Crown Court upholds decision by Rossendale Borough Council

Preston Crown Court has backed a decision by Rossendale Borough Council to revoke a taxi driver’s licence.

The court agreed on Thursday (September 21) that Sarfaraz Ahmad Bibi, 40, of Timperley Road, Ashton under Lyne, should no longer be able to operate as a hackney carriage driver.

The Council took the decision to revoke Bibi’s licence after he was convicted in December last year of picking up a passenger in Stockport without being pre-booked, and for not having the correct insurance.

However, after the Council revoked his licence in April he appealed to Burnley Magistrates.

The magistrates allowed the appeal but imposed a two month long suspension.

As a result Rossendale Council then appealed to Preston Crown Court who this week upheld the Council’s decision to remove the licence.

Councillor Christine Lamb, Portfolio Holder for Regulatory Services, said:

I welcome the news that the Crown Court has decided to uphold our decision. We take the allocation of taxi licences very seriously and are clear that drivers have to adhere to a strict code of operation. We will not hesitate to revoke a licence from someone we believe has flouted those regulations and I believe this decision shows how seriously we will take our responsibilities to passengers.