THREE STRIKES AND YOU’RE OUT: Cheltenham taxi driver loses appeal against licence revocation after court upholds safety concerns
- Perry Richardson
- 2 days ago
- 2 min read
A hackney carriage driver licensed by Cheltenham Borough Council has lost an appeal against the revocation of their taxi licence after Cheltenham Magistrates’ Court upheld the council’s decision on 6 July 2026.
The driver was referred to the council’s licensing sub-committee after receiving three strikes within a 12-month period under Cheltenham Borough Council’s taxi and private hire licensing policy. Following a hearing in November 2025, councillors unanimously decided to revoke the driver’s licence with immediate effect in the interests of public safety.
The three strikes were issued for failing to complete a required six-monthly fitness check, operating a vehicle with exposed tyre cords, and failing to declare two motoring offences to the licensing authority.
Under Cheltenham Borough Council’s licensing policy, drivers who accumulate three strikes within a year are automatically referred to the licensing sub-committee to determine whether they remain a fit and proper person to hold a licence.
The driver appealed the decision to Cheltenham Magistrates’ Court. On 6 July 2026, the court dismissed the appeal, concluding that the driver did not satisfy the fit and proper person test required of licensed taxi drivers. The revocation therefore remains in force, and the court awarded Cheltenham Borough Council £600 in costs.
Councillor Jamie Jamieson, cabinet member for safety and communities at CBC, said: “The decision by the Court demonstrates that they support CBC’s commitment to public safety and that Cheltenham Borough Council will not tolerate a lack of regard for high standards that licence holders should demonstrate in terms of safety and compliance with licence conditions.
“All licence holders should conduct daily checks to ensure that their vehicles are safe to carry members of the public, comply with vehicle testing requirements and reporting any endorsements on their DVLA licence.”
