“OUR TAKINGS ARE DECLINING”: Frustrated Shrewsbury taxi drivers hit by surge in out-of-area Wolverhampton plated vehicles
- Perry Richardson
- Sep 30
- 2 min read
Taxi drivers in Shrewsbury have raised concern over a sharp rise in out-of-area private hire vehicles operating locally, many of which are reportedly licensed by Wolverhampton Council and working for Uber. The increase has prompted fears over earnings, local standards and enforcement capability.
One long-serving Shrewsbury driver told TaxiPoint that the arrival of drivers licensed elsewhere has led to a marked fall in income and a shift in working conditions. He said: “In the last 6 months we have seen a massive increase in Wolverhampton plated drivers in Shrewsbury and some of those are now working for Uber. As a result, we have seen an average decrease in our takings of about 30%.”
The local driver added that the downturn has already forced colleagues to leave the profession, with long-term consequences for local service provision and knowledge. “Our local customers are all complaining about a total lack of knowledge and are having to direct drivers to their destinations,” he said. “We have to sit a knowledge test of the local area to obtain our badges. I am not afraid of competition but believe it should be on a level playing field.”
Shropshire-based taxi drivers are subject to higher local licensing fees and stricter vehicle requirements, which has sparked further frustration. “We pay three times what they do for a badge and they can use cars much older than ours,” he added. “Plus Shropshire Council have no jurisdiction over them when working in the area.”
The case adds to the ongoing national debate around cross-border hiring, where private hire drivers licensed in one authority can legally operate in another. This is permitted under current legislation but has increasingly been seen as a loophole used by operators to bypass tighter standards.
The Shrewsbury driver called for reform: “I believe that there should be a system in place that if you are working in an area, you should be badged and vetted in that area.”
Shropshire Council, like many licensing authorities outside large urban centres, has limited enforcement reach over out-of-area drivers unless there is cooperation with the licensing authority that issued the licence.
Calls for changes to cross-border licensing rules have grown in recent years. Several industry groups, including the Local Government Association and National Private Hire and Taxi Association, have pressed government for legislative change that would restrict out-of-area working or require greater local compliance.
The Department for Transport has consulted on a national set of minimum standards for taxis and private hire vehicles, but no final framework has been introduced to address the cross-border issue directly.
For now, drivers in areas like Shrewsbury continue to face competition from outside operators, raising questions about the effectiveness and fairness of the current regulatory framework.
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