Hillingdon Council secures conviction against TfL taxi driver over PSPO breach near Heathrow
- Perry Richardson
- 8 minutes ago
- 2 min read
Hillingdon Council has successfully prosecuted a Transport for London licensed taxi driver for breaching a Public Spaces Protection Order and failing to pay a Fixed Penalty Notice, reinforcing its enforcement stance around Heathrow-adjacent residential areas.
The driver was ordered to pay a £220 fine, an £88 victim surcharge and £350 in prosecution costs following a hearing at Ealing Magistrates’ Court on Monday 8 December. The case was proved in his absence by a single justice, a process used to determine lower-level criminal matters without the defendant attending court.
The prosecution related to a breach of a PSPO introduced by Hillingdon Council on 1 February 2025. The order prohibits taxis, chauffeurs and private hire vehicles from waiting in residential streets across the Pinkwell, West Drayton and Heathrow Villages wards unless they are actively picking up or dropping off passengers, or the driver lives or is based on that street.
On 2 May, the cabbie’s vehicle was observed stationary on Doghurst Drive in Heathrow Villages during a routine patrol by a council environmental enforcement officer. The officer issued a Fixed Penalty Notice for the offence, set at £100, reduced to £50 if paid within 14 days.
Driver fined after failing to pay fixed penalty for waiting in restricted residential street near Heathrow
Despite a final warning from the council, the penalty was not paid, prompting the authority to pursue prosecution through the magistrates’ court. The court accepted the council’s evidence and issued the financial penalties accordingly.
Hillingdon Council introduced the PSPO following a public consultation that showed strong local support for tighter controls. The authority cited repeated complaints from residents about taxis and private hire vehicles parking for extended periods, blocking driveways, leaving litter, engaging in antisocial behaviour and contributing to noise and air pollution through engine idling while waiting for airport jobs.
Since the order came into force, the council has issued 6,252 Fixed Penalty Notices to taxi and private hire drivers, signalling sustained enforcement activity and continued scrutiny of driver behaviour in residential areas surrounding Heathrow.
Cllr Wayne Bridges, Hillingdon Council’s Cabinet Member for Community and Environment, said: “The drivers of these vehicles are already provided with official designated waiting areas within the airport perimeter, yet many continue to disregard this.
“I hope this sends a clear message that we will take all necessary enforcement options to uphold this PSPO and that anti-social behaviour which negatively impacts our communities will not be tolerated.”
