HOPPING into a rickshaw on the Promenade for a quick jaunt up to Montpellier is likely to remain a pipe dream.
Council chiefs have been accused of 'killing' the idea of pedal taxis in the town after they refused to licence the use of the vehicles amid continuing safety concerns.
Cheltenham Borough Council's cabinet agreed to look at the issue once the Law Commission published a report into rickshaw licensing next year.
James Meyer is one of the directors of Rickshaw Revolution, the company which wanted to bring the vehicles to Cheltenham. He said that while the Law Commission's report may be presented next year, rickshaw legislation would take much longer to become law.
He said: "As a result of the council's decision, rickshaws in Cheltenham have been killed off. I am furious and astounded at the council's hypocrisy in saying what a wonderful idea they think this is but in practice being so obstructive."
Civil servants had tried to fit the licensing of rickshaws into existing hackney carriage legislation but councillors, who had already put off making a decision earlier this year, were unsatisfied with the results.
Councillor Peter Jeffries (Springbank, LD), cabinet member for housing and safety, said: "There are no national safety standards in the manufacture of rickshaws so the reason for deferral hasn't really changed to where we are now."
Councillor Roger Whyborn (Up Hatherley, LD), cabinet member for sustainability, said: "I started off thinking this was a great idea but the more I looked in to the safety issues, the more concerned I became."
Rickshaws are operated on an unlicensed basis in London. Technically there is nothing to stop a company operating an unlicensed rickshaw in Cheltenham under the same rules that apply to private hire cars, but it would prevent Rickshaw Revolution from picking people up without appointment.
