Maidenhead & Windsor

At the Windsor and Maidenhead licensing panel meeting on January 17, which focused on the service provided by taxis in the borough, councillors agreed to a consultation on a range of options for change.

One option is to change the present system where taxis operate in one of three different zones – Maidenhead town centre, Windsor town centre and a third area centred upon Ascot that covers the rest of the borough to allow taxis to operate anywhere in the borough. Another is to lift the restriction on the total number of licences currently issued (87).

Cllr Jesse Grey, lead member for Windsor and Maidenhead community safety and chairman of the licensing panel, said: "We really want to hear what people think about these proposals, which could be of benefit to our residents and other members of the public who use the borough's taxis.

"We wonder whether there are simply not enough taxis in the town centres, particularly in the town centres of Windsor and Maidenhead late in the evenings at weekends. If adopted, these proposals would mean more taxis available in the town centres late at night, and for local residents it will mean that queues outside town centre bars and clubs will disperse more quickly and therefore minimise the potential for disturbance.

"It will also make a huge difference to drivers as they will be able to pick up fares anywhere in the borough, instead of the current arrangements which restrict drivers to working in specific zones.

"I would like to encourage as many people as possible, and particularly those who use taxis, to take part in this consultation and help us to make the right decision for the people of the Royal Borough."

The consultation is currently being developed and will begin in mid-February.

Windsor and Maidenhead Cllr Grey added: "No decisions have been made and I wish to emphasise that any decisions will be taken based upon the evidence of a wide consultation."

All taxi drivers, private hire drivers and those on the waiting list for a taxi licence will be consulted, as well as members of the Access Forum, the police, town managers, the chambers of commerce, pubs and clubs, local businesses and all users of local taxis.

The Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead