TAXI drivers in Richmondshire are considering taking legal action against the council over its decision to deregulate the industry.

Members of the trade have already passed a vote of no confidence in two council officers after Richmondshire District Council’s licensing committee decided to remove the limit on the number of taxi plates issued. It is currently capped at 65, but the decision was made to allow more registered taxis to attract new business and encourage taxi drivers to provide a better service in rural areas.

But outraged members of Richmond Independent Drivers’ Association (RIDA) and the Taxi Drivers’ Association say deregulation will result in even less taxis in rural areas and at quiet times of the week.

Members of the two organisation met on Thursday (Oct 6) at the Traveau Sports Club in Catterick Garrison, where it was decided they would begin to gather material to launch a legal action against the decision.

Grant Curphey, from the Independent Drivers’ Association, told the meeting: “In Fleetwood near Blackpool they deregulated their taxi industry and they went from having 105 private hire vehicles to over 1,000 in less than 12 months.

“All the new people who came in had other jobs and just put plates on their vehicles and came out at busy times. The professional taxi drivers couldn’t make a living so they left. So they ended up with virtually no taxis Mondays to Thursdays.

“If this goes ahead, in 18 months we’ll all be out of a job.”

Chairman of RIDA, George Pearson, told the meeting that local taxi drivers were not consulted over any of the recent changes affecting their industry and an independent ‘Unmet Demand’ survey they had commissioned - which showed there wasn’t a demand for more taxis in more rural areas - was not properly taken into consideration.

But Head of Regulatory Services at Hambleton District Council, Maurice Cann, said Hambleton and Richmond councils had sent a letter to all taxi drivers inviting them to attend a meeting on April 5, which was attended by 17 drivers.

He said: “It’s quite wrong to suggest there wasn’t any consultation. In terms of the decision the council has made it has considered the Unmet Demand survey and it was fully debated in public. Then a majority decision was made to deregulate the industry.

“This is in line with government advice and best practice.”