Tewkesbury Borough Council has successfully prosecuted three companies for private hire vehicle licensing offences.

On 10 July 2023, Cheltenham Magistrates Court found both Five Star (Gloucester) Ltd and Five Star / First Associated Transport Ltd guilty of operating a private hire vehicle without it having a private hire licence and of employing a driver who did not have a private hire licence. Robertsons Transport Gloucester Ltd also pleaded guilty to the charge of operating a vehicle without having a private hire licence.

Five Star / First Associated Transport Ltd was fined £1,500 and ordered to pay a £600 victim surcharge and £2,491 in costs. Five Star (Gloucester) Ltd did not receive a separate penalty as both companies are under the same directorship.

A fine of £1,384 was imposed on Robertsons Transport Gloucester Ltd, reduced to £1,000 due to an early guilty plea, and the company was ordered to pay a victim surcharge of £369 and costs of £1,851.

The companies were reported to Tewkesbury Borough Council following compliance checks undertaken by Gloucestershire County Council officers.

It is vital that all private hire vehicles and drivers are licensed in the interests of public safety. The borough council’s Licensing team works to ensure that important checks are carried out prior to issuing licences in order that taxi and private hire vehicle customers remain safe. Using unlicensed vehicles and drivers puts lives at risk and results in the vehicle being uninsured.

Tewkesbury Borough Council’s Lead Member for Clean and Green Environment, Councillor Sarah Hands, said: “Ensuring the safety of our residents and visitors is of paramount importance to us. These successful prosecutions send a clear message that we will not tolerate unlicensed vehicles and drivers.

“Our Licensing team will continue to work diligently to protect public safety and uphold the integrity of our local transport services."

The prosecution was brought by Tewkesbury Borough Council’s Licensing team with assistance from both the Counter Fraud and Enforcement Unit and One Legal, a legal service shared by Cheltenham Borough Council, Gloucester City Council, Stroud District Council and Tewkesbury Borough Council.