TWELVE out of 13 taxis tested by inspectors in Pendle borough were taken off the road after they failed safety tests.

The figures were reported to councillors last week, sparking a row about cab safety.

In spot checks earlier this year undertaken by Pendle council, the Vehicle and Operator Services Agency and Lancashire Police, 13 licensed vehicles were inspected and 12 had such serious faults they had their hackney carriage licences immediately suspended.

Joe Cooney, leader of the councillor Tory group, said the public are being put at risk by poor taxi maintenance.

Labour’s Mohammed Iqbal, who took over as borough leader when the Conservatives lost control in May’s elections, said the figures were ‘disturbing’ but reflected a long-term problem.

Both are members of Pendle’s taxi licensing committee which met on Thursday.

Cllr Cooney said: ‘These spot check results are shocking.

“Twelve of the vehicles tested were deemed not to be roadworthy and these weren’t minor fails but vehicles with missing wheel nuts, different sized tyres and serious suspension issues.

“As a local authority we have a responsibility to public to make sure we’re doing all we can to protect them from dangerous taxis.

At the meeting, Cllr Iqbal and Labour councillors proposed to remove the maximum age limit on taxis.

Currently vehicles which reach nine-years-old must be taken off the road.

The Conservatives voted down the plan.

Cllr Cooney said: “On the same night we see unacceptable safety results from the spot checks the Labour Group proposed to allow older vehicles, which are harder to maintain, to operate as licensed vehicles in Pendle .”

Cllr Iqbal said: “The level of failures was disturbing but it has been like that for a long while, well before May, “The Conservatives let the public down on taxi safety.

“I proposed naming and shaming the taxi operators who repeatedly fail these spot checks so people know those responsible .”