Licensing ‘madness’ claim

THE MANAGING director of a hotel has accused Fife Council of “bureaucratic madness” by forcing him to remove logos from private vehicles.

Nicholas Russell, who runs Balbirnie House Hotel in Markinch, winner of Scotland’s wedding hotel of the year title for eight consecutive years, had to pay to have the hotel’s branding taken off a Mercedes Traveliner bought for the exclusive use of transferring hotel guests.

Regulation and licensing committee chairman Bob Young said the policy applies to all vehicles requiring private hire licences.

“As is a vehicle which is being used to transport guests, the owners are required by law to have a private hire vehicle licence,’’ he said.

“The licensing system is all about ensuring customer and driver safety.

“We have had several discussions with Balbirnie about their application to clarify matters with them. It is also made clear within the information given to all applicants applying for private hire car licences that signage is not permitted.

“This policy has been consistently applied to all private hire licence holders and it was felt that it was unfair to make an exception for one firm when all the others abide by these rules.

“Other hotels often use mini buses over eight seats for this purpose and these are covered by different legislation.”

Mr Russell said he was “totally astonished” at the decision and has created an online petition urging Fife Council to change its policy.

“Clearly Balbirnie House’s Mercedes has been a precedent in the decision-making process and this ludicrous decision now exposes all other Fife hotels, which operate similar vehicles, to remove their logos as well,” he said.

Markinch, Leslie and Glenrothes North councillor John Bear also questioned the council’s decision.

“As this is the year of the Ryder Cup and the Commonwealth Games, we should be making things easier for our visitors and the tourism sector, which brings in some £300 million to the Fife economy and employs some 12,000 people.”

He added: “I have been told this is a ‘safety measure’ to prevent people getting into vehicles they may think are taxis...but who would confuse a car with a hotel logo for a taxi? Frankly, it reads like a kind of bureaucratic madness that gives councils a bad name.”

Mr Beare said he planned to consult with council officials in a bid to change the policy ahead of the next full council meeting.