Star cabs awarded top marks

TWO local taxi companies are celebrating after they snapped up the top accolade in a council scheme.

Cartax of High Street, Lees, and Delta in Huddersfield Road, sailed to the top of the ratings, with four stars each, after they were rated on customer service, vehicle safety and driver knowledge.

The remainder of the companies will be awarded anything from three stars down to no stars in the audit, which will be published in the annual report to the Licensing Committee on June 9.

Chairman of the licensing committee Councillor Jim McArdle said: “I am really pleased with these results. They show that 38 per cent of companies show an improvement and 42 per cent have stayed the same.

“The companies have clearly seen the benefits of a star rating scheme and within the next few months we predict even more improvement.”

The new star ratings scheme replaced the taxi league table last November to focus more attention on how the companies are run and their standards, rather than the actions of individual drivers.

In order to achieve four stars, companies must incorporate a vehicle testing contract into their systems in addition to the existing council test, have a percentage of drivers trained in first aid and have been instructed on safe driving technique.

Members of the public will be able to see the star rating displayed on vehicles from next week and will then be able to make an informed choice of the company they wish to use. The number of stars awarded will be published every six months.