Fare way to go to solve cabs issue

IT’S an issue that the new government said it would sort out – but private hire taxis licensed in other parts of the country are still plying their trade in Greater Manchester.

- GEORGE LYTHGOE

Local cabbies have taken issue with the private hire drivers taking their business, particularly in Manchester city centre, when they are licensed elsewhere. The private hire drivers, who work for pre-book only companies like Uber, say themselves the checks are quicker, easier and cheaper to get through.

This has led to concerns over safety from local authorities – who are also left out of pocket as a result of drivers getting their licences from further afield.

An investigation conducted by the Local Democracy Reporting Service last year found that 8,952 drivers in the city-region, are actually licensed by Wolverhampton council – based around 80 miles away. This makes up 35 per cent of the private hire cabs operating across the city-region.