Delay forces drivers on dole (From Barry And District News)

Delay forces drivers on dole

VALE of Glamorgan taxi drivers are being forced on the dole thanks to delays by the Vale of Glamorgan Council.

Their licences, which are dealt with by the local authority and a separate agency which checks the police records of applicants, are taking too long to process.

Until recently the documents were cleared in three or four weeks, but Alan May, 47, of Evans Street, Barry, has been waiting for two and a half months.

"I first applied for the license on May 27," he said. "I had been promised a job from K-Tax in Penarth and the council told me the licence would take three or four weeks to be given.

"I waited for that time, and then began to make enquiries. They eventually told me they had lost my form and I would have to fill in another. I gave them my second form on Friday, July 12, but I still haven't got my licence back."

He continued: "I've been out of work and on the dole for nearly two and a half months. I should only have been out of work for three or four weeks. Their administration is rubbish."

But Alan is not the only person having difficulties with his application. Duncan Prynge, 50, of Glebe Street in Penarth, revealed he has been out of work for nearly two months while waiting for a licence.

He said: "I spoke to the council about it and they just said they are chasing it up." A Vale of Glamorgan Council spokesman explained to the News:

"Applicants for taxi driver licences are subject to suitability checks with the Criminal Records Bureau.

"Unfortunately, these checks are taking longer than expected." K-Tax owner Gareth Williams thinks his business has been damaged by the problem.

"We have three cars that are empty, so we could be employing another six people. The delays have put people off applying."