Buckinghamshire taxi drivers protest new licensing policy
They have been outside the council building in protest today
Last updated 8th Sep 2021
Taxi drivers are on strike in Buckinghamshire have gathered at the Buckinghamshire Council building in Aylesbury as part of a strike they have organised.
They are protesting against the new measures taken to regulate drivers' work in the county.
One of the new rules which drivers are particularly unhappy about states that all taxi drivers must pass an English language test.
The council has said they are supporting the new measures outlined by the government to improve passenger safety.
A video on TikTok complaining about the requirements has been watched thousands of times.
The new Taxi and Private Hire Licensing Policy standardises requirements and prices across the whole council area and also includes:
• The Government’s new national standards to improve safety for passengers
• Taxi and private hire vehicles able to operate across the whole council area
• More access to wheelchair-accessible taxis across the council area
• New requirements for drivers and private hire operators to complete safeguarding training, including ‘refresher’ training every 3 years.
• Incentives for the wider use of low and ultra-low emission taxi and private hire vehicles.
• Some changes to the maximum age of taxi and private hire vehicles to ensure their reliability and safety.
Buckinghamshire Council’s Cabinet Member for Housing, Homelessness and Regulatory Services Nick Naylor has stated:
“The new Taxi and Private Hire Licensing Policy that has come into force standardises prices and requirements across the whole county. As part of the process we have consulted widely, including with local taxi drivers and firms, regarding these changes. We have listened to their concerns and have done what we can to act on them."
"Many of the changes, including the requirement for drivers to pass an English language test, are part of new rules introduced as statutory changes by central government. We are fully supportive of all these new measures which are ultimately designed to improve passenger safety."
"We know that these new requirements will take time for our licence holders to get used to and we will help and advise wherever we can. Not all of the changes will come into effect immediately and we are working closely with representatives from the licensed trade to listen to and act on feedback as the transition period unfolds. "