Councillor & MP team up to tackle scourge of out of area taxis in Weston

North Somerset Labour Councillor James Clayton (South Ward) and Weston’s MP Dan Aldridge are working together to tackle the issue of taxis and private hire vehicles licensed from outside North Somerset operating in the town.

In recent times the town has seen a significant increase of drivers licensed from outside the local area, especially from Wolverhampton driving to Weston to work.

Licensed taxi drivers are allowed to operate anywhere in England and Wales and are not tied to the district where they got their licence.

A report by Taxi Point highlighted 96% of Wolverhampton approved taxi and private hire licence holders lived outside the city between April 2023 and March 2024.

Cllr James Clayton said “Public safety must always come first. It’s deeply concerning that drivers who fail our strict local checks can simply get licensed elsewhere and still operate in Weston. This undermines the standards we work so hard to uphold. I’ve been working closely with our MP, Dan Aldridge, to push for national reform and close this dangerous loophole. Together, we’re calling for legislation that puts the safety of passengers ahead of convenience for companies.”

Weston’s MP Dan Aldridge said “No one should feel unsafe in a taxi. That’s why I’ve joined forces with James Clayton - Councillor for WsM South Ward to raise urgent concerns with the Minister for Local Transport about taxis and private hire vehicles licensed outside Weston-super-Mare; especially those from hundreds of miles away, like Wolverhampton, operating in our town.

Our local licensing teams have no power to regulate these drivers or vehicles, which means standards can’t be enforced, and public trust is being undermined.

We’re hearing more and more from residents who don’t feel safe getting into a taxi at night. That’s not good enough. It also puts pressure on our brilliant local businesses, who rely on people feeling confident to enjoy Weston’s nightlife and hospitality.

We’ve urged the Government to launch its promised consultation on taxi licensing reform now and ensure that towns like Weston are properly represented in any changes.

Local safety. Local standards. Local accountability. That’s what we’re fighting for.”