Taxi drivers vent anger at council meeting

Over 50 Hereford taxi drivers mounted a rally at a council meeting and across the city on Friday to show their anger at plans to change the way drivers and vehicles are licensed.

A consultation took place late last year on a raft of possible changes, from requiring drivers to have a knowledge-style test of the county’s routes, to setting tight age limits on vehicles.

Drivers say the plans will drive as many as 80 per cent of them out of the trade, drastically limiting the availability of rides to the public.

They are angry that the “one-way” consultation process did not take on board their concerns, and now want councillors to be part of a new consultation on their terms.

Hereford Hackney Carriage and Private Hire Association chairman John Jones said: “We want a meeting between the association and licensing officers, but we need councillors to sit in so they can hear the sense that’s being talked.”

The drivers also handed in a petition to the council meeting, which was passed to Coun Ange Tyler, cabinet member for regulatory services.

She told the council meeting: “We are going through the results of the consultation, and I am listening to all the concerns being made by the taxi trade.

“This is a serious matter – we already have less taxi drivers due to Covid.

“I will do my utmost to ensure this policy is fit for purpose. The ultimate aim of this is to keep everyone safe when going from A to B.”

A final policy recommendation on the changes will be put to full council in May, she said.