On 11 December 2024 Wyre Council’s Licensing Committee revoked two Hackney Carriage Vehicle Licences due to the proprietor failing to properly maintain the vehicles and thereby risking public safety.
Both vehicles were referred to the Licensing Committee to determine whether they were suitable to remain licensed. The committee subsequently heard that inspections of the vehicles were conducted by authorised Council Officers and the Driver Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) at the Wyre Council’s Copse Road Depot on 10 October 2024. The inspections identified several defects on both vehicles and resulted in the DVSA prohibiting their use on a road with immediate effect. In addition, authorised Council Officers also issued the proprietor with notices to prevent further use as a hackney carriage under section 68 of the Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1976.
A total of six vehicles belonging to the licence holder have been referred to the committee since April 2023 and most recently on 1 October 2024. Having considered all information, the committee concluded that there was no option but to revoke both vehicle licences.
Vehicles licensed by Wyre Council’s Licensing Committee must be safe not only at the annual MOT and Compliance inspection but during the whole period of the licence. To protect the public, vehicles require on-going maintenance during the period of a licence. Vehicles of any age can develop faults especially when they undertake high mileage as hackney carriage and private hire vehicles do. It is important therefore that drivers undertake daily visual inspections for faults and vehicles are seen regularly by a qualified mechanic to identify faults that cannot be picked up during a visual inspection.
The licence holder has received written notification of this decision on 12 December 2024 and has a right to appeal against it within the next 21 days.