June 3, 2008
Door stickers threaten livelihood, says taxi operator
THE owner of a Beaconsfield taxi firm fears his drivers will lose their livelihoods and leave his company because of council-imposed door stickers.
Imran Ishaq, operator of Class Above Cars, based in Baring Road, spoke after one of his drivers refused to place council door stickers on his private hire vehicle.
Driver Ashiq Hussain was turned down for a renewal of his licence by South Bucks District Council's licensing sub committee tonight.
In a letter presented to the committee Mr Hussain, from Oakridge Road, High Wycombe, said the stickers would cause him to face danger.
His car would be vandalised, devalued and it would affect his income, he added.
He said: "Over the past five years I have clients requesting for me when they make the booking with Class Above Cars therefore having stickers on my car would mean that they would not want me as their driver.
"I feel that I would be losing income which would affect my personal life as I have a family who is dependent on me."
The council introduced door stickers for private hire and Hackney carriages in December last year to combat unlicensed drivers.
Representing Mr Hussain at the hearing, Mr Ishaq said: "Most of my clients are from Beaconsfield and Gerrards Cross, that shows the sort of earning.
"I have got letters from clients saying they would not use Mr Hussain if that would be the case."
He added: "All of our cars are E Class Mercedes apart from one which is a six-seater. Each of our cars has cost a lot of money. We are an executive company and our work is of an executive nature."
The committee heard how drivers could apply to be exempt from the stickers if their work was prestigious but this would have prevented Mr Hussain from accepting cash offers to take people to airports.
Chairman of the committee Cllr Naomi Arnold said decision was considered justified on the grounds of the safety of the public at large.
The vehicle already has to display identification plates and it has only recently been imposed as part of the council's criteria for new and renewed licences, she added.
In March Hackney Carriage driver Abdul Rauf, of Lindsay Avenue, High Wycombe, was also turned down for a licence after he refused to display the stickers.
He said he believed they could make drivers vulnerable to attack, robbery and even murder.
Speaking after the decision Imran Ishaq said: "When it comes to it clients won't be asking for Mr Hussain. His whole livelihood is going to suffer.
"This is so stupid - why put people in that situation?"
Mr Hussain, a father-of-three, said: "I am going to the Job Centre. I am not going to risk it."
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