Fees for taxi drivers operating in Barnsley are set to climb next year for the first time since 2014.

Single drivers currently pay either £137 for one year or £221 for three years, but under new plans this will rise to £150 or £240 respectively.

Operators’ fees have also been revealed, with firms whose fleets are between 11 and 50 vehicles having to pay £664, 51 to 100 vehicles to pay £1,993, 101 to 250 vehicles to pay £4,650 and those with more facing a £6,643 cost for a year’s licence.

A report, which was discussed by Barnsley MBC licensing board members on Tuesday 15 April, said: “A review of vehicle licence fees has not been carried out since 2014.

“Fees have been calculated to accurately reflect costs following changes to working practices and increases in staffing costs since the current fees were adopted.”

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A taxi driver has lost his licence after South Cambridgeshire District Council successfully defended his appeal in court.

Kambiz Akhondi, 59, from Soham, appeared before Peterborough Magistrates who determined he was not a fit and proper person to hold a private hire licence.

Mr Akhondi’s appeal against the council was dismissed and the council was awarded £1,182 in costs.

Mr Akhondi first appeared before the council’s Licensing Sub Committee in August 2024 after an application to renew his private hire driver licence was refused as he had not made the council aware of three DVLA speeding endorsements he had received between 2021 and 2022 - which was a condition of his licence.

He appealed the decision to the district council’s Licensing Sub Committee where the panel approved the refusal to grant renewal of his private hire driver licence.

Mr Akhondi then appealed the council’s decision in a hearing which took place at Peterborough Magistrates Court on 10 April.

Rob Lewis, Service Manager for Licensing at South Cambridgeshire District Council, said: “The safety of the public is our highest priority, and we expect all licensed drivers to meet the standards required of them.

"Failing to disclose penalty points is a serious matter, as transparency and trust are fundamental to the licensing system.

"The decision to refuse this licence, and the dismissal of the subsequent appeal, sends a clear message - those who do not fully comply with the rules and fail to disclose penalty points will face serious consequences.”

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Drivers are set to benefit from up to £500 of savings per year and see smoother Easter getaways as 1,127 miles of roadworks are lifted, the Department for Transport has announced today (16th April). 

It comes as RAC data shows hitting a pothole can cost drivers up to £460 in repairs. That’s why the Government is putting £1.6 billion into the hands of local councils from this month to get fixing our roads– enough to fill 7 million extra potholes, going far above and beyond the Government’s manifesto commitment.

To further protect motorists given continued cost-of-living pressures and potential fuel price volatility amid global uncertainty, the Government has frozen fuel duty at current levels for another year to support hardworking families and businesses, saving the average car driver £59.  

Together, this means that drivers could save up to £500 a year from the Government’s measures, saving motorists money, improving living standards and getting Britain moving as part of the Plan for Change.   

The Government is also speeding up journeys for the 19.1 million drivers the AA estimate will make car trips on Good Friday, as National Highways lifts 1,127 miles of roadworks over the bank holiday.

Around 97.5% of major roads across England will be completely free from roadworks, speeding up millions of journeys and boosting connectivity across the country to drive growth – the key priority in the Government’s plan for change.

Improving our national infrastructure and rebuilding Britain is critical to achieving growth – the top mission of the Government. That’s why since entering office the Government has unlocked 7 major road schemes backed by £580m. This includes the recently approved Lower Thames Crossing which will be a key strategic route for drivers, freight and logistics – improving connectivity between the South and the Midlands, linking up our ports, and unlocking regional growth.

This includes £200m for the A47 Thickthorn Junction, and £290m for M3 Junction 9 plus £90m for local road schemes like the A130 Fairglen Interchange, the South-East Aylesbury Link Road, the A350 Chippenham Bypass, the A647 scheme in Leeds. This is a total of over £580m for schemes to get Britain moving.  

On top of this, the Government recently announced a further £4.8bn for National Highways to protect the country’s strategic road network, which provides critical routes and connections across the country. The funding will ensure this vital network is kept in good repair and remains fit for the future whilst delivering essential improvement schemes to unlock growth and housing development.

Many drivers are already seeing faster journeys on motorways, as over 270 miles of roadworks have recently been lifted following National Highways completing its National Emergency Area Retrofit programme last month, which saw roadworks on the M1, M3, M4, M5, M20, M25 and M27 lifted.

National Highways is reminding drivers to properly prepare for Easter travel by relaunching its ‘TRIP’ campaign, encouraging drivers to ‘Top-up, Rest, Inspect, Prepare’. The guidance aims to prevent breakdowns which can lead to delays and unexpected costs. 

Significant routes to benefit from roadworks being lifted or completed in time for the Easter getaway include:

• Over 130 miles of roadworks on the M25
• More than 100 miles on the M1 between London and Chesterfield
• More than 70 miles on the A27 between Polegate, East Sussex and Havant, Hampshire
• 49 miles on the A34 between Oxford and Winchester
• Almost 50 miles on the M27 between Southampton and Portsmouth
• Over 45 miles on the M4 between Hayes and Hungerford
• 44 miles on the M2 between Rochester and Faversham
• 37 miles on the A303 near Andover
• 31 miles on the A47 between Great Yarmouth and Peterborough

Disruptive streetworks by utility companies are also being tackled under this Government’s clampdown, with doubled fines and charges of up to £10k per day for utility works that overrun at weekends and bank holidays. This will help make sure works finish on time, and roads can be fully reopened to traffic.  

The most congested roads also see the highest charges, under lane rental schemes – meaning utility companies are charged more on the busiest roads and at the busiest times. At least 50% of the revenue raised from these will go into mending more potholes, so that even more roads can be improved. There are currently five lane rental schemes running across England, with applications for eight new schemes.  This month saw East Sussex starting its own lane rental scheme, to deter disruptive utility companies and save drivers many hours off weekend car journeys.

The Government is also introducing measures to implement a new digital service that will speed up roadworks, slash traffic delays, and reduce accidental strikes on pipes which currently amount to 60,000 per year, costing the UK economy £2.4 billion.

With holes being dug in UK roads every seven seconds, the National Underground Asset Register, part of the Data (Use and Access) Bill, will create a map of the country’s underground pipes and cables, allowing construction workers to instantly see their exact location – a process which currently takes six days. 

Andrew Butterfield, National Highways Director of Operational Services, said: “We expect the roads to be busy with people looking to make the most of a long Easter weekend. That’s why we are making journeys easier by removing a huge number of roadworks.

“Drivers should also take time to plan ahead. Two of the top three causes of breakdowns are tyre issues and empty fuel tanks. You can help prevent any breakdowns by following our advice: top up your fuel, oil and screenwash, plan your journey, check your tyres and prepare for all weather conditions.”

AA President, Edmund King OBE, said: “Bank holiday weekends tend to remind us of the importance of having a good road network without roadwork delays or plagues of potholes. Hence, we very much welcome the lifting of roadworks as record numbers hit the roads this weekend and the Government’s efforts to address the pothole pandemic and reduce disruptive streetworks. Drivers can help by making sure their tyres are properly inflated, oil and coolant levels are correct, and that they plenty of fuel or charge if driving an EV.”

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Ride-hailing giant Uber and automotive manufacturer Toyota teamed up to host an electrifying track day experience for hundreds of Uber drivers at the iconic Brands Hatch circuit in Kent.

The special event provided 300 drivers with the opportunity to test drive a range of Toyota and Lexus electric vehicles on the world-famous racetrack.

This initiative builds upon the growing partnership between Toyota and Uber in the UK. Last year saw Toyota launch a dedicated website offering bespoke car finance deals for Uber owner-drivers.

According to Toyota, this scheme has proven successful, with "almost 2,000 Uber drivers" switching to electric Toyota or Lexus vehicles in the six months since its inception.

To further encourage the adoption of electric vehicles within the Uber fleet, more than 80 battery-powered cars were available for test drives at Brands Hatch. Popular models among Uber drivers, such as the Toyota bZ4X electric SUV, were prominently featured, with Toyota offering additional support to those opting for electric.

The event also showcased Toyota's new Proace Verso and Proace City Verso people carriers, alongside the Lexus UX 300e and RZ 300e luxury SUVs.

The track day culminated in a memorable moment for Nuruzzaman Chowdhury, an Uber driver from Poplar, East London, who won a brand new Toyota bZ4X SUV in a prize draw.

Alastair Rutt, senior manager for Toyota’s business team, hailed the initiative's success, stating: "Our electric vehicle initiative with Uber has already been an outstanding success, with more than 100,000 visits to our dedicated microsite and thousands of drivers going ahead with a new vehicle purchase. 

"With our Brands Hatch driving event, we were able to give our guests a real-world introduction to the strengths of our model range for a business where reliable performance and long-lasting quality are key."

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A multi-agency operation in rural Kirklees has targeted dangerous driving, resulting in multiple speeding tickets and the immediate grounding of several unsafe taxis.

The Kirklees Rural Neighbourhood Policing Team (NPT), working alongside Kirklees Council Taxi Licensing and the DVSA, conducted the day of action on New Mill Road in Brockholes following concerns raised by residents about driver behaviour.

The joint teams stopped numerous motorists, issuing 11 speeding tickets. Additionally, three drivers received traffic offence reports for illegal number plates, and two were penalised for defective tyres. Officers also conducted one stop search.

The operation also focused on taxi safety, with a total of eight immediate prohibition notices issued to taxi drivers after significant faults were discovered on their vehicles, preventing them from operating until the issues are rectified.

This initiative ran parallel to the ongoing Operation Trimburg in North Kirklees (Dewsbury, Batley, and Spen), which has seen Kirklees neighbourhood policing officers and the Roads Policing Unit engage with over 2,000 illegal motorists between March 2024 and March 2025.

Both operations are part of a broader effort to combat the "#fatal5 offences" – speeding, not wearing a seatbelt, drink and drug driving, using a mobile phone, and careless driving – identified as the primary causes of serious and fatal road incidents.

The Kirklees Rural NPT affirmed their commitment to continued monitoring of driver behaviour on New Mill Road.

West Yorkshire Police also reiterated its dedication to "Vision Zero," a road safety initiative with the West Yorkshire Combined Authority aiming to eliminate all traffic fatalities and severe injuries.

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