Taxi drivers fear impact of zone changes

Taxi drivers in a county have told councillors they will be forced out of the profession due to the introduction of new policies.

The policies include changes to vehicles and the scrapping of four taxi zones to create one covering the whole of north Northamptonshire.

The implementation has been delayed from April to September to coincide with a new set of byelaws for Hackney Carriage vehicles which are awaiting confirmation from the Department for Transport.

Hackney carriage drivers have claimed a new enlarged taxi zone would be unworkable because they would struggle to learn all the streets.

The new Reform UK executive on North Northamptonshire Council met for the first time on Tuesday.

Henry Liffen, a licensed Hackney Carriage driver since 1988, said: "I am completely opposed to a new geographical test being proposed which would entail learning the whole of the north Northants zone, which is bigger than the knowledge test of London.

"If this new rule is passed with a heavy heart and sadness, as I operate a wheelchair accessible vehicle, I would hand my taxi licence back to north Northants council and thank them for taking my business away from me."

Ricky Dunkley told the meeting he had been in the taxi trade in Wellingborough for more than 20 years, he raised concerns about the need to transition to wheelchair cars by 2026.

He said: "My current taxi cost me £8,000, under these current policies I would be expected to spend at least £65,000, that's a 700% increase on my investment.

"If this goes through, I'll have no choice but to close my business or to move it to another council and work off cross border laws."

Councillors unanimously approved a new draft Hackney Carriage and Taxi Licensing Policy.

The single zone was signed off last year by the previous Conservative-controlled council, but the new implementation date was approved on Tuesday.

Responding to the concerns raised George Candler, the executive director for place and economy, said: "We recognise the importance and livelihood of the trade and for that to be affordable, but we have a role as the licensing authority in setting out the policy and the changes we put within that."

Kirk Harrison, the executive member for regulatory services, said: "It is not the final word on the matter."

He told the meeting the council needed "a harmonised approach" but that a full review of the policy would be carried out by the end of 2025.

A further report will be presented to full council at the end of this month for full policy and byelaws approval.

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