Cab firm challenges royal ban

Black cabs are allowed to use Royal Parks

A ban on minicabs using the Royal Parks is being challenged by a private hire firm.

Addison Lee, based in Euston, north London, says minicabs should be treated in the same way as the capital's black cabs, which are allowed to use the parks.

The Royal Parks regulations ban vehicles used for trade or business but make an exception for black cabs.

Addison Lee is to ask the law lords to overturn a ruling given by two High Court judges that the ban is not discriminatory.

There is no good reason whatsoever why minicabs cannot travel through the Royal Parks in exactly the same way as black cabs

John Griffin, Addison Lee

The ruling on Monday rejected an appeal by Addison Lee minicab driver Harvey Phillips, who was given an on-the-spot fine for driving in a Royal Park.

The court heard Phillips had been driving a Fiat with a seven-seat capacity along the Mall in St James's Park in central London in January 2000.

As he approached a checkpoint manned by the Royal Parks police he did a u-turn.

He was chased by a police motorcyclist and brought back to the checkpoint where he was given a £10 fine.

Phillips refused to pay saying he thought his vehicle was not classed as a trade vehicle.

He was convicted by magistrates of breaching the 1997 Royal Parks and other Open Spaces Regulations.

'Traditional feature'

In April last year Middlesex Guildhall Crown Court dismissed his appeal against that conviction.

Now the High Court has dismissed a second appeal.

The judges ruled black cabs were a "traditional feature of the London scene" conducting different business activities from those of minicabs.

After the ruling John Griffin, chairman of Addison Lee, said: "It seems that London and its judges are in love with the black cabs, but that is not a good reason for discrimination.

"There is no good reason whatsoever why minicabs cannot travel through the Royal Parks in exactly the same way as black cabs."