The Conservative Party’s Spring Forum gets under way tomorrow and the town’s hotels are already filling up in advance of the big event.

The forum is taking place at The Centaur conference building at Cheltenham racecourse and is expected to give a £1 million lift to the town’s economy.

Many hotels in the centre are full, with 2,000 people descending on the town for the party’s biggest event outside its annual conference.

Delegates will hear speeches from Conservative leader David Cameron and shadow chancellor George Osborne.

Mayor of London Boris Johnson will also host a convention dinner tomorrow night.

Mr Cameron, who will deliver his speech on Sunday, is expected to heavily criticise Chancellor Alistair Darling’s Budget and again call for a General Election.

Mark Coote, Conservative prospective parliamentary candidate for Cheltenham, said: “This is a big coup for Cheltenham. We are already known as a festival town, this can help get us on the map as a conference venue.

“Many of the hotels in the town are full, which will deliver an extra boost to the hospitality industry.

“On a political level it will be fantastic to see the national news agenda being dictated from Cheltenham.”

Mr Coote said that the cost of policing the event was being picked up by the Tory Party, meaning there would be no cost to taxpayers for policing the event.

Sue Adie, from Cheltenham Tourism, said: “Politics aside, it is great news for the town to have so many visitors over a weekend. The hotels are bustling.”

Martin Quantock, town centre manager, said: “This forum is a big boost to the town and is great for all different types of businesses.”

Nick Fisher, vice-chairman of the Cheltenham Hackney Carriage Drivers’ Association, said: “With so many visitors to the town we are very hopeful that we will see an increase in trade over the course of the weekend .”

Other top Tories expected to attend the event include former party leader William Hague and former Chancellor Ken Clarke.

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Jayantilal Patel’s application for a Hackney Carriage Driver’s Licence was granted for one year by Cheltenham borough licensing committee.

The decision sparked anger among taxi drivers.

Speaking after the meeting, Dave Hemmings, chairman of the Hackney Drivers’ Association in Cheltenham, said: “We’re seething. No one wants to step up to the plate and say ‘No you can’t become a driver because you aren’t fit and proper’.

“It doesn’t do the public image of taxi drivers any good.”
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Mr Patel, who was at the meeting, has 17 convictions comprising 28 offences dating from 1989 to 2003. They include going equipped for theft, threatening behaviour, burglary and theft, assault with intent to resist arrest and being drunk and disorderly.

He had told the committee: “I would like the opportunity to become a taxi driver for myself and my future.”

In his report, community enforcement officer Ian Deakins was impressed with Mr Patel’s open manner in discussing his past life and his determination to gain fruitful employment.

He said: “He has obviously matured and shows genuine regret for his past record.”

The last conviction was in June, 2003.

Mr Patel said he had previously worked in a factory and as a postman.

The committee voted to grant his application for one year subject to him successfully completing all other assessments.

The committee also reviewed the Hackney Carriage licence of Akekur Babu Rahman, who has nine penalty points on his licence for three separate fixed penalty offences, two for speeding and one for a defective tyre.

He said he had been caught by speed cameras on two occasions, not doing major speeds with no passengers.

The committee decided his licence should remain in force and that he be required to have a road safety unit driver assessment.

Mark Lewis was given the green light to renew his Private Hire Driver’s Licence, requiring he successfully undertake a similar driver assessment. He has two speeding offences.

Siraj-Eddine Kortbi’s application to renew his Hackney Carriage Driver’s Licence was deferred pending appeal results. He was issued with a fixed penalty notice for a public order offence and fined £80 in March.

The application of Riza Ali Ahmed for a Private Hire Driver’s Licence was withdrawn. He has previous convictions for possession of a Class A drug in 2006, and further conviction for obstructing the police, having no insurance, no driving licence and using a mobile phone while driving.

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Hackney Carriage and private hire drivers across Cheltenham are signing up to complete a National Vocational Qualification in Road Passenger Vehicle Driving (RPVD) in conjunction with Herefordshire College of Technology. Based on a new initiative by the government to set standards for taxi drivers, Cheltenham drivers will complete a fully comprehensive assessment, whilst at work, to prove that they are safe and efficient at their jobs. Under the Train to Gain scheme Herefordshire College of Technology are offering the chance to complete the course with full funding* whilst it is available.

This comes at a time when Cheltenham Borough Council is driving new projects forward to make Cheltenham a safer place to live.

Trevor Gladding, the council’s community safety and licensing manager, is supporting the scheme believing it will enhance the already high standards of the taxi profession that many of us use every day: “The scheme will assist the general public in feeling more secure when travelling in a taxi and will be particularly helpful with the drivers who are involved in the night time economy.”

Councillor Andrew McKinlay, cabinet member for sport and safety said: ”I would urge Cheltenham’s licensed drivers to take advantage of this excellent opportunity, which is voluntary and can be fully funded. The qualification will demonstrate the skills and experience of our drivers. It will also ensure that people have an enjoyable journey and reach their destinations safely.”

With over 160 drivers already on board Sara Thompson, from Herefordshire College of Technology, believes that other drivers will follow suit as awareness is raised in the town. She says: “This can only be seen as a very positive step towards the safety of the general public and any drivers wishing to sign up can contact me directly to discuss the NVQ further.”

*if learners meet the Train to Gain eligibility criteria

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