Wolverhampton licensing officers attending Cheltenham Festival checking out-of-area private hire vehicles

Image credit: WV Protect (X)

City of Wolverhampton Council Licensing officers will be in attendance at the Cheltenham Festival to check vehicles working in the area.

As the Festival begins, with the event running from Tuesday 12 March to Friday 15 March, the City of Wolverhampton Council announced its plans to ensure the safety and compliance of their vehicles operating at the event.

Licensing officers from the council will be present at the four-day jump racing event, working alongside police and local licensing colleagues to monitor vehicles and ensure public safety.

Cheltenham Borough Council and Tewkesbury Borough Council's licensing teams have also issued advice to festival-goers, recommending the use of taxis or pre-booked private hire vehicles to mitigate risks. Attendees are encouraged to plan their transportation in advance to avoid any inconvenience.

Furthermore, the councils have issued a stern warning to private hire drivers contemplating unsanctioned operations in Cheltenham. The licensing teams have made it clear that only drivers with legitimate pre-bookings should operate in the area during the festival week. Test purchasing operations will be conducted to catch those operating illegally, with penalties including fines of up to £1,000 and the potential loss of their licence.

For those unable to pre-book, the advice is to use authorised taxi ranks or flag down only those hackney carriages licensed by Cheltenham Borough Council. This directive ensures that all vehicles operating within these parameters are fully licensed and compliant with local regulations, safeguarding passengers during the festival's peak period.

A City of Wolverhampton Council Licensing spokesperson said via social media: “Compliance officers will be working with the Police and local licensing colleagues at the Cheltenham Festival again this year, ensuring that everyone has a great time and gets home safely!”