Shake-up for taxis will cut illegal drivers vows council

A shake-up of taxi licences and fees in Stafford will make it more difficult for unlicensed cabs to operate, council bosses pledged today. The new rules have now been given the go-ahead by councillors.

They will see rates for taxi licence fees increase by up to 75 per cent. A new style of highly recognisable taxi plate will also be introduced. Under the changes, the cost of a vehicle licence for a Hackney carriage or private hire vehicle will jump from £131.09 to £230.

Other fees, such as licence costs for drivers themselves, will fall. Stafford Borough Council wants to issue drivers' licences for three-year periods rather than one.

The move will cut fees by six per cent, from £202.56 for three years to £190.

Councillor Frank Finlay, member for environment and health at the council, said: "The move to a three-year licence will considerably cut down on both paperwork and uncertainty for taxi drivers.

"The new highly visible plates will make it much more difficult for unlicensed vehicles to be used as cabs.

"We hope switching to a new three-year driver's licence, combined with the less onerous inspection regime for new vehicles, will give operators confidence to invest in newer and safer vehicles."

Under the new scheme, drivers will need to submit to a medical every three years instead of every five at present. Councillor Finlay added: "Synchronising the need for medicals with the issuing of new licenses is a sensible and welcome step.

"This will also give the public extra confidence that they are being driven by people who are fully capable of doing a job that can include driving at night and in challenging road conditions."

Rules on MOT testing will also be relaxed for newer taxis. Cars which are less than six years old will be subject to one MOT a year, while older vehicles will continue to undergo a test every six months.

Richard Caddy, spokesman for Stafford Borough Council, said unlicensed taxis operating illegally is an ongoing problem in most areas but Colin Jones, chairman of the Hackney Carriage Association in Stafford, said: "The council can do what they want.

"They did consult with us but it was 'take this or it's nothing'."