TAXI drivers have criticised a council for making them foot the bill for compulsory new safety measures.

From April, taxis in Northallerton will be required to display standard signs on the sides of the vehicles to identify them as licensed cabs. The signs will be compulsory for all drivers.

At a meeting of Hambleton District Council licensing committee last Friday, councillors agreed to recover the costs of the signs through increased vehicle licensed fees.

The cost of a new licence will rise from £218 to £245, while the price of a renewal will go up from £192 to £218.

The coloured oval signs will be permanent, and once removed cannot be transferred to another vehicle. Councillors said the signs would reduce the risk of bogus operators and would help the public to identify genuine taxis.

Tony Lemmon, chairman of the Taxi Association, said drivers resented having to pay for the signs.

"We are in favour of having something to identify us as licensed taxis, and these days you can't be too careful," said Mr Lemmon. "But these signs have been forced upon us without any consultation and now we are expected to pay for them.

"The council wants more and more money out of us but doesn't want to give anything back. We have problems with road signs and markings showing our areas, with people parking in our bays, and the ongoing problems with the farmers' market, but our complaints just fall on deaf ears.

"The council doesn't seem to invest any time or money in us, even though we are an important public transport service.

"Identifying signs on taxis are a good idea, but the way they have gone about it, without bothering to ask us or show us the designs, and then expecting us to pay for them, is another example of the council acting like a law unto itself."

Martyn Richards, head of legal services for the council, said at the meeting: "We know there will be some drivers who will not be happy about covering the costs, but this is not profiteering.

"We don't have a big problem with bogus taxis in the town, but these signs are a necessary measure and there are production costs involved.

"While some drivers will be against the signs, others will welcome them and the increased safety and visibility they offer."