Private hire drivers to be consulted over licence fee hike

Hundreds of private hire drivers in Telford are to be consulted by council bosses over proposed hikes in licence fees following a meeting last night.

After the meeting between Telford Private Hire Drivers Association and Telford & Wrekin Council, the council said all licensed drivers and operators in the borough would now get to have their say.

The meeting was held after it was revealed the cost for renewing licences could rocket from £124 for a single operator licence to £365.

The association said the rise could mean drivers would have to increase the minimum fare from £3 to £15 to make money.

Controversy also surrounds a proposal to use part of the increase to pay for marshals to escort nightclub revellers to taxis. The council's licensing committee proposed the increases, which could see a private hire driver's licence for 12 months rise from £125 to £200 and the cost of a 12-month car licence jump from £134 to £225.

But council bosses claim rate payers were subsidising the service at the moment to the tune of £40,000, which had to be addressed.

Councillor Miles Hosken, cabinet member for community protection, said: "Telford & Wrekin Council has engaged in cordial and frank discussions with representatives of the taxi trade that have helped both parties to gain a better understanding of the situation.

"We will collate the views that have come back from the trade as a result of yesterday's pre-consultation talks and will copy these views to all the licensed drivers and operators in the borough to get their views."

Mohammed Zaman, chairman of the Telford Private Hire Drivers Association, said drivers would now consider their position.