STRICT testing procedures for Pendle's taxis are to stay in place after councillors were told almost 95 per cent of cabs examined over a month were found to be sub-standard.

Cab operators are fighting for a second testing garage in the borough after putting a list of complaints to the council.

But the authority's licensing sub-committee gave the proposal the red light and agreed current arrangements should remain until the contract for testing is up for renewal next year.

A report by senior legal officer Peter Frost said between August 16 and September 16, 49 taxis were tested at Allan Bennett Garage, Lomeshaye Industrial Estate, Nelson and only three passed.

"The underlying difficulty may be in operators meeting the standard expected by the council," said Mr Frost.

"Very few taxis are booked in for tests on Thursdays or Fridays because of the risk of the taxi failing the test and being off the road over the weekend which is by far the busiest time of the week for a taxi."

If a taxi fails the test the garage removes its licence plates and the cab cannot operate until it is re-tested and passes.

Taxi operators complained that using one garage was restrictive and cabs were sometimes failed for minor faults. The Taxi Consultative Forum, which represents operators and drivers, said the garage was closed at weekends and the number of cabs had increased since the contract was granted, justifying the need for another garage.

The forum also argued that taxis failed re-tests on items that had been passed first time round. Mr Bennett pointed out that between the original test and the re-test, taxis did a considerable mileage and items that were borderline failures on the original inspection sometimes failed the re-test.

The council said it was satisfied with the testing carried out by Allan Bennett Garage.

Tests are carried out on Pendle's 67 hackney carriages and 152 private hire vehicles every six months until the vehicle is six years old and then every four months until the car is ten years old when it is taken off the road.

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