North West Leicestershire District Council has taken steps to address the problem of an 'influx' of Wolverhampton registered taxis in the area.

Last week's Licensing Committee meeting called for an extension of 12 months to regulations insisting that all taxis in the District should have emission-compliant engines or vehicles from January next year.

But this raised the issue of many taxi drivers 'licence shopping' in other areas of the UK to avoid the increased costs involved.

Councillors were told that drivers can buy a licence from Wolverhampton Council - which has issued 45,000 of them - 'for the price of a takeaway'.

It effectively means drivers can operate in North West Leicestershire - but the District Council is powerless to act on complaints as they are registered in Wolverhampton, or Ashfield in Nottinghamshire.

The meeting was told that one Coalville taxi firm faces costs of £150,000 to bring its cars into line by January.

Councillors also heard that, out of more than 200 taxis registered in North West Leicestershire, a fifth will need to be modified.

Ashby MP Amanda Hack will be briefied on the problem

But it was also pointed out that the taxi industry is still recovering from the damage caused by the Covid-19 pandemic.

Tonya Cooper, Licensing Enforcement Officer, said: "Licence shopping is where they will become licenced with other authorities that often offer lesser standards and lower fees. 

"Therefore there's a risk licence holders could become licenced by another licensing authority and continue to operate within North West Leicestershire District Council.

"Should this happen, licencing officers will have no control over the vehicles and drivers operating within our district, so again our recommendation is to delay the implementation of the Council's Hackney Carriage and private hire licencing policy or emissions by 12 months."

Councillors suggested that MP Amanda Hack should raise the issue in Parliament - especially as it not only affects North West Leicestershire, but other parts of the country, with 11,000 Wolverhampton plates being spotted in Manchester.

Coalville councillor John Legrys asked how long the emissions regulations were going to be delayed, but Measham councillor Paul Lees was keen to see drivers from other areas prevented from operating in North West Leicestershire.

Cllr Lees said: "We've got 45,000 licences coming from one authority, and then the complaints that we're receiving, we're not able to act on because we're not the licencing authority. So we can't deal with a bald tyre or an air pollution problem or whatever else.

"It's wrong. It's so wrong. I don't want to come back in a year and it's not done, I'd hope Amanda Hack is amenable to support this.

Measham councillor Paul Lees voiced his concerns about the taxis operating in North West Leicestershire. Photo: Supplied

"I've no reason to think she wouldn't, I think it's going to be something that should be pretty amenable to, I would hope. I'm looking around the room for cross-party support."

Whitwick councillor, Peter Moult, said local taxi firms should be supported.

He added: "We've all noticed the influx of Wolverhampton taxis within our area.

"I'll be supporting the recommendation here to support our local businesses and give them a level playing field. Hopefully, when we come back in a year, there may be different regulations in place.

"Taxi businesses locally supported crisis teams in this area during the Covid era."

It was agreed to brief the MP to highlight the issue and Cllr Legrys said: "I think we'll be pushing an open door, this is a good idea, we can take the lead on this."