TRANSPORT COMMITTEE INQUIRY


engagement with local stakeholders. Issues such as fare structures, fee setting, and local service conditions have too often been “stitched together” without adequate consideration of the real-world impact on drivers or the travelling public.


When large, combined authorities are created, the “controlled districts” in which hackney carriages may operate can expand dramatically. This creates a serious risk that high-demand urban areas become saturated with drivers seeking higher fares, while rural or low- demand areas are left with minimal service provision.


To illustrate: under current arrangements, Greater Manchester comprises ten separate local authorities, each with its own controlled district. If these were merged into a single entity, the area of operation would expand from around fifty square miles to more than five hundred square miles. This would encompass major transport hubs (airports, train stations), the


nighttime economy, and high-demand shopping districts - all drawing drivers away from less profitable, but socially essential, local services.


The likely consequence would be reduced access to transport for elderly or infirm residents, patients attending medical appointments, and even families relying on school run services. Naturally, drivers will gravitate toward areas offering the greatest earning potential, leaving smaller communities underserved.


Suggestion / summary:


While devolution and local authority amalgamation may deliver administrative efficiencies in theory, we strongly recommend that existing licensing zones remain in place. Each zone should continue to manage its own fare structures and service conditions to ensure fair access and sustainable service levels across both urban and rural areas.


associations • operators • drivers • vehicle owners


JOIN US TODAY STRENGTH IN NUMBERS!


fighting for our trade for over 30 years www.nphta.co.uk


info@nphta.co.uk PHTM NOVEMBER 2025 65


Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32  |  Page 33  |  Page 34  |  Page 35  |  Page 36  |  Page 37  |  Page 38  |  Page 39  |  Page 40  |  Page 41  |  Page 42  |  Page 43  |  Page 44  |  Page 45  |  Page 46  |  Page 47  |  Page 48  |  Page 49  |  Page 50  |  Page 51  |  Page 52  |  Page 53  |  Page 54  |  Page 55  |  Page 56  |  Page 57  |  Page 58  |  Page 59  |  Page 60  |  Page 61  |  Page 62  |  Page 63  |  Page 64  |  Page 65  |  Page 66  |  Page 67  |  Page 68  |  Page 69  |  Page 70  |  Page 71  |  Page 72  |  Page 73  |  Page 74  |  Page 75  |  Page 76  |  Page 77  |  Page 78  |  Page 79  |  Page 80