
Calderdale councillors have pledged to support exasperated local taxi and private hire drivers who face major challenges getting support due to severely restricted licensing office hours.
Independent Councillor Osman Khalil (pictured) brought the concerns of the area's more than 1,000 drivers to the council, pointing out that the office is currently open for just three hours on Wednesdays and three hours on Fridays.
Describing the six hours of access as "an absolute mockery of justice and fair rights," Cllr Khalil highlighted that drivers are simply trying to keep their families going, yet face unfair treatment.
"These drivers face many challenges whilst trying their utmost best to uphold the laws," he said, adding that "there have been instances where a driver has lost his licence, gone to the courts of law and got cleared, yet Calderdale Council will still not reissue a taxi licence."
He formally requested increased opening hours and greater transparency regarding how applications are handled.
In response, Council Leader Daniel Sutherland expressed a firm commitment to supporting the trade, stating that his administration is "really committed to supporting the licensed trade to be able to operate effectively."
Describing drivers as "working class people going out there trying to earn a living," Cllr Sutherland announced he has instructed officers to arrange a trial period for an additional opening slot at the licensing office to facilitate business while broader issues are addressed.

On Tuesday, 14 July, traffic officers set up on Avenue Road, Nuneaton, alongside council colleagues to target defective taxis and general traffic offences — with encouraging results.

Adrian Erive Santos, 45, from Ramsey, appeared at Douglas Courthouse on Tuesday morning, 21 July, following allegations stemming from an incident on June 27.

Officers investigating the assault of a taxi driver outside Farnham railway station in May have released this image in connection with the offence.

A 37-year-old Bradford private hire driver, Mohammed Mohammed, has had his licence revoked following allegations that he assaulted a passenger during a dispute over a late pick-up.

An Uber driver was targeted while carrying a passenger near Sheffield Coach Station after three young male cyclists threw a bag of flour into his vehicle.

Mohammed Rafiq, from Bradford, was stripped of his licence by council officers who ruled he was no longer a "fit and proper person" to operate a PHV.

Cllr Shabir said: "Last month a taxi driver approached me about a hearing he had with North Yorkshire Council licensing committee on Saturday 20th June. He informed me on Friday 19th June!

Barry Murphy, who has worked in the local trade for 24 years, is calling for an immediate freeze on new Public Passenger Vehicle (PPV) applications until an independent review evaluates the island's licensing system.

Thames Valley Police is now appealing for witnesses to the broad-daylight incident, which occurred around 12.35pm on Friday, July 3, on one of Oxford's busiest roads.

A local cabbie raised the alarm, highlighting a vehicle serving Westfield Special School. The whistleblower claimed the vehicle was unlicensed as a taxi, uninsured, and had failed its MoT.

Scott Troy, 43, was arrested at his home and accused of being a getaway driver following a violent attack on shopkeeper Mohammed Arif in Pollok on August 13, 2023.

Peter Garland was a passenger in the vehicle when he pulled out the weapon, held it to the driver's neck, made violent threats, and chased the victim before robbing him of his mobile phone.

Wolverhampton officials were brought in because a high volume of private hire vehicles operating in Warrington are licensed by city of Wolverhampton Council.

Meeting on 20 July, the General Licensing Committee will consider sweeping amendments designed to tighten the criteria for who is deemed a “fit and proper person” to drive a cab.

A Manchester entrepreneur is aiming to reshape the city's private hire industry after announcing a new driver-first business model designed to help local drivers keep more of what they earn.

The Government has announced its decision on Local Government Reorganisation (LGR) in Hertfordshire, confirming it will create four new unitary councils, subject to parliamentary approval.

A survey by The Taxi Insurer survey found that twice as many people perceive public transport to be unreliable in northern England (8%) than in central England (4%), the south-east (5%) or the south-west (3%).

Platinum Travel, owned by brothers Alex and Ryan Elbourne, has seen its pool of licensed drivers shoot up from 35 to 140 and its operations team expand to 16 to meet surging demand.

Prominent local taxi firm Thistle Cabs has officially signed up as the newest charity partner for the Ayrshire Hospice. 

Daniel Smith, 35, of Paisley, was ordered to carry out 200 hours of unpaid work, placed under supervision for 24 months, fined £300, and banned from driving for 30 months at Glasgow Sheriff Court.
