Limo Hire Company boss loses licence appeal

May 14, 2010 By Carl Wheeler

Limousine company owner loses out at licence appeal hearing

A Lanarkshire-based limo hire company boss has lost her appeal to have her business licence reinstated.

1st Class Limos had its licence removed by the Transport Commissioner for Scotland after the firm was discovered to have been operating while in breach of a number regulations. An independent transport tribunal held recently sided with the Traffic Commissioner and upheld its previous ruling to strip the company of its licence.

The business ran into difficulties after it emerged that the owner had been operating for some years without a valid licence. The limousine hire firm was also found to have been providing alcohol packages for customers travelling in its vehicles without a valid liquor licence.

However the owner of 1st Class Limos, Lisa Raffety, argues that she has been made a “scapegoat” following new regulations which were introduced which made it difficult for limo bosses to operate within the rules. Ms Raffety added that until recently, it was “impossible to meet the requirements of the licence because the necessary adjustments could not be made to the vehicles.”

The former limo boss upholds that she wasn’t doing anything different to many other party limo companies, adding that these firms are now starting up new businesses under different names “so that they can’t be judged on their trading history.” The decision to remove her license has had a bad affect on the businesswoman as she revealed that she’s had to sell a number of her limousines.

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Hummer H2 Limo Vandalised at St Bede’s Senior School, East Sussex

August 18, 2009 By TJ Harris
hummer-limo

Hummer H2 Limo

Over £1,000 worth of damage was caused to a top of the range Hummer H2 Limo as it drove through a street in Sussex. The luxury vehicle was on its way to an end of year school event for staff at St Bede’s boarding school when an unidentified youth threw at glass bottle at the limo as it drove by.

Unfortunately the unprovoked attack is not a one-off incident. The owner of the vehicle, Mr Nick Clarke, who runs the limo hire company Star Limousines explained that “Over the past two weeks we’ve suffered more than £3,000 worth of damage to our cars.”

This sharp rise in vandalism has prompted the company to invest in the latest CCTV technology to attempt to tackle this growing problem.

Police were called to the scene however the perpetrator had already fled the area. The Second Master of St. Bede’s School said the bottle-thrower was not believed to be a student with a grudge and that the incident was “nothing to do with our staff or students.”

The driver of the £100,000 Hummer H2 limo narrowly escaped injury as the glass Pimms bottle hit the vehicle, inches away from the driver’s window. Police are continuing their investigations although no one, as yet, has been arrested.

Anyone who witnessed the incident is being urged to contact PC Jessica Reynolds at Sussex Police on 0845 60 70 999, quoting serial 2273 of July 3. Alternatively, call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

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Aberdeen Limo Hire Operator Must Remove ‘Hannah Montana’ Lettering and Picture from Pink Limo

July 22, 2009 By Trudi Johnson

Hannah Montana LimoLimo hire operator based in Aberdeen has spent three days removing lettering and a picture of the successful Disney franchise star from a pink Lincoln limousine after Aberdeenshire Council has ordered  to remove stickers featuring Hannah Montana star Miley Cyrus or face failing a private hire test today.

John Cook, 62, who runs the Westhill-based firm with his wife Veronica, 67, who runs Aberdeen based limousine hire company, Hollywood Cars said: “There are a lot of disappointed lassies. I’ve had five phone calls this afternoon from people asking if we are going to have the stickers again.

“The kids loved standing beside the photo of Hannah. It’s like it’s one of their pals,” added Mr Cook, of Braecroft Avenue, Westhill.

A spokeswoman for Aberdeenshire Council said: “All limousines must have permission to display lettering on their vehicles. This is the case with all private hire vehicles and taxis that can carry up to eight passengers.

“If a limousine owner wishes to display lettering they must submit a request to the taxi licensing office of the council.

“If this complies with the guidelines permission can be issued by officers. If it is outside the scope of the guidelines it will be considered at the next meeting of the licensing sub-committee.

“If a vehicle has lettering and no request has been submitted or approved that vehicle will not pass the taxi and private hires vehicle test.”

John has said that he intends to write to Aberdeenshire Council to ask for the necessary permission.

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Scotland welcomes back 2009 Open Championship

March 30, 2009 By Dez Rowley

Golf fans and lovers of world class sport events will be purchasing tickets for the 2009 Open Championship.

Padraig Harrington will be bidding to become the only the fourth man in history to win three Open titles on the bounce when the action gets underway at Turnberry on Thursday, July 16th.

By the time the final day begins on Sunday, July 19th, spectators will know which players are in the running for one of the most prestigious prizes in sport.

Situated on Scotland’s western coast, the venue is a picturesque setting for what promises to be an exhilarating event.

The world’s media will be coming in by air, road and rail for the year’s third major after the US Masters and US Open, with corporate travel also likely to be used by the sport’s big business world following.

Last year’s tournament will be remembered for Greg Norman’s heroic effort – the 54-year-old became the oldest player to lead the event after three rounds, eventually ending up tied for third.

Arrive at the Open Championships in style courtesy of our professional limousine hire service. We offer unbeatable rates on chauffeur driven limo hire and have the largest selection of luxury vehicles in the country. We have everything from pink limos to hummer limos, Ferrari to fire engine limos, call now for a free quote.

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