Taxi operators in Fife have been warned of severe repercussions if they fail to keep their vehicles up to standard.
Members of Fife Council’s regulation and licensing committee say further random testing and the possibility of stripping licences could be pursued if taxis in the region are not maintained properly.
It follows the publication of two reports, one showing that 6% of taxis in the Kirkcaldy area failed initial mechanical tests, while another revealed 10 out of 14 taxis in Levenmouth and west Fife failed random inspections.
Meeting in Glenrothes this week, Councillor Bob Young, chairman of the committee, said he is concerned by the findings.
“When I read the report I was really disappointed,” he said. “It is a significant number of failures and the type of them is also worrying.
“I think that one vehicle had seven faults and when it was retested it failed again.
“When you look at the figures I know that it is nine vehicles out of 142 but it is the kind of failures that concern me.”
A major effort to improve vehicle standards in East Fife this year resulted in a substantial hike in retest costs up to £100 from £26.
A strict retesting regime was also approved, in a bid to improve standards throughout the region.
Among the faults found on taxis in west Fife were an inoperable horn, poorly performing handbrakes and worn components.
In Kirkcaldy, one vehicle had as many as nine faults, while issues included chipped windscreens, oil leaks and missing fire extinguishers.
It was agreed by members to allow the committee chairman, Mr Young, and vice-chairman, Councillor Tom Adams, to speak to operators in the Kirkcaldy area, instead of bringing them before the full committee.
Mr Adams said: “What do we do here? I think that retesting in north-east Fife had the desired effect.
“We need to get the message across but this is not north-east Fife, which has been bad. In Kirkcaldy things have normally been a lot better.”