Perry Richardson

A group of operators calling themselves ‘Uber Fife’ has launched a CrowdJustice fundraiser to support a legal challenge over Fife Council’s decision to grant Uber Scot Ltd a booking-office licence for premises in Rosyth.Council agenda papers record that 431 objections were received within the deadline. At a hearing on 22 September, Uber’s solicitor challenged whether the objections were legally competent. After taking legal advice, the committee ruled that there were no competent objections and

Fareham Borough Council is proposing to double the minimum period that new taxi and private hire driver applicants must have held a full UK driving licence, from two years to four years.The Hampshire authority announced the proposals on Tuesday 13 October 2026 as part of a review of its Private Hire and Hackney Carriage Licensing Policy.The consultation, which runs until 20 November, also proposes reducing the number of attempts applicants can make at the council’s knowledge test and changing th

Taxi and private hire vehicle operators across Great Britain can use certain approved LED replacement headlamp bulbs under MOT rules taking effect from today.The Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) set out the change in MOT Special Notice 05-26, issued on 13 October. It applies to ECE-approved LED replacements fitted to compatible halogen headlamp units in Class 3, 4, 5 and 7 vehicles. Class 4 includes taxis and private hire vehicles carrying up to eight passengers.The bulb must have a se

A cigarette lit inside a licensed vehicle is not just an unpleasant customer-service issue. It engages smoke-free law placing responsibility on the person controlling the vehicle and can create a separate licensing problem for the driver.GOV.UK identifies taxis and private hire vehicles among the work vehicles in which smoking is prohibited. The rule protects passengers and other people using the vehicle rather than depending on whether anybody objects to the smoke.That means a driver cannot per

West Mercia Police is seeking to identify a man who may be able to assist with enquiries into a robbery in Shrewsbury.At around 1.50am on Sunday 4 October, two men became involved in a disagreement with a taxi driver on Victoria Avenue. One man allegedly hit the driver on the head, took his mobile phone and threw it into the river before leaving the area.Police believe the man pictured may have been nearby at the time and could help officers with their enquiries.Anyone who recognises him or has

Uber has launched autonomous vehicle testing in Manchester in partnership with Pony.ai and Verne, marking another step in the ride-hailing company’s plans to introduce driverless passenger services across the UK.The development was confirmed, with the companies announcing that Pony.ai’s seventh-generation autonomous vehicles are now being tested on Manchester’s roads.The initial operation involves vehicles mapping the city’s streets with a safety driver behind the wheel. No passengers are being

The Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead has proposed significant changes to its hackney carriage and private hire vehicle licensing policies, potentially allowing older vehicles that meet specified emissions standards to remain licensed without a fixed age limit.A report presented to the council’s Licensing Panel on 12 October 2026 recommends removing age-based licensing restrictions for zero-emission, Euro 6, ultra-low emission and zero-emission capable vehicles from 1 April 2027.The change

The City of Edinburgh Council has opened a public consultation on private hire car provision as part of an assessment that could determine whether restrictions on additional vehicle licences are justified.The consultation opened on Tuesday 13 October 2026 and will close on 3 November. The council has confirmed that the assessment’s findings will be reported to its Regulatory Committee.The exercise follows a campaign by representatives of Edinburgh’s taxi and private hire trades calling for an in

The Government has launched a consultation on employment status reforms that could have significant consequences for private hire drivers, ride-hailing platforms and businesses engaging self-employed workers.The Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade published the proposals, seeking views on changes intended to prevent businesses incorrectly classifying workers as self-employed to avoid employment obligations.Private hire drivers are specifically identified in the 47-page consult

Licensing compliance officers from City of Wolverhampton Council have carried out vehicle inspections across Sandwell and Dudley as part of ongoing taxi and private hire enforcement activity.The council's Public Protection team confirmed the patrols took place on Wednesday 14 October, with officers conducting vehicle compliance checks and speaking directly with drivers about the importance of regular tyre inspections.In a statement published on social media, WV Public Protection said: "Licensing