Sandwell taxi drivers hold go-slow protest over fees and licensing issues

Hundreds of Sandwell taxi drivers took part in a go-slow drive around West Bromwich town centre last week before stopping to protest at Sandwell council’s taxi licence office in Cradley Heath.

The protest, over concerns about licensing issues, caused lengthy traffic delays around West Bromwich and the surrounding towns of Oldbury and Blackheath. It follows protests last August and December. In particular, the drivers are concerned about the cost of licenses and the time it takes to process them. According to reports, it takes between nine and 12 months for new applications for a private hire licence to be processed. For neighbouring Wolverhampton Council, it takes approximately three weeks.

A one-year taxi plate costs £353 for a vehicle under five years old, and £399 if it is over five years old, if the vehicle is registered with Sandwell Council. Other councils, such as Dudley and Birmingham City, charge £235 and £185 for any age of vehicle.

The protest was organised by the Sandwell Private Hire Drivers Association (SPHDA). The association claims Sandwell Council was not listening to drivers’ concerns.

SPHDA vice-chair and protest organiser Jaswinder Dhesi said: “I think they don’t want to listen to us, and every time they change the council leader, they seem to not know what our problems are.”

He continued: “The problem is about too much red tape from the council licensing and they charge the highest fees in Sandwell for badges, as well as making us wait for up to a year, meaning that someone who wants to work within a month can’t do so.”

Dhesi apologised to the public for the delays they will have, but added: “We feel we have to do this as our hands are tied by the council, which doesn’t want to listen to us and won’t talk to us.”