Wiltshire's taxis could see licensing zones scrapped
The Council's looking to bring in just one zone for the county
Licensing zones for Wiltshire's taxi drivers could be changed from four areas to just one for the whole Wiltshire Council area.
The proposals are up for consultation at the moment, with cabbies and passengers being asked for their feedback.
Wiltshire Council say the change would mean drivers could save money and reduce fuel consumption by working in areas they've last dropped off, rather than having to travel back to their licenced zone.
If the single zone is introduced, the authority would still keep four workshops open for vehicle inspections across the county.
Cllr Dr Mark McClelland, Cabinet Member for Transport, said:
“The four taxi licensing zones are a legacy from before we turned into a unitary council in 2009, and while these zones have worked well in the past, the proposed single zone will give taxi drivers more opportunities to operate throughout the county and enable us to develop our workshops to support other services.
“As stated in our business plan, we want our local economy to continue to thrive, supported by a skilled workforce, and these proposals will help taxi drivers to take more fares in more areas of the county. This proposed change will also help reduce carbon emissions, as taxis will be able to have fewer journeys without passengers.
“We recognise that some taxi operators may be concerned that more vehicles in an area may cause an oversupply of taxis and in turn a reduction in passengers, but we feel this competition will settle down based on the supply and demand. However, it’s really important that we receive all feedback on these proposals and what they may mean for taxi operators, so that we can make an informed decision on the licensing zones."
There's a consultation form on the Wiltshire Council website, which will be open until 5.00pm on Friday 10th June.