Herefordshire Council's regulatory committee has agreed a further two approved manufacturers of wheelchair access vehicles to be used as hackney carriages or private hire vehicles in addition to LTI who were approved last month. These are Allied and Oughtred & Harrison.
A further three firms - GM Coachworks, LDV Group and Ponting & Betty - applied to be approved manufacturers and officers from the council's licensing department were given delegated powers by the committee to approve these three firms, providing they provide certain documents and accreditation.
A six firm which applied has been refused because no supporting documentation was submitted, the committee decided at their meeting on Tuesday, October 7.
The decision means any hackney carriage or private hire vehicle made by an approved manufacturer will be licensed for use by Herefordshire Council providing the supporting manufactures documentation is presented.
Anyone driving a vehicle from a non-approved manufacturer can still continue to operate but must ensure the vehicle being used passes the VOSA Single Vehicle Approval Test by December 31, 2008.
Any such vehicle which fails to produce the certificate will be suspended until a VOSA pass has been achieved.