North Northamptonshire Council (NNC) has given the green light to controversial new licensing laws for taxi drivers, a move that many cabbies warn could force them out of business.

The changes, approved by the new Reform executive panel on Tuesday, June 17, aim to unify the region's disparate taxi zones into one harmonised system and are set to take effect from September.

The proposed regulations, which still require full council approval, have been met with fierce opposition from the taxi trade. A late 2023 survey by NNC on the de-zoning plans revealed that 65% of respondents either disagreed or strongly disagreed with the proposals.

Henry Liffen, a Wellingborough taxi driver of 37 years, expressed his dismay at the meeting, stating he would be forced to leave the profession. He called for a "proper consultation" where the trade's concerns are genuinely heard. "It seemed that the remit of the previous licensing committee was to get harmonisation through whatever the consequences were," Liffen said.

"If this new rule is passed then with a heavy heart and sadness, I would hand my taxi licence back to North Northamptonshire Council and thank them for taking my business away from me."

Another Wellingborough driver, Ricky Dunkley, with two decades in the trade, raised significant concerns about the policy's requirement for all drivers to switch to wheelchair-accessible vehicles by 2028, despite what he claims is no increased demand for such vehicles in the area.

"My current taxi at the time I bought it cost me £8,000. I would like to typically spend a similar amount on my next upgrade," Dunkley explained. "Under these current policies that are coming in I would be expected to spend at least £65,000 for a low basic car. If this goes through, I will have no other choice but either to close my business or to move it to another council and work off cross-border laws.

"I plead that you revert these policies back to the 2023 policies and run a fresh consultation with the trade and listen to us."

Neil Reilly, another cab driver, questioned the sudden addition of a Euro 6 emissions requirement for new licensed vehicles, suggesting it was an attempt to "deliberately mislead the trade or to try and pull the wool over the eyes" of the executive committee.

Reilly criticised the council, stating: "There’s a massive shortage of available vehicles and you’re making it smaller by introducing restrictive regulations. Before the intervention of this authority, the system worked perfectly."

He further challenged the new Reform UK leadership, referencing their election promise to scrap net zero, and warned they would be "nothing more than charlatans" if they didn't drop the Euro 6 requirements.

Other major points of contention include a new "knowledge test" covering the entire 382 square miles of North Northamptonshire, which is yet to be finalised.

Cllr David Brackenbury, former Conservative member who oversaw the process, acknowledged the complexity. “We’ve had to balance so many different interests both in terms of the taxi trade itself and good regulation and governance and the public," he stated. "Nothing as complex as this is going to please everybody at the same time, but the paper seeks to provide the best taxi service across North Northamptonshire.”

George Candler, NNC executive director of place and economy, addressed the cost of wheelchair-accessible vehicles, promising a further review of that specific area. He also defended the consultation process, stating: “The consultation has been undertaken directly with the trade and more widely with the public. It has had fairly significant scrutiny as well as engagement. The overriding objective for this policy is protecting the public.”

Cllr Kirk Harrison, executive member for Regulatory Services, emphasised that this is a "transitional policy, it's not the final word." Cllr Harrison reassured drivers that "nobody has to change their vehicle today, or in September, or at any time at least up until 2028," as grandfather rights for existing vehicles would be protected.

The policy was unanimously approved by the executive members and will now go before the full council for final approval by the end of the month. NNC has indicated that any further delays to the updated byelaws could push back the proposed September implementation date.

A further review regarding the 100% wheelchair accessible vehicle requirement, exceptional age policy, grandfather rights, and transitional arrangements is slated for before the end of 2025.

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