A DIABETIC taxi driver who had his licence revoked after being allowed to drive for two years by "mistake" has said he will now struggle to make ends meet.

Robert Noble, of Windermere, is appealing against the decision by South Lakeland District Council's licensing committee not to renew his hackney carriage licence because of his insulin-dependent diabetes.

Mr Noble, who works for Windermere Taxis, was errantly issued a licence by the authority on two occasions February 2001 and 2002. Council policy dictates insulin-dependent drivers are not allowed to hold a hackney carriage licence due to public safety issues.

The lone parent, who lives in Windermere with his 16-year-old daughter Victoria, said he was "very annoyed" by the authority's series of failures to recognise its mistake.

"I have been allowed to drive for two years after they mistakenly renewed my licence in 2001 and last year. Then suddenly this year they realise and refuse my application. I was only driving 30 hours a week and I never travelled very far from the Windermere area. In all that time, my condition has never affected my work. I'm fit enough to keep my licence and the past two years proves it," he said.

Mr Noble, who is now working for the taxi firm as a part-time switchboard operator, added: "Financially, I will struggle. At the moment I'm earning a very basic wage, only just enough to keep going. I'm missing all my regular customers who I've known for years. I've always loved driving and I was happy with my job and now it's been taken away."

Principal licensing officer for SLDC Steve Wearing said at the committee meeting he had "every sympathy" for Mr Noble's situation.

He explained Mr Noble's licence had originally been revoked in July 2000 after the taxi driver declared his diabetes had worsened and he had become insulin-dependent. But he admitted there had been "confusion" and Mr Noble's licence had subsequently been granted in 2001 without the knowledge of the committee's medical consultant.

He said the licence had been renewed again in 2002, this time with the approval of committee consultant Dr Mackenzie.

Mr Wearing said: "Dr Mackenzie made it clear he inadvertently approved the licence application in February 2002. It is clear there was some confusion regarding the assessment methods."

May 2, 2003 09:30