A CRACKDOWN by licensing bosses in Rossendale has seen two cabbies hauled off the road for misdemeanours.

Council licensing chiefs in the Valley say they will not hesitate to act if they believe a driver is not a ‘fit and proper person’ to get behind the wheel of a private hire car, or hackney carriage.

Recently the authority revoked the licence of a cabbie after bosses discovered he had a caution for assaulting a police constable, and a speeding conviction. The 45-year-old man, from Bolton, appealed, but his application was thrown out by Reedley Magistrates’ Court, which awarded the council costs.

And later, a 20-year-old Rawtenstall man had his licence suspended after they heard he had been charged with three ‘serious’ driving offences. He will remain suspended until his court case has been determined.

Coun Christine Gill, licensing committee chairman, said the authority would not grant licences to drivers unless it could be satisfied the applicant was ‘a fit and proper person’.