Private hire drivers ‘face delays in licence renewals’

READING’S taxi drivers have voiced their concerns over private hire regulations and say they have long delays in licence renewals, writes James Aldridge, local democracy reporter

Last year, a group of drivers formed the Reading Private Hire Association to advocate for the trade. They have a booking from a customer to transport them, as opposed to cab taxis which can hailed on the spot.

The association is negotiating with Reading Borough Council’s licensing team to bring issues to their attention.

Among their concerns is a backlog of licence renewals, an issue raised at a meeting between association executives and council officers at the Claim & Hire Specialist Office in Whitley’s Boulton Road.

Private hire licenses last for three years after which they must be renewed.

There had been a situation where drivers were left in limbo waiting for their applications to renew their licenses to be approved, with some expiring. The association was able to negotiate an ‘Entitlement to Drive’ so that licence holders could continue working following a meeting on December 19, 2022.

Kamran Saddiq, chairman of the association, said: “We’d like to thank licensing for reinstating the entitlement to drive, that’s been a massive help to all of our drivers, their really appreciative of what you’ve done.”

Clyde Mason, a licensing officer for Reading Borough Council said