Westmorland and Furness taxi drivers told shoes are mandatory and new vaping sign must be displayed as council tightens rules
- Perry Richardson
- 1 day ago
- 2 min read
Westmorland and Furness Council has approved a new Hackney Carriage and Private Hire licensing policy that will introduce fresh operating rules for taxi and private hire drivers, including mandatory footwear requirements and vaping restrictions inside licensed vehicles.
The new policy, which replaces separate legacy standards inherited from Barrow, Eden and South Lakeland councils, is due to come into effect on 3 August 2026 following approval by Full Council on 7 May.
Among the most notable additions were two amendments pushed forward by the council’s Regulatory Committee and later backed by Cabinet. Licensed Hackney Carriage and Private Hire drivers will now be required to wear footwear whenever operating a licensed vehicle, while all licensed vehicles must also display signage making clear that vaping is prohibited inside the vehicle.
The footwear measure represents a tightening of driver conduct standards and places an explicit condition on attire while working. Although the report does not detail enforcement measures or define acceptable footwear, the requirement forms part of broader attempts to standardise expectations across the authority’s taxi and PHV sector.
New unified licensing policy will require drivers to wear footwear and display anti-vaping signage in all licensed vehicles from August 2026
The vaping signage requirement reflects growing attention from licensing authorities around passenger in-vehicle behaviour standards. The policy amendment stops short of introducing a direct vaping offence under licensing rules, but operators and drivers will now be expected to visibly communicate that vaping is not permitted during journeys.
The wider policy overhaul aims to merge three separate licensing systems into a single framework covering the entire Westmorland and Furness area. Council officers said differing standards inherited following local government reorganisation had created inconsistencies and operational difficulties since the authority was formed.
The council said the policy development began in 2024 and involved specialist legal input alongside a six-week public consultation held during late 2025. More than 100 responses were received from drivers, operators, parish councils and disability groups.
Alongside the conduct-related changes, the policy introduces environmental requirements that will eventually restrict licences to Euro 6 compliant vehicles, although existing vehicles will be granted a three-year transition period.
The council is also moving to remove historic Hackney Carriage zoning rules, allowing taxis to operate across the full Westmorland and Furness district instead of being restricted to former sovereign council boundaries. Officials said the move would give operators and drivers greater flexibility over where they work.
Council officers acknowledged further policy revisions may still be required following expected national reforms linked to recommendations made after Baroness Casey’s review into group-based child sexual exploitation. Government ministers have already indicated plans to strengthen passenger safety rules affecting taxi and PHV licensing nationally.
