We regret that the hire of our vintage
vehicle for the use other than weddings has had to be suspended for the time being. This is owing to South Staffordshire
Council and their recent policy that does not permit the use of our vehicle for hire, in their opinion they consider our service
to be a 'taxi' and is therefore subject to private hire regulations! Private hire regulations do not permit vehicles
older that 10 years and an engine capacity less than 1300cc to be licensed as a taxi.
You can appreciate
our frustration over the introduction of a policy that denies everyone especially the young and the elderly the opportunity
to experience either their first journey or to re-live a memory in a historic vehicle and being the only local operator of
a historic car for events other than weddings a policy that is, in our opinion, unfair and not implemented in the spirit in
which it is intended. The objective of the legislation is to raise the standards of vehicles and operators of vehicles like
stretch limousines and unroadworthy vehicles. The irony is that well maintained vehicles are being excluded.
If
you agree with our comments, please assist us in our appeal by emailing David Pattison, Head of Legal and Licensing, South
Staffordshire Council: d.pattison@staffs.gov.uk
