'It took months to get my cab licence back after a crash'

manchestereveningnews.co.uk:

A Salford taxi driver is fuming after it took months for his licence to be returned following a crash. Now, Paul Tyler, 58, wants to know why it has taken so long since April this year when he was given medical clearance to begin driving again for his licence to be sent back to him.

His licence was suspended after he suffered serious injuries in a boating accident on the Lancaster Canal in September last year. Try MEN Premium for FREE by clicking here for no ads, fun puzzles and brilliant new features. Paul, of Stoneclough, Radcliffe, underwent extensive medical treatment in the Royal Preston Hospital trauma unit and had to surrender his licence.

Although he was given clearance my doctors to begin driving again in April, the DVLA did not return his licence. However, after the LDRS contacted the DVLA, an official called Paul and informed him he could begin driving again, saying they would returning his licence immediately.

But Paul said: “There has been no explanation as to why it has taken so long. They wouldn’t take my calls and every time I contacted them online I got knocked back. “It was only after you [the M.E.N's Local Democracy Service] got involved that I call from them on the same day telling me I was OK to drive again.” Paul will now have to reregister his black hackney carriage cab before he can take to the road again. “In the meantime, as a self-employed person, I have been unable to earn any money, and I have had to rely on my wife to support me. "I was coming up against a brick wall trying to get my licence back.