WE DON'T DO THAT HERE

Stretching the point on limos

LICENCE ADVICE: Brian Moran and his limo

BY Phil O'Brien
A clampdown on unlicensed stretch limousines is being spearheaded by Wigan Council.

The authority is the only one to have previously offered voluntary licences covering the USA-style vehicles but now licensing chiefs have joined a Greater Manchester-wide campaign to block rogue firms from trading.
Until now there has been no legal requirement for drivers to acquire a licence – but as the luxury form of travel becomes more popular local councils have decided to act.

Wigan Council licensing manager Maurice Dearden said: "What we are saying is that these vehicles are being used for hire and reward. That means they come within the requirements for private hire and should be regulated by the local authority.
"At the moment no-one is checking that the vehicles are safe.
"Our Hackney carriages and private hire vehicles are tested twice a year and the drivers are vetted.

"We need to ensure that the people in charge of those vehicles are safe and proper to carry out their duties."
Limousines are now the choice of travel for stag, hen and birthday parties, weddings and on school prom night. Most of the vehicles are shipped from America – particularly New York where they are decommissioned after five years.

By licensing them, the council will also be able to scrutinise the safety of the limos which often come with huge wheels, stretch beyond eight foot long and are predominantly left-hand drive and 4x4s.
Under the new approach, any limo carrying a maximum of eight passengers will have to apply for a private hire licence while those which carry nine or more will come under the jurisdiction of the Vehicle Operator and Standards Agency.

Wigan Council is the only one of the 10 authorities in Greater Manchester to already issue voluntary licences.
One reputable firm which is already fully licensed is Wigan's 1st Choice Luxury Cars, in Wallgarth Close, Winstanley. It is run by Brian Moran.
He said: "I know of people buying limousines and basically just driving them about as they would any vehicle. You do have to have a proper licensing structure in place.

"I don't see how anyone can operate without a licence because you need your licence number for your insurance but I know that there are companies out there who do and they need to be stopped."

Limousine hire firm is stretching it
16 February 2007

LAURA DEVLIN

Getting 13 people into a car sounds like an impossible and uncomfortable record-breaking attempt.

But a whopping monster cruising Norwich's streets is doing just that - and with room to spare.

This 30ft white limo puts the "stretch" in to cars of its class and claims to have all the comfort and luxury of a five star hotel suite on wheels, with leather seats, drinks and a DVD player.

As our pictures show, 13 people can easily clamber on board and enjoy the ride while their chauffeur takes the strain - as long as he can find a parking space big enough.

The Ford Excursion, which is licensed to take five more people than the standard limo limit of eight, is specially crafted to safely carry large numbers and is the biggest of its kind in Norfolk.

"It's the only one this side of London," said owner Kenny Cooke, who runs the coach and taxi firm Dolphin Autos in the city.

"It is completely different to other limousines, which have an extra piece put in the middle, but this is built more like a coach. It's got a full bar, TVs - in fact I can't think of anything it hasn't got. We even had to get a pub licence for the bar so we could sell alcohol on board."

The jeep-style limo, which has been in business since September, has proved popular for travelling in style to West End shows and even school proms.

Once inside, passengers can settle into the sprawling leather seats, enjoy the champagne lifestyle, listen to a CD or watch a DVD and generally get the party started before they even reach their destination.

Most limousines used in the UK for parties, hen nights and weddings are up to 25ft long, but the Ford Excursion is twice as long as the average saloon car.

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