IT is business as usual for Warrington based Pink Ladies despite being found guilty of operating unlicensed cabs in the town.
Owners Tina Dutton and Andrea Winders are appealing against the ruling and will continue to operate their unique business pending the appeal.
They are also seeking to be licensed by the government to continue operating their private members club which provides travel for women only.
Launched in a blaze of publicity four years ago by the former Atomic Kitten and “Queen of the Jungle,” Kerry Katona, Pink Ladies was welcomed by many women in the town.
But Warrington borough council brought a successful case against the owners when the town’s magistrates upheld the council’s claim that they were operating an unlicensed private hire company.
They were ordered to pay more than £5,000 in fines and costs.
The two founders and owners of the company, who have vowed to battle on, were both found guilty of not holding a private hire operator’s licence; operating (at least) two unlicensed private hire vehicles; and employing a driver who did not hold a private hire driver’s licence.
Co-owner Andrea Widers said: “We were very disappointed by the court’s decision, but will continue to provide the service to our members while finalising the members’ club’s ability to trade under a license from the Government.
“At an EGM on Thursday night members voted unanimously in favour of the application for the new license, and also ratified an amended constitution for the club.”
Business as usual for Pink Ladies
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About Author
Gary Skentelbery
Experienced journalist for more than 40 years. Managing Director of magazine publishing group with three in-house titles and on-line daily newspaper for Warrington. Experienced writer, photographer, PR consultant and media expert having written for local, regional and national newspapers. Specialties: PR, media, social networking, photographer, networking, advertising, sales, media crisis management. Chair of Warrington Healthwatch Director Warrington Chamber of Commerce Patron Tim Parry Johnathan Ball Foundation for Peace. Trustee Warrington Disability Partnership. Former Chairman of Warrington Town FC.
8 Comments
Watch this space!!
Give them their due they stick to their guns and are not put off even after being found guilty 🙂
When they say a ‘license’ though do they mean the sort they should have or a different sort ?
I thought it was the Government who closed the loophole in 2007/8? that they originally managed to trade through.
I hope they get their license and quickly so an end can be put to it once and for all 🙂
hhhm, seems that no matter what the court says these people will just carry on ??? i feel sorry for those who have to abide by the law and get the licences or be prosecuted ??
I don’t think that Pink Ladies should operate any further until the appeal has been heard …
Good point… what if the hearing is not for another 6+ months… they could be trading illegally or legally now they have changed a few bits and bobs but no-one knows until the appeal day…
It could backfire on them unles they are 100% sure of winning an appeal and they could find themselves in more trouble. I guess they are pretty sure about winning though or they wouldn’t cross the line ! 🙂
If they win the appeal does WBC have to reinburse their costs and fines EEK !!!
Maybe they should give up and go stacking shelves at a supermarket…. Seems to be about their limits judging by the way they run a business.
Just how many times does a company have to go bust, start up again and also trade illegally (in line with the recent ruling) before they are actually stopped? These women are a menace and serial lawbreakers and if the appeal fails they should be jailed to show them there are no more loopholes
Ouch !!
Ouch indeed…. I’m sure thats what the failed franchisees thought! You can’t just keep on avoiding the rules and ignoring judgments because you think you are right. The law says no and they should stick to the judgement or be made to stick to it.
It costs me a lot of money each year to keep my company within the rules; van insurance, handsfree kits, overalls, workwear, test equipment etc not to mention TAX and VAT. Now how I would love to be able to just ignore the little awkward stuff that gets in the way so I could make more money…. ain’t gonna happen though is it? and nether should it for them
These women dont know how to drive properly let alone run a business legally!!