101 cabbies are ordered off road

They will receive letters this weekend telling them their licences have been immediately suspended because they ignored repeated requests to take a college course in transporting passengers.

Bournemouth council is the first in the country to insist all its taxi drivers have passed the course in a bid to improve passenger safety.

Those affected account for around 10 per cent of Bournemouth taxi drivers and the council thinks their suspension will not have a detrimental effect.

"I am very pleased that Bournemouth is leading the UK on this," said Cllr Andrew Morgan. "We need to set a high standard for an internationally known tourist town."

Council officer Keith Evans told the special licensing board: "For whatever reason, we have drivers who do not appear to wish to comply."

Members heard there are a total of 1,056 taxi drivers in the town. Nearly 700 have already passed the BTEC/ NVQ qualification with around 200 signed up and waiting to do the course or take the exam.

"Those 200 will keep their licences as long as they pass the exam by May 31 this year.

The 101 suspended drivers will have the opportunity to get their licences back if they sign up for the course. They will have to pass it by May 31 or they will have their licences revoked. All have the right of appeal to the magistrates courts.

Ashley Miller, chairman of the Bournemouth Taxi and Private Hire Joint Committee, said most taxi operators in the town insist their drivers take the test and that those affected are mainly independent operators.

"The rest of us have spent the time, effort and money to take the course so they should do the same," he added.

Mr Miller said he believed the course was improving standards in the town.

The board agreed that all drivers should have two chances to pass the test because many face difficulties.

A quarter do not have English as their first language and the incidence of dyslexia is four times the national average.