June 27, 2008
Partially sighted taxi driver loses bid to keep job
A PARTIALLY sighted Hampshire taxi driver has lost his appeal to stay on the road.
Council chiefs told Martin Guy it would not be renewing his private hire driver's licence because he'd lost the sight in his right eye.
The 57-year-old's bid to overturn the ruling was backed by magistrates in January, prompting the council to appeal to Winchester Crown Court.
The court heard that Alresford-based Mr Guy, who has been a taxi driver since 1970, had undergone five operations to correct sight problems brought on by diabetes.
But despite totally losing vision in his right eye in late 2002, the city council did not learn about his condition until 2007.
Licensing chiefs argued that Winchester City Council refused to renew the licence because he did not meet medical standards laid out by the DVLA. But Mr Guy, of Kiln Lane, Old Alresford, claimed he did not hold a Group 2 licence and should not have to meet the DVLA's criteria.
He added: "I have never had any complaints about my driving - I've customers who know I'm blind in one eye and they still use me.
"I can't suddenly stop driving, I have to carry on working to live. I've got a daughter going through college, who lives with me."
But Judge Thomas Longbotham ruled in favour of the council.
He said: "The burden of proving an exception to go against the council's policy lies on the individual and this court has heard no medical evidence of this."
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