A private hire operator licensed in Goole, operating in the Withernsea area has had his licence revoked after a court heard he was operating the business unlawfully.
Paul Purves, 57, who had successfully operated Street Cars in Goole, had his licence revoked by East Riding of Yorkshire Council’s licensing authority in June 2021 after it was discovered he was running a new business, Street Cars Withernsea without the correct legal requirements in place.
Purves appealed the revocation of his operator’s licence but at a hearing at Beverley Magistrates’ Court on 2 February, 2022, the decision of the licensing authority was upheld in the interest of public safety which meant he had to cease trading with immediate effect.
The court heard how Purves had an operator’s licence to run Street Cars from an address in Goole but when he started a similar business in Withernsea he continued to trade through that licence, despite no longer having access to the property, instead of applying for a new one.
The lack of a licence and the fact he was operating through the use of a mobile phone only meant Purves was running an unlawful operation, meaning vehicle insurance and bookings were likely invalid and he was putting the safety of the public at risk while safeguarding concerns were raised as licensing officers were unable to access records to ensure all legal requirements were being met.
After cross examination, magistrates dismissed Purves’ appeal saying the decision of the licensing authority to revoke the licence in the interests of public safety as the licence was not being lawfully complied with, was correct and Purves was ordered to pay costs of £2,908.35.
Louise Wilson, licensing manager at East Riding of Yorkshire Council, said: “The licensing authority take their duties very seriously in protecting residents and visitors to the East Riding and we will take all the necessary action against licence holders where the business operation poses a risk to public safety.
“The revocation of the private hire operator’s licence means that Street Cars of Goole and Withernsea are unable to trade lawfully by taking customer bookings as they do not hold a valid licence and members of the public are asked to be aware of this when making bookings for private hire services.”
* A list of all licensed operators in the East Riding can be found at https://www.eastriding.gov.uk/business/licences-and-registrations/available-licences/cars-and-taxis/private-hire-operators/
