A TAXI firm owner has condemned rules that have caused his business to be overlooked by Blackburn with Darwen Council's grant scheme.

Alain Knott, of North West Corporate Travel which specialises in transporting clients in a fleet of Mercedes, had hoped the £500 grant could be exactly the boost his firm needed.

Mr Knott, like many business owners, has seen trade hit hard by the coronavirus pandemic but was disappointed to find that, despite most of his business being conducted in Blackburn and contributing to the local economy, he did not qualify for support due to living slightly outside the borough's boundaries in Wilpshire in the Ribble Valley.

He said: "My business has been based in Blackburn for over ten years and my office is at Eanam Old Road Business Centre.

"I also just paid out £350 which I can ill afford to keep my operators licence going for the next few years.

"An the reason I've been refused the grant? Because I live in Wilpshire."

He added: "I feel this is discrimination because the object of the grant is to help Blackburn taxi drivers out and that is what I am."

Lancashire Telegraph:

North West Corporate Travel operates throughout Blackburn

Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council first announced plans for a one-off grant off £500 to taxi drivers who have been hit by the pandemic earlier this month.

The grants are funded by the government's Council Discretionary Grants Programme which aims to help local authorities protect jobs and livelihoods in their areas.

The council had said at the time that to be eligible for the Taxi Driver Covid-19 support grant, a driver must be a resident of Blackburn with Darwen, hold an existing taxi driver licence issued by Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council, and be able to provide evidence of trading since September 2020.

In Mr Knott's case he does indeed hold a licence issued by Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council and conducts his business with a number of high profile clients in the town including Blackburn Rovers.

He said: "I've never asked anything of my own town and what get's me is the money is going straight back to them with the money we pay for licences, they're giving with one hand and taking with the other."

"I live in the Ribble Valley but I'm a mile from the border and I've got a lot of good business clients in Blackburn."

Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council meanwhile have confirmed that to qualify for the scheme, taxi drivers must hold a valid licence issued by the council, must have actively sought trade since September 1 and must be residents of the borough.

They have also said that there are no plans to change or adapt the scheme.

Mr Knott meanwhile has said he intends to pursue the matter further with Blackburn MP Kate Hollern.