tuk tuk on eBay and thought it would be “perfect” to drop people at the pubs.
“ It’s MoT-ed and it’s got a British logbook,” he explained. “People have said it was the best thing to have come into Bewdley. It’s a little vibrant thing that made people smile.
“Just because of bureaucracy, no-one is able to think outside the box. It’s just a shame really.”
Brian Kent, principal licensing officer, said: “The use of vehicles for commercial benefit requires a licence as a private hire vehicle under the council’s taxi policy. If anyone would like help or advice on licensing we are happy to help.”
Mr Glover-Winfield said he would be applying for a licence for the tuk tuk, but he did not expect to succeed.
Source; kidderminstershuttle.co.uk
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