Bournemouth Council have taken robust disciplinary action against two taxi drivers after they flouted late-night road closures.
At a hearing today of a sub-committee of Bournemouth’s Licensing Board, members heard evidence from officers in relation to two taxi drivers caught driving in the town centre area of Horseshoe Common from which all vehicle traffic is prohibited after midnight.
These restrictions have been introduced by the Police and Council as part of the improvements at Horseshoe Common, to help reduce crime and incidents of antisocial behaviour, as well as improve road safety around the Common and better support the movement of people throughout the night time economy.
The hearing suspended the licence of one driver for one month, and the other driver for five weeks, the latter suspension with immediate effect due to the more serious safety issue disclosed. The second driver mounted the pavement in order to drive around the closure barrier and into the zone.
The drivers concerned have 21 days to appeal the decision to the Magistrates’ Courts, should they so wish.
Councillor Andrew Morgan, Chair of the Licensing Board, commenting after the hearing, said, “The Council has widely publicised and consulted on these road arrangements, which are clearly marked, so no drivers can claim to be ignorant of them. The Licensing Board has a duty to protect the public, including those pedestrians in the closed zone, who will not be expecting vehicles in the road at that hour, and are therefore at risk. We are concerned that a minority of taxi drivers have apparently decided to ignore these lawful restrictions and enter the zone, thereby putting the public at risk.”
