Taxi drivers hit out over licence changes

Taxi drivers in Derby fear they could go out of business should "ridiculous" rule changes go ahead next week.

Derby City Council is set to implement new taxi licensing rules that will require cabs to be much newer than current rules allow, according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS).

Trade union GMB, representing hundreds of Derby private hire taxi drivers, said a new policy would "slash" the licensable age of taxi vehicles from 15 years to five, which it claimed "threatens the licences of hundreds of drivers using vehicles made before 2021".

The council said the new age limit would "ensure vehicles are in good condition and more likely to meet current safety and emissions standards", adding most drivers "will be unaffected by the change".

A report by the council said from 1 April a taxi vehicle should be five years old or less when it is being licenced by the council for the first time.

Existing licensed vehicles that are not more than 15 years old will still be usable for taxi hire if they have been previously licensed by the local authority, but worried drivers say the changes will have a "big impact" because taxi vehicles may need replacing should there be an accident or when cars deteriorate over time.

They claim the cost of running a newer vehicle could cost them about £15,000, which would put them out of business or force them to find another council to register their vehicles.

Maddy Ahmed, who runs Derby cab firm PJ Cars, told the Local Democracy Reporting Service the new rules are "ridiculous".

"The age limit for vehicles of less than five years old is too much and very strict," he said.

"It is going to have a big impact - some drivers will leave their jobs and go elsewhere.

"Nobody can afford a £15,000-£20,000 car just like that.

"The running costs and the income drivers get are not going to match up."

Craig Thomson, GMB regional organiser, said the plans "could see hundreds of the drivers forced out of work".

"We all want a greener city, but these plans put all the burden on the working people of Derby.

"Private hire taxis are a central part of peoples' daily lives."

The council said the changes were agreed in 2019 by its licensing committee.

"This is to ensure vehicles are in good condition and more likely to meet current safety and emissions standards, contributing to public safety, a cleaner environment and a better overall experience for passengers," a spokesman said.

"We value our partnership with private hire drivers and are working with them to provide clarity and guidance on the update to licensing requirements."

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