Posted on the 17th February 2026 in PHTM News

BARNSLEY COUNCILLOR PRAISES HIGH TAXI STANDARDS AFTER EYE OPENING NIGHT WITH ENFORCEMENT TEAMS

A Barnsley councillor has hailed the town’s taxi enforcement officers as some of the best in the country following a recent night on patrol.

Councillor Andy Wray, who represents the Rockingham ward, described his time with the team as an "eye-opening experience" that showed why local residents should feel safe.

During a full council meeting, Cllr Wray explained how he watched police and licensing teams pull taxis and PHVs into a planned checkpoint for snap inspections.

While the Barnsley operation was "smooth" and "well-executed," the councillor said the evening also revealed "concerning issues" regarding vehicles registered in other areas, such as Wolverhampton.

The councillor noted that Barnsley’s rules are much stricter than those in other regions. He discovered that Wolverhampton-licensed vehicles are not required to have clear signage on their doors, making them harder to identify.

"I learned that these vehicles are not permitted to display anything identifying them as taxis, other than the licensing plate. Nothing on the doors, no signage - nothing," he said.

Even more shocking to the councillor was a conversation with an enforcement officer from another region who admitted their team "had not arranged their own enforcement checks like this in years." Cllr Wray told the council: "That statement alone speaks volumes."

He argued that Barnsley-registered drivers are held to much higher standards than those elsewhere.

"People of Barnsley don’t know how lucky they are to have their enforcement team setting standards higher than other areas," he said.

"Our enforcement teams are active, consistent, and committed to keeping both drivers and passengers safe. Not every region can say the same."


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