Taxi Driver Online

The Sun

December 12, 2005 Monday

Taxi boss stalked me, says provost

Biker 'tails car through town'

A TERRIFIED Provost called in police claiming a former taxi firm boss was stalking him.

Ronnie Burns, 73, below left, told how leather-clad biker Thomas Gatley followed his car through Paisley until his driver stopped and challenged him.

The Renfrewshire Provost said: "Having Gatley follow me was a terrifying experience.

"He stalked the car, looking like a sinister masked raider.

"When I realised he was behind us my driver slowed right down to see if he wanted past but he didn't.

"Eventually we pulled over and my driver got out our car to confront him."

He said it is the latest in

a string of incidents involving Mr Gatley, who has been at loggerheads with coun-

cillors for years over taxi regulations. It is claimed he once threatened former Provost John McDowell, below right, after lying in wait for him in the council car park.

Mr Burns said: "I don't know whether he has issues with something I did when I was licencing board convener but he is annoyed that I once had a go at his wife when she kept interrupting a meeting.

"A few years ago he stormed up to me in the civic suite and told me to step outside so he could 'have a go'. Now he's really overstepped the mark."

Mr Gatley used to own United Taxis in Johnstone before handing the business over to his wife.

He is believed to have requested 7,000 pages of information under the Freedom of Information Act about councillors' expenses.

Police said a 65-year-old man has been reported to the fiscal.

Mr Gatley, right, denied the accusations at his detached home in Johnstone. He said: "This is the first I've heard of any police investigation.

"At my age who would I be harassing? These accusations are not true."
.......................................................

If the claims are true then it's no wonder that many councils just do what the trade tells them.

_________________
Taxi Driver Online
www.taxi-driver.co.uk

Ex Provist Burns has few friends in the taxi & private hire trade here in Renfrewshire & the guy he made the allegations against is one of the few people in this district who have stood up to him & the incompetent licensing dept he used to run

This is the Council that insists on comprehensive cover when the law of the land is third party knowing full well no one has the cash to challenge them in the courts

If you dare challenge this lot , without fail, they go all the way to the Court of Session, so in other words forget it

Incidentally, JD how come across the story ? You dont come across as a reader of 'the current bun'

The Sun wasn't my source, It was in a collection of articles specifically aimed at Taxis, as were the Bradford and Bolton articles.

Regards

JD