Private hire drivers in Derby are expressing anger and frustration over a city center bus lane that they claim is "ridiculous" and "unfair."

The drivers argue that the bus gate restriction on Corporation Street is causing them to lose customers and get stuck in unnecessary queues.

The road between Derby Council House and the Assembly Rooms is designated for buses, taxis, cyclists, and pedestrians between 7am and 7pm.

Signs and cameras are in place to enforce the restriction, and motorists caught using the road during these hours face fines.

While the signs indicate that taxis are permitted to use the road, Derby City Council has confirmed that this only applies to licensed hackney carriage vehicles, not private hire vehicles.

The bus lane restriction on Corporation Street has been in place since 2021 and has generated significant revenue for the council. Last year, the Local Democracy Reporting Service reported that the city council collected £1.7 million from CCTV-monitored fines in just over a year.

Driver Lee Roach, with 25 years of experience, believes the restriction is causing major problems for private hire drivers.

He explained that the Assembly Rooms and Quad are key drop-off points, and the restriction forces them to take longer routes, increasing fuel costs and frustrating passengers.

Adnan Khan, another private hire driver, echoed Roach's concerns, emphasising that he is licensed by the council but is not allowed to use the bus lane, despite performing the same job as hackney carriage drivers.

Several drivers have recently complained about the situation, prompting their union representatives at GMB to get involved. Craig Thomson, a GMB union officer, expressed hope for a meeting with the city council to discuss these concerns.

He highlighted that while the council has profited from fines, private hire drivers are facing unnecessary delays and increased costs.

Derby City Council maintains that allowing private hire vehicles to use bus lanes could negate the benefits of the restriction.

A spokesperson for the authority explained that the scheme on Corporation Street reduces traffic congestion, allowing buses to operate more efficiently and promote sustainable travel.

“Hackney carriages meet the legal definition of a taxi as they are subject to stricter licensing requirements, including vehicle specifications such as wheelchair accessibility, driver training and fare regulations. As such, they are permitted to use some of the bus lanes (including Corporation Street) as part of the city’s integrated public transport system.

“Hackney carriages differ from private hire vehicles, which can be confused with other cars. If private hire vehicles were allowed into the bus lanes, the sheer volume of these vehicles could negate the benefits for buses and potentially create congestion in bus lanes.”

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North East Lincolnshire Council’s licensing team and Humberside Police have carried out a joint operation, spot checking sixteen random taxis.

38 drivers were checked, alongside the condition of their vehicle, as well as their licence, insurance, tyres, lights and vehicle tax.

Licensing enforcement teams checked all drivers and general condition of the vehicles while Humberside Police checked the vehicles condition, tyres and lights. The following issues were found during the inspections on the evening of Friday, 13 December:

• 1 was immediately suspended for having a tyre under the legal limit
• 1 driver was not carrying his badge
• 1 hackney bubble was not working
• 1 unoccupied parked on double yellow lines – driver was working in a take away.
• 1 so dirty you could not see door signs or number plate
• 1 where the plate was attached to the rear of the vehicle that was dangerous – removed by police officer at the time.
• 3 seen that were quite dirty and required new door signs.

Councillor Ron Shepherd, Portfolio Holder for Safer and Stronger Communities at NE Lincs Council said: “These are great results from an evening of inspections by Humberside Police and our Licensing Enforcement Team.

“Hackney Carriage drivers need to be aware of the rules they need to follow and should do so accordingly.”

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Despite expressing reluctance, Bedford Borough Council's General Licensing Committee has approved a significant increase in fees for taxi and private hire vehicle licences, effective March 2025.

The decision, made on 12 December, follows a four-year period without a fee adjustment. Licence fees for drivers and vehicles are set to increase by varying percentages, with some categories seeing a substantial 21.65% rise.

Councillor Leigh Coombs (Lib Dems, Shortstown) acknowledged the necessity of cost recovery but expressed concern about the impact on drivers and ultimately, residents. He emphasised the potential for these increased costs to be passed on to passengers, adding further burden to local residents.

Councillor Lucy Bywater (Green, Castle and Newnham) echoed Coombs' concerns, stating that while the increase was unavoidable, it would be "uncomfortable" for drivers. She strongly opposed the alternative of having council taxpayers shoulder the financial burden, deeming it "morally wrong."

The committee emphasised that the council cannot profit from these fees and is obligated to balance any surplus or deficit over a three-year period.

The approved fee increases include:

• 3-year driver licence (new): £427 (21.65% increase)
• 3-year driver licensce (renewal): £381 (8.54% increase)
• 3-year dual driver licence (new): £427 (12.69% increase)
• 3-year dual driver licence (renewal): £381 (0.7% increase)
• 1-year hackney carriage vehicle licence: £265 (3.92% increase)
• 1-year private hire vehicle licence: £265 (8.6% increase)

The General Licensing Sub Committee will now review any objections to the proposed fee increases.

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Taxi drivers licensed by Mid Sussex District Council will soon be required to accept card payments from customers, following a decision made at a recent full council meeting.

The decision comes after an eight-week public consultation and aims to address concerns raised by residents regarding the safety and convenience of cash-only transactions.

The council also voted to remove the cap on the number of hackney carriages licensed in the district, a move intended to increase the availability of wheelchair-accessible taxis.

A council report highlighted a significant number of complaints received regarding drivers refusing card payments, citing public safety concerns.

While some drivers expressed concerns about connectivity issues in rural areas and potential cash flow problems associated with card payments, councillors ultimately agreed that the current licensing policy needed to be updated.

Since 2002, the council has limited the number of licensed hackney carriages to 154, with only 31 currently equipped to accommodate wheelchair users.

However, even with the removal of the cap, the shortage of wheelchair-accessible taxis may persist due to the self-employed nature of taxi drivers.

The majority of taxi work in the district is concentrated around the three main railway stations, limiting the flexibility and availability of drivers for residents in more rural areas.

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A couple who ran a taxi firm in Dawlish, Devon, have been publicly named after having their licences revoked by Teignbridge District Council.

Michael Miller and Grace Miller, who jointly operated the cab firm Grab A Cab, lost their hackney carriage proprietor and driver licences following a series of complaints alleging aggressive and abusive behaviour, threats and intimidation.

Teignbridge Council Licensing and Regulatory Committee revoked the licences in September, concluding that the Millers no longer met the "fit and proper" criteria for operating a taxi business.

The couple faced numerous complaints from the public, customers, police officers and other taxi drivers, ranging from minor infractions to more serious allegations.

Despite previous fines, warnings and prosecutions, the committee determined that the Millers had consistently disregarded rules and regulations, demonstrating a "blatant disregard" for the law and the safety of the public.

A spokesperson for Teignbridge Council emphasised that all complaints to the licensing authority are taken seriously and that enforcement action is taken when necessary.

The decision to revoke the licences was upheld at an appeal hearing, where the committee heard evidence of complaints dating back to 2020.

The licensing authority's report highlighted the couple's "repeated disregard for the rules" and expressed concern over the numerous allegations of aggressive and abusive behaviour.

The report concluded that the Millers' actions fell "well below that expected of someone responsible for upholding the safety of the general public."

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