Resolving Controversy Over Sweeping Taxi Trade Reforms in Bolton
Key Highlights :
Bolton has been facing a long-running controversy over sweeping reforms to the taxi trade, with strong opposition from taxi drivers across the city over fears that a maximum age requirement on cars could force them off the road. However, new proposals have been put forward to resolve the issue and are set to come before Bolton Council’s cabinet next week. The proposals, which include sticking with the current age policy in place, no common livery and a delayed emissions policy, have been met with optimism as they could finally help resolve the impasse.
The previous proposal would have demanded that taxi vehicles be no more than five years old on first registration and have been on the road for less than 10 years to avoid a charge. There had also been proposals that all taxis be outfitted with a common yellow livery all over the city region, which drivers feared could have made them targets for vandals. But now the new proposals will mean no maximum age, while the changes to liveries will also be scrapped.
Council leader Cllr Nick Peel said: “We’re not convinced on a maximum age and when you’ve got taxis in Bolton registered to Wolverhampton or wherever else, the argument that the age of taxis is somehow a problem specifically in Bolton doesn’t stack up.” He added: “The second is that we’re keeping the livery policy as it is so there’ll be no common livery and thirdly we’ve pushed back the new emissions policy from 2028 to 2030.”
After repeated protests and debates, Cllr Peel said that he hoped the changes coming to cabinet next week will finally help resolve the impasse. He said: “The previous administration at the council has been kicking this around for a few years now. What we want now is to stop drivers from being treated like a political football and really put this issue to bed.”
The proposals will be discussed at a meeting of Bolton Council’s cabinet on Monday June 26 and could be the first step in resolving the long-running controversy over the taxi trade reforms. If passed, the changes could provide much-needed relief to taxi drivers in Bolton, who have been facing the threat of being forced off the road due to the proposed age restrictions. It remains to be seen if the proposals will be accepted, but it is clear that the council is taking steps to ensure that the taxi trade in Bolton is given the chance to thrive.
