Herefordshire taxi licensing row ends after deal reached

Hereford Hackney Carriage and Private Hire Association chairman John Jones campaigned to have drivers' concerns taken into account

A long-standing taxi licence dispute in Herefordshire has been settled with a new policy agreed between drivers and the county council.

Taxi drivers were upset at plans to ban older vehicles and ask them to take a knowledge test on the county's roads.

But on Friday, councillors voted to adopt a new policy that strengthened tests on drivers' suitability and their safeguarding responsibilities.

Hereford Hackney Carriage and Private Hire Association welcomed the news.

Its chairman John Jones campaigned to have drivers' concerns taken into account.

He said association members unanimously backed the new deal earlier this week after "quite a lot of meetings" with council officials.

"We now have a good set of conditions that are fair on taxi drivers," he said.

In March 2022, dozens of taxis took part in a go-slow convoy

The new agreement will run until 2028, following changes in national guidelines on licensing made in 2020.

In March 2022, drivers arranged a go-slow convoy of taxis through Hereford before a petition opposing the proposals was given to the council.

They also threatened to call a strike last new year when they felt their concerns were still not addressed.

The new measures will be implemented in two months' time "to allow time for existing licence holders to achieve compliance", councillor Barry Durkin said.

"It also includes consideration for environmental impacts, such as encouraging as many different fuel types as possible, including small two-seat electric and hybrid vehicles," he said.

Herefordshire Council licenses about 900 owners of taxis and private-hire vehicles as well as so-called dual drivers of both classes.

After the full council meeting on Friday which agreed the policy, the Liberal Democrats group leader, councillor Terry James, said he welcomed the breakthrough.

"We've got to where we should have been a long time ago," he added.

Drivers gathered and handed in a petition to councillors last year