Taxi Driver Online

Leyland chauffeur gears up for rich and famous passengers

A Leyalnd businessman who ferries the rich and famous in his luxury limousines has been given a double boost.

Philip Hayes, of Westwood Road, Leyland, runs Sophisticars, which specialises in chauffeur driven and executive hire limousine services.

He was awarded a contract to provide executive hire for the Variety Club Children's Charity throughout the North West. The charity holds regular fundraising functions which celebrities attend.

Mr Hayes, 37, has a double reason to celebrate after South Ribble Borough Council's licensing committee agreed to bend its normal rules to allow him to use his personal vehicle – a Volvo S80 Executive T6 sedan – to ferry the Variety Club's guests in luxury and style.

Vehicles over four years aren't normally eligible for such a taxi licence, so the businessman drove his seven-year-old car to the meeting so the committee members could inspect it for themselves.

After a straightforward roadworthiness test, the Volvo will be able to ferry the North West's rich and famous within the next couple of weeks.

Mr Hayes said: "I drove it to the licensing committee so that they could inspect it there and then.

"They needed to know that it has the appropriate safety requirements, and we are also subject to more stringent roadworthiness tests every six months, which is the next step.

"There is a massive crackdown on limousines to make sure they're safe – and quite rightly so. There are some private hire firms out there that don't meet the same standards that we do, being licensed by the council."

Mr Hayes believes that the latest addition to his luxury fleet will now enable Sophisticars to compete with other executive hire companies and continue the Leyland-based firm's success.

He already has experience of dealing with celebrities under expert scrutiny, having previously chauffeured car fanatics Nigel Mansell and Murray Walker as part of the Variety Club contract.

Sophisticars has been using two limousines and an American style executive car, mainly for stag and hen parties, high school leaving ceremonies and weddings.

Coun Jim Owen, vice chairman of the general licensing committee confirmed that the council had given Mr Hayes permission to licence the vehicle.

He said: "We had a look at the vehicle at the meeting and granted the licence, with the condition that a small licence plate is displayed inside.

"We take each case on merit and it still has to pass the council's roadworthiness test before it is licensed for private hire."

Mr Hayes is yet to decide on prices for the Volvo executive.

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Think of how stupid the average person is, and realize half of them are stupider than that.
George Carlin

Good on the driver for getting his un-licensed vehicle licensed.

Good on the council for being flexible enough to license it.

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IDFIMH

Common sense in respect of section 75?

I hope so

CC

_________________
Think of how stupid the average person is, and realize half of them are stupider than that.
George Carlin