Bath taxi drivers 'undermined' by out of area taxis

Bath’s taxi drivers are calling on their local council to take action on out-of-area taxis undermining their livelihoods.

Taxi drivers need to be licensed by local councils, but since 2015 have been able to be licensed by any council — not just where they live or work. Now, drivers who have studied to pass the Bath knowledge test and paid the £582 cost of applying for a taxi licence from Bath and North East Somerset Council have warned that drivers licensed by other councils are taking the work in the city.

One local taxi driver who has been working in Bath for six years said: “Our earnings have been massively affected with Covid and everything.”

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He added: “We can’t carry on if we are being completely saturated.”

Over 200 people have signed a petition from the area’s local taxi drivers calling on Bath and North East Somerset Council to do what it can to put a stop to the practice. A statement from a group of Bath and North East Somerset-licensed taxi drivers said: “The influx of licensed taxis from Bristol, South Gloucestershire, North Somerset, Swindon, and Wolverhampton into Bath is severely undermining the livelihoods of local drivers.

“These out-of-area taxis are saturating the market, making it increasingly difficult for Bath's licensed drivers to secure fares and sustain their businesses. Local drivers contribute significantly to the community by paying their licensing fees, which support local regulatory and infrastructure needs. However, the presence of these external taxis, which do not contribute to Bath’s licensing revenue, creates an unfair competitive environment.

“We urge the council to take immediate action to ban these out-of-area taxis from operating within Bath. By doing so, the council would not only be supporting local drivers but also ensuring that the fees paid by Bath's licensed taxi operators are reinvested into the local economy, ultimately benefiting the entire community.

“Protecting local drivers is essential for maintaining a fair and balanced marketplace, and we call on the council to enforce stricter regulations to preserve the integrity of Bath's taxi industry.

“Please support Bath’s private hire and hackney taxi industry by signing our online petition and asking for the support of your local councillor or MP.”

You can view the petition here.