ROUND THE COUNCILS CORNWALL: TAXI ZONE SYSTEM CALLED “RIDICULOUS”
The leader of Cornwall Council has voiced his support for dezoning taxis in Cornwall calling the current system “ridiculous.” During a cabinet meeting on May 6, local leaders debated whether to scrap Cornwall’s six separate taxi zones in favour of a single, countywide area. The debate centres on a government recommend- ation to create one large licensing zone. Currently, taxis are restricted to picking up passengers within their specific zones. Council leader Leigh Frost, who represents Bodmin, highlighted the absurdity of the current boundaries. He noted that a Bodmin taxi driver dropping someone at Bodmin Parkway station cannot legally pick up a return passenger because the station sits in a different zone. “That is ridiculous,” Councillor Frost said, adding that he also finds the different price scales across the county unfair. However, the plan has faced significant pushback. A public consultation revealed that 299 people wanted to keep the zones, while only 99 supported the merger.
Opponents, including many taxi drivers, fear that “dezoning” would see drivers abandon rural villages to chase busier trade in lucrative towns such as Falmouth and Newquay. Cllr David Saunby warned that a single zone could even spark “taxi wars” between rival operators and questioned the point of a consultation if the council ignores the majority view. Supporters of the change argue it would create a “level playing field” against apps such as Uber, whose drivers can already work across the whole county. Cllr Thalia Marrington explained that removing the boundaries would stop drivers from having to drive back empty to their home zone after a drop-off. “Removing zones may remove the dead mileage for some drivers... This could reduce fuel waste and emissions, and potentially allow the driver to earn more too,” she told the meeting. Supporters also believe a single system would be simpler, fairer, more efficient and could shorten waiting times for passengers as well as enable a single fare tariff across Cornwall and give drivers more flexibility.
While some fear for rural services, council members 34
were told that other English authorities who moved to a single zone did not see the long-term negative impacts that critics predicted. Despite the push for change, the council’s scrutiny committee has strongly recommended keeping the existing zones, arguing that the government’s “one- size-fits-all” approach is better for cities than for a rural county like Cornwall. Because a move to a single zone cannot be reversed once it is made, the cabinet voted to delay their final decision. This will allow for more detailed analysis of how it would affect fares and the specific concerns raised by local drivers. As Councillor Dan Rogerson noted during the heated debate, a consultation is not a referendum but a way to gather evidence before making a final call on the future of Cornwall’s transport.
DENBIGHSHIRE: RE-DESIGN: LICENCE PLATES & BADGES
Taxi licence plates and driver badges across
Denbighshire are getting a fresh look as the local authority transitions to a new manufacturing supplier. Denbighshire County Council has taken the opportunity to completely re-design its taxi driver badges, vehicle plates, and door stickers, with the new system rolling out over the coming weeks. The council will introduce the updated layout in a phased, year-long changeover. To ensure a smooth transition, existing taxis will keep their current plate design until their licence is up for renewal. However, any new vehicles joining the fleet and any operators renewing their licences from mid-April 2026 onwards will receive the brand-new layout. Council officials have assured residents that seeing two different styles on the roads is a normal part of the crossover process. Local authorities want to make sure both the public and the taxi industry are aware of what to expect as the new designs hit the streets. Emlyn Jones, the council’s head of planning and public protection, explained the purpose of the announcement and thanked those affected. “We would like to notify taxi businesses and service users of the changes we are making to the taxi licensing plates and driver badges,” Jones said. “We appreciate their patience whilst these changes are being made.”
JUNE 2026 PHTM
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