A TAXI driver who wanted to use a seven-year-old car for his business, against council policy, had his appeal refused.

An application by Clifford Forrester, 43, to continue to use his seven-year-old eight-seater Ford Transit Tourneo as a taxi was refused by Cherwell District Council after new rules were imposed on the age of vehicles used for private hire.

Mr Forrester, of Langford Village, Bicester, appealed and the case was heard at Banbury Magistrates’ Court earlier this month.

He claimed the council had acted outside its policies and the relevant legislation. The council says vehicles must be under seven years old except in exceptional circumstances.

Afterwards Nigel Morris, the council’s executive member for community safety, said: “We have a responsibility to make sure vehicles used for carrying passengers are safe. We did all we can to lessen the impact of the new policy’s introduction, and to help Mr Forrester avoid this situation.”

The new rules were introduced on September 1, 2008, but the council postponed implementation until September 30 last year, due to the difficult economic climate.