
Charnwood Borough Council has pushed through strict new regulations for Loughborough’s black cabs, sparking fears that the cost of upgrading vehicles could force some cabbies off the road.
Approved on Tuesday, February 3, the policy aims to cut pollution by requiring all taxis to be newer models, despite a survey showing that over half of local drivers and residents opposed the plan.
Under the new timeline, drivers must have a vehicle newer than a 2009 plate by December 1 of this year to renew their licence, with standards tightening further to a 2014 plate by 2028.
The new rules give an extra two years to wheelchair-accessible vehicles – of which only 11 are currently registered.
While council officers argued the move aligns with national guidelines, Councillor Glenn Matthews abstained from the vote, warning that many drivers "can't afford a better car" and will feel targeted.
He told the committee: "They are going to read that letter and think: what have I done to deserve this? ... You are putting them out of business."
To balance the impact, the council is introducing a 20% discount on licence fees for fully electric taxis - no such cars are currently registered in the district.
The council is relaxing the number of times a year that newer cars must be tested and scrapping the one-fail-barred rule, which meant older vehicles are immediately banned from re-testing if they fail.
However, critics argue these perks do little for those currently driving older vehicles.
Looking ahead, officers admitted they are unsure if future rules will be "stricter or softer on taxi drivers" once a new unitary authority takes over local government in 2028.

The proposal is designed to modernise the licensing system, reduce duplication, and improve efficiency while maintaining all required safety, knowledge, and training standards.

At Bolton Council’s licensing committee on January 6, the council highlighted its strict stance on driver conduct, resulting in one suspension and one final warning for the operators involved.

The council is considering new rules that would require taxi & PH firms to carry out criminal record checks on all staff members and notify passengers if their driver is licensed in a different town.

The incident took place just before 1am on Wednesday, February 4, on Mardale Road, where a taxi parked on a private driveway was set on fire.

Darren McCartney, a former prison officer and hostage negotiator, appeared before the North Ayrshire Licensing Committee following objections from Police Scotland regarding his criminal record.

Drivers are proposing to scrap the percentage-based surcharge in favour of entirely new, higher fixed tariffs for larger vehicles carrying up to eight people.

The St Annes-on-Sea operator has partnered with Greenway Power Group (GPG) and the Patons Group to provide the technology, which is also being made available for public use.

Officers stormed properties on February 5, detaining a woman, 42, and a man, 46, on suspicion of fraud; a man, 22, on suspicion of handling stolen goods; nd a man, 18, on suspicion of aggravated vehicle taking.

Abdulsalam Idlebi was found in breach of discrimination policies following the incident at a taxi rank on Irvine’s Bank Street last November.

Police have issued a fresh plea for help exactly one year after the body of 47-year-old Jesbir Singh Khela was discovered in a burnt-out car.

The cost of a standard one-year driver’s licence would jump from £150 to £165, while those opting for a three-year licence would see prices climb from £240 to £264.

Less than a third of taxi drivers in Greater Manchester are using new government-funded grants to switch to electric vehicles, according to research by the Clean Cities Campaign.

Research by Go.Compare Car Insurance found that 46% of adults “wouldn’t feel safe using a driverless Uber,” highlighting a significant hurdle for the government-backed technology currently being trialled in the capital.

Councillors in the Royal Borough are set to make a final decision on Monday 9 February, on a proposed 10 per cent increase to daytime taxi fares.

A North Ayrshire man has been denied a taxi licence following a "very serious" series of alcohol-fuelled offences that included stamping on a customer's face and assaulting police officers.

Alex Kendall, boss of British tech company Wayve, posted a video on social media to show off his car's “impressive drive without intervention” on his way to receive an OBE.

A Wolverhampton-licensed private hire driver's licence has been revoked for using illegal number plates and fraudulent insurance.

The pair, aged 50 and 23, convinced the driver to take them from Lisbon, Portugal, all the way to Barcelona, Spain.

Officers pulled over the Toyota Prius on Brown Street and discovered what they believe to be illegal drugs inside the car.

Members of the district council have adopted a new HC and PH licensing policy removing the requirement for the knowledge test to make it easier and cheaper for people to start working as drivers.
