Drivers' anger at taxi checks

A taxi drivers dispute in the Wyre Forest district is heading for a show-down with councillors tomorrow after many stopped working lon Friday night leaving revellers stranded.

Only emergency calls were handled after council officials along with other agencies carried out spot checks on vehicles.

The checks started at about 8pm and owner drivers decided they could not operate because these were taking so long to complete.

Many drivers believe officials were gathering information to back their case against allowing taxis to remain on the roads beyond the existing seven year limit.

Tomorrow councillors are expected to hear appeals by seven taxi owners who want to keep their vehicles on the road.

Brian Kent, the council's head of licensing, has said the prime aim of the policy is "to protect public safety".

But Trevor Owen, a member of Wyre Forest Taxi Association, said: "The owner drivers feel it was insensitive of the council to carry out the checks before the meeting."

He added: "Because it was taking about two hours to get vehicles tested we purposely did not take people into the town because we could not guarantee taking them back."