Hyndburn Council seeks taxi trade views on plans to outsource vehicle testing
- Perry Richardson
- 47 minutes ago
- 1 min read
Hyndburn Borough Council is consulting on plans to change the way taxi vehicles are tested across the borough.
At present, licensed vehicles must be tested by the Council’s Central Vehicle Maintenance Unit. The inspection includes the standard MOT and additional checks specific to local taxi regulations. If the vehicle passes, a Certificate of Compliance is issued, with the current fee set at £52.50.
The Council is now considering a move to allow approved local garages to carry out these checks instead. Under the proposed system, any garage meeting a defined set of criteria would be able to conduct the tests and issue the same compliance certificates.
Taxi proprietors would then be responsible for booking their tests with the approved garages directly. The test requirements would remain unchanged.
Hyndburn Council is asking for feedback from private hire and hackney carriage drivers, garage operators, passengers and other local residents. The public consultation runs until 14 July.
Responses can be submitted through the Council’s consultation page.
Leader of the Council, Councillor Munsif Dad said: “Changes to the way in which taxis are tested in the borough are being proposed to offer more flexibility to those in the trade.
“By externalising the process and allowing local garages to undertake the testing, we will also be providing a boost to our local businesses.
“We see this as a move that will benefit everyone and ensure that our local taxis are road safe and ready to chauffer the people of Hyndburn.”
