Taxi firm hit with 48-hour suspension

A CLEETHORPES taxi company has been hit with a suspension for allowing cars to operate without a licence.

Fon-A-Car has been suspended for 48 hours after it tried to appeal the decision which failed.

It came after the company allowed unlicensed private hire vehicles to continue to run. The order was originally issued in September 2020 by North East Lincolnshire Council’s Hackney

Carriage Sub-Committee. It went to Grimsby Magistrates Court in March after Fon-A-Car appealed, where the decision was upheld. Fon-A-Car, based in Market Street in Cleethorpes, provides services across North East Lincolnshire.

Councillor Ron Shepherd, portfolio holder for

Safer and Stronger Communities at

North

East Lincolnshire Council, said vehicle licences were vital in ensuring public safety.

“Taxi drivers are incredibly important to our local transport network, with people of all ages relying on private hire taxis to get them to and from various appointments,” Councillor Shepherd said. “Before getting a licence, vehicles go through thorough checks to make sure that they are safe and roadworthy. There are significant public safety concerns around using unlicensed taxis.

“It is right that anyone who ignores these rules receives an appropriate penalty.” Passengers and members of the public can spot signs to check whether a taxi is properly licensed.

Taxis should clearly display a tariff card and the driver should have an ID card, issued by the council.

Vehicles should also have a plate on the rear bumper and a card on the dashboard with an expiry date.

It is right that anyone who ignores these rules receives an appropriate penalty

Councillor Ron

Shepherd