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'We are unable to work' - Wolverhampton taxi drivers meet to decide on action on licence renewal delays

Taxi drivers in Wolverhampton are claiming bureaucracy, red tape and delays in renewing their licences in the city are costing them revenue.

By Paul Jenkins
Published

 Members of the Wolverhampton Taxi and Private Hire Federation met on Tuesday to discuss their next move in what they say is the city council 'dragging their feet'.

WOLVERHAMPTON COPYRIGHT NATIONAL WORLD STEVE LEATH 05/08/25 Taxi drivers in the Wolverhampton area came together to discuss problems they are having with the licensing system in Wolverhampton that they say is leaving some of them unable to work for months. At the front is: Balbir Singh , the chair of the Wolverhampton Taxi and Private Hire Federation.
At the front is Balbir Singh, the chair of the Wolverhampton Taxi and Private Hire Federation

They say there are delays in the renewal of their licences by the Wolverhampton Council. Licences have to be renewed every year after the age of 65 due to medical reasons or every three years before then.

Federation chairman and campaigner Balbir Singh who is a driver himself said they have to beg to be able to see anyone at Wolverhampton Council, with drivers asked to correspond by email or telephone.

He said: "This further delays the process and all seem to get from the council is that they will extend licences but not renew them.

WOLVERHAMPTON COPYRIGHT NATIONAL WORLD STEVE LEATH 05/08/25 Balbir Singh led a meeting of Wolverhampton taxi drivers who are unhappy at delays in renewing licences.
Balbir Singh led a meeting of Wolverhampton taxi drivers who are unhappy at delays in renewing licences

"That doesn't give the drivers the assurance they need that they are licensed and insured for the necessary period and some of them are unable to drive legally in the interim period.

"The stated time for a reply seems to be ten days and it is sometimes longer than that, with new staff in particular who have been taken on seeming to not know the process.

"We understand the council deals with a lot of applications from other areas outside the city but we feel their first priority should be to hackney carriage and private hire drivers from the area they serve.

"We urge them to come to the table and discuss the issue as at the moment the drivers in the city are feeling they have no confidence in the licensing department to renew their permits speedily and so they are able to get back on the road quickly and earning again."

In September last year the GMB Union published figures showing Wolverhampton Council had granted almost 90 per cent of all new private taxi licenses issued for the entire Midlands region in 2024.

The data revealed Wolverhampton issued a whopping 8,563 licences in the first five months of 2024 – more than 87 per cent of the new licences issued by some of the largest authorities in the East and West Midlands and that Wolverhampton issued nearly five times as many licences as Birmingham - despite being just one fifth the size.

A spokesperson for City of Wolverhampton Council said: “We would like to reassure Mr Singh that renewals are being processed by our officers and that drivers may continue to work while their renewal application is processed, provided it is correct and complete.

“Renewals will be granted once all documentation and test results are received.

“The Wolverhampton Taxi & Private Hire Federation is a member of the council’s trade group and members are also welcome to discuss any issues and concerns at these meetings.”