Taxi owner claims 'it's a mystery' after vehicle racked up 1,600 miles while 'off the road for repairs'

A taxi owner says it is a mystery why a vehicle meant to be off the road in a garage getting repairs was recorded as having been driven 1,600 miles.

Jane Grigor, represented by her husband John Grigor, attended a hearing of South Ayrshire Council’s Regulatory Panel after two taxis failed tests, resulting in a hearing to determine whether she was a ‘fit and proper person’ to hold a licence.

Mrs Grigor was represented by her husband at the hearing.

It was heard that one vehicle was inspected in March 2024 and failed its taxi test, while another was put forward for inspection in October and failed. Subsequently, both taxis were represented for inspection, and both passed.

The second vehicle had been inspected by SAC’s fleet management before its test failure in August and was found to be satisfactory.

The panel was asked to consider suspending the licenses on the grounds that the holder is no longer fit and proper to hold them.

Mr Grigor was asked to outline the reasons for the failed tests.

He told the panel that the first taxi had failed due to two problems: an ‘intermittent fault’ and a warning light on the dashboard.

He said the light hadn’t been on when it was taken to the test centre.

He added: “But it did go through very heavy rain, going up to Kilmarnock.

“And during the test, the light came on. The other thing it failed on was the meter reading was wrong.

“Now, the meter was still sealed from when it was tested [by the council-registered taxi tester].

“I have absolutely no idea how a meter and the reading can change. It was the equivalent of six turns of the wheel, I think, which is six car lengths or something.

“And it was reading low rather than high. So, I don’t actually know how a meter can go faulty because it’s been sealed.”

He also said that the cause of the intermittent fault had taken several weeks to identify.

Councillor Martin Kilbride then noted an anomaly with the mileage of one of the vehicles.

He said: “So, it first failed on March 21, and then it was re-presented on April 8.

“The car had done 1,600 miles in that 20-day period. Can you explain that for us? Because it had just failed the test, re-presented 20 days later, and it had done 1,600 miles.”

Mr Grigor responded: “Unless somebody had taken it out, it was in a garage in Orchard Avenue, and the only place it would have gone to was to an auto electrician, which is in Green Street.

“I don’t see how it could have done 1,600 miles, and this is the first I’ve known of that.”

Cllr Kilbride continued: “Well, it says it failed on March 21 at 185,353 miles. And then it passed on April 10, and it was 186,940. ”

Mr Grigor repeated his assertion, saying: “I honestly can’t explain that. It’s the first I’ve known of that.

“There’s no way I would have taken a car out. I’ve got spare cars, so I don’t need to put a taxi out that’s not roadworthy.

“And the only thing that wasn’t roadworthy was the light that was intermittent on it.”

Councillor Ian Cavana said: “The gentleman said it’s sat in a garage but you don’t do 1,600 miles sat in a garage.

“Is there a mistake here in the mileage?

A licensing officer confirmed that the mileages had been confirmed on the official government website.

Mr Grigor told the panel that the garage in Orchard Street was just around the corner from his house.

Asked what type of place the garage was, he replied: “It’s somebody’s house, but they have a garage with ramps in their back garden.

Cllr Cavana suggested delaying a decision to get verification of the mileage.

“If you’ve done 1,600 miles in that time, then we’ve got a real problem.

“But if these figures are inaccurate, then we’ve got a problem there as well, because we’ve got people sitting here who are saying the car hasn’t moved.”

Councillor Mary Kilpatrick asked: “Does anyone else have access to the car and is able to drive it?

Mr Grigor replied that the keys were in the visor.

Cllr Cavana stated: “If somebody else had used this car, then we’re talking about theft, because the gentleman who said it didn’t move.”

The panel agreed to continue the hearing to a later date to clarify the mileage and for Mr Grigor to speak to the mechanic about the anomaly.