Rossendale's stricter taxi licence rules will 'force drivers to quit'

Taxi drivers in Rossendale were on strike for a week over the new rules

New regulations for a borough's taxi drivers will cost them thousands of pounds and force many to quit, a trade association's chairman has said.

Rossendale Borough Council's licensing committee approved 40 new regulations for licences at a meeting on Tuesday.

Rossendale Taxi Drivers Association's David Lawrie said most of the measures, particularly the compulsory basic skills tests, were "unnecessary".

The rules would "ensure a good service and improve safety", the council said.

About a third of Rossendale's 250 drivers went on strike in the week leading up to the council's meeting.

David Lawrie said he will quit when his licence is up for renewal

Councillor Steve Hughes, chair of the licensing committee, said there were "cost implications", but this was not unusual across the country.

He said the stricter regulations, such as the installation of CCTV in taxis, would improve driver and passenger safety and basic skills assessments would improve the service.

Mr Lawrie said drivers were in favour of CCTV but following another requirement, to make all taxis in the borough the same colour, would "end the trade".

"It will cost thousands to change the colour of taxis and we have warned the council the dangers of this but they have ignored us," he said.

He said the association had sought legal advice about challenging the decision, adding that the compulsory skills tests were not "fit for purpose either".

"Only 12 out of 29 people have passed them - I know a chartered accountant who has failed it."

The council said a child between the ages of five and seven would be expected to pass the entry level assessment which tested "understanding information given by numbers and symbols in simple graphic, numerical and written forms".