May 31, 2008
Taxi driver denied licence for poor grammar
A taxi driver has been refused a new licence because of his failure to use apostrophes correctly.
Laurence Kirk had to take an English exam designed to weed out foreigners who cannot speak the language when he tried to renew his licence in Bournemouth but failed.
He must now attend a GCSE college course funded by the taxpayer before he can re-sit the exam.
"I used to be a taxi driver and I was a successful one," he said.
"But now the council is telling me I can't work as a taxi driver because I don't know how to use an apostrophe or where to put a semi-colon.
"No one has asked me if I know Bournemouth or what I would do if approached by a drunk person, just where to put an apostrophe."
Mr Kirk, 50, described the test as "barmy".
A spokesman for Bournemouth borough council said it was designed to check if drivers were suitable to take the BTEC in transporting passengers by taxi and private hire.
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