Taxi firm loses stars - and school contract

Reporter: Janice Barker
Date online: 06 January 2010

A PRIVATE-HIRE company which lost its three-star rating will not be used to carry vulnerable children to local schools.

Red Cars, of Crossbank Street, Oldham, achieved three stars in Oldham Council’s rankings two years ago.

Three stars mean companies are “working to improve customer satisfaction, and working with the Licensing Authority and ensuring safe journeys for passengers in safe vehicles”

But it lost all its stars by November last year and was given a notice to improve by the council.

Licensing officers said Red Cars persistently failed to meet its licensing responsibilities, and may face having its operator’s licence reviewed.

Now the council has reviewed its home to school transport contract, but public details are brief, as the council says some details are commercial and others concern investigations into an operator.

A report on the council website says re-evaluating all tenders, taking out Red Cars, would leave 25 out of 120 routes at risk.

There is not enough time to re-tender all the routes again, so contractors who have stepped in and taken over the Red Cars routes will be given a contract until December.

Councillor Mark Alcock, cabinet member for environment and infrastructure, said: “I am aware of this. A process is being worked through and Red Cars is in the process of potentially being reviewed.

“However, Red Cars is still licensed and operating.”