Taxi row over claims they're forced off roads due to wait times

Cabbies want the council to have multiple sites for these tests to cut down queues as currently the authority only has one.

MOTs can be carried out at any garage, but specific checks to ensure taxi safety must be down at the council's own garage in Brierley Hill.

The council recently moved from a single bay testing facility in Netherton to one capable of seeing two cars at once in Narrowboat Way.

But taxi drivers say there are two bays to service 301 hackney carriages and 401 private hire taxis in the borough.

Members of Dudley Private Hire and Taxi Association say members face lost earnings as it can take up to three days to find a test slot.

But group chairman Shaz Saleem said the waiting times are unacceptable when drivers are already facing pressures on their incomes

"The wait can be up to three days for retests so drivers are off three days with no work," he said.

"It is costing trade waiting. The council have failed to improve the waiting time by giving an extra ramp which is still not fixing the issue."

He added: "Other councils have more than one testing station. Dudley continues to have a monopoly over a market with no competition.

He said drivers are unable to get a second, independent opinion on tests to their cars and urged the council to rethink allowing taxi drivers to use alternatives.

Council bosses today said its two bay facility has brought improvements to waiting times for services.

Councillor Rachel Harris, whose department oversees taxis in the borough, said: "Taxi drivers licensed in the Dudley borough are free to get their MOT certificate at any garage.

"For the higher standard checks required for all licensed vehicles the taxi companies are asked to use the purpose-built, state-of-the-art testing centre in Brierley Hill to ensure the borough's taxi fleet is of the highest safety standard for the public to use.

"Before the centre was opened last July, taxis used the council's Lister Road depot in Netherton which had one ramp while the new facility has two. This is a clear improvement in the service and should reduce any waiting time but if tests are failed there is inevitably a short wait while appropriate work is carried out to ensure the car is safe to carry the public."