Posted on the 18th August 2026 in PHTM News

END OF AN ERA AS DROITWICH'S BLUE DOOR TAXIS CLOSES AFTER 35 YEARS

Droitwich's beloved Blue Door Taxis has entered liquidation after more than three decades of operation, closing its doors due to mounting financial pressures and competition from cheaper out-of-area private hire vehicles.

Founded over 35 years ago by Paul and his wife, Jackie, the firm grew to become the largest taxi company in Wychavon.

Over the last five years, it served as a specialist transport provider for Worcestershire County Council, investing hundreds of thousands of pounds into buying custom vehicles and putting staff through extensive safeguarding training to transport vulnerable users and schoolchildren.

Reflecting on the heavy financial burden of maintaining these standards, a Blue Door spokesperson highlighted the expense of their fleet, stating: "With us not being prepared to lower our high standards, ever-increasing overheads, and the sheer cost to be a law-abiding employer, despite all attempts and sacrifices made to save us, the heart-breaking decision had to be made to close our doors and leave so many of our brilliant team without employment."

The company accused the local authority of prioritising cost over care, claiming that cheaper out-of-area private hire vehicles offering unviable prices were undercutting local firms that adhered to strict rules.

The spokesperson added that they had been informed of "absolute horror stories, by parents and carers of vulnerable people, telling of the heart-breaking and awful situations that have occurred at the hands of substandard transport providers, who were picked by Worcestershire County Council because they quoted the cheapest price."

Furthermore, they stressed the importance of local licensing, noting: "When someone is in the confines of a vehicle, they are in a situation that makes them incredibly vulnerable. It is imperative, from a safeguarding perspective, that the driver of the PHV is licensed by the local authority in which they are actually working in."

In response, a spokesperson for Worcestershire County Council expressed sadness over the closure but clarified that no contracts were withdrawn, explaining that all agreements have a finite length and are retendered through a fair evaluation process.

The council stated: "Contracts are awarded through a robust, fair and transparent evaluation process that considers both quality and cost, ensuring good outcomes for those who need the services, balanced with the use of public money.

"This is not just a Worcestershire County Council requirement, but our legal obligation as a local authority, which we are regularly audited."

Although a new firm named BDT Droitwich has been formed by former employees, management extended heartfelt gratitude to their loyal customers and staff, calling the closure "very much the end of an era."


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