PEOPLE in Barnoldswick and Earby are being asked for their views on the number of taxis in Pendle - and whether there should be no limit.

Pendle Borough Council currently limits the number of licences it issues for hackney carriages, or taxis across the whole borough, to 71. Taxis can be hailed from the street, and can also use taxi ranks, and are usually red, or saloon type vehicles.

Any increase could be beneficial to customers, but not so popular with hard-pressed taxi drivers who will have to compete with more licences being issued.

Now, the council has launched a consultation on whether the number should be increased, whether there should be no limit at all, and also whether there are enough wheelchair friendly taxis.

Councillor Nadeem Ahmed, leader of Pendle Borough Council, said: “We want to know whether we have enough taxis to meet the demand across the borough. Do you have to wait a long time for a taxi and are there are enough vehicles which are wheelchair accessible?”

Section 16 of the Transport Act 1985 allows councils to set a limit on the number of hackney carriage licences they issue.

But guidance from the Department for Transport says that this is not good practice and there should be no limit, unless removing the limit would be detrimental to customers.

Jackie Allen, the council's taxi licensing manager, said: “If we keep the limit of 71 we have to do a survey which will look at things like whether people have to wait a long time to get a taxi.

“If we get rid of the limit and issue more licences, we would only issue them to vehicles which are wheelchair accessible so that we would have more available. Existing licence holders would not be affected. They would still be able to licence saloon and multi-purpose vehicles.”

When making a decision on whether to get rid of the limit, the council says it will take into account a number of points, including financial impact and the potential of reduced custom for existing licence holders.

Changes could also lead to congestion on taxi stands and roads, but could also mean benefits for customers. Also to be taken into account will be the potential opportunity of others to get involved in the taxi trade.

Cllr Ahmed added: “We want to hear from members of the public and the taxi trade about these important issues."

People can make their views known by emailing: taxi.licensing@pendle.gov.uk. For more information visit www.pendle.gov.uk/taxi. The consultation is due to end on Friday, July 8.