A COMMITTEE will meet on Monday to decide whether to grant a previously rejected application for a private hire vehicle licence.

South Lakeland District Council Licensing Regulatory Sub-Committee have been requested to reconsider an application from Michael Heaps, of Vintage Lakeland Tours, to licence a 1928 Austin 12/4 Windsor saloon car as a private hire vehicle.

According to council documents the application was previously considered at the Licensing Regulatory Sub-Committee on 21 June 2021.

And the application was refused on the grounds that the Sub Committee were not satisfied that the issuing of the licence would be safe, firstly due to the absence of seat belts in the vehicle for passengers, which was considered to be a ‘safety risk’ to passengers and further the applicant ‘had not adequately considered child passengers and arrangements for their safety’, secondly the absence of a brake test report, thirdly the absence of hazard warning lights and the Sub-Committee noted the absence of an up to date V5.

Mr Heaps subsequently appealed the decision at Barrow Magistrates Court citing two procedural points and a third point in his belief that his vehicle pre-dated legislation which controlled the fitting and wearing of seat belts and hazard lights and was exempt from the requirements of subsequent legislation.

Mr Heaps’ website advises that the vehicle’s top top speed would be around 35 mph and under the terms and conditions on the website, Mr Heaps advises that: “Due to its age the vehicle is not fitted with seat belts, passengers under the age of 16 must travel in the rear with a responsible adult.”

In addition Mr Heaps is proposing that the Sub-Committee add additional conditions to his vehicle licence if members were minded to grant the licence,including that the vehicle must not be used for standard private hire journeys, children under the age of three may not be carried in the vehicle and children over the age of three must be carried in the rear of the vehicle.