Archive News Item

Checks to ensure that taxis licensed by Powys County Council are obeying licensing rules have revealed high compliance levels, it has been announced.

The council’s Licensing Team have been involved in various checks throughout the county on hackney carriages and private hire vehicles. The inspections were carried out in cooperation with Dyfed Powys Police and the council’s School Transport Section.

15 vehicles were checked at three schools in the county, which highlighted that the driver of one vehicle did not have their badge on display.

10 private hire and hackney carriages were stopped for inspection in Welshpool and Newtown. The checks showed a high level of compliance with only one driver given a written warning for not having a fire extinguisher at the time of the check.

The council carried out evening / night time checks in the Brecon and Hay and inspected 21 vehicles. One vehicle stopped was found to be overloaded and other minor offences found during the night included a driver not having his badge and an incorrect fire extinguisher was found in another vehicle.

Nigel Williams, the council’s Senior Licensing Officer, said: “We carry out these checks to ensure the safety of the travelling public, that the vehicles are safe and comfortable and that licensing rules are obeyed.

“It is pleasing that the vast majority of vehicles we checked complied with their licensing conditions. We will continue to carry out these checks so that the public can travel in safety.”