Bolton Council 's executive member for licensing has raised concerns about the number of taxis in the borough which were licensed by Wolverhampton. The number of vehicles in the town who received their licence from the authority in the Midlands has long been a source of concern. Cllr Sue Haworth, the executive member for licensing, has said the public was reliant on Wolverhampton Council acting on reports of wrongdoing.
She said: “There are many Wolverhampton licensed private hire taxis working from operators here in the borough. “My main concern is that whilst Bolton licensing officers can pull up these drivers and vehicles out on the streets, as they do Bolton licensed private hire drivers and vehicles, the public here are then entirely reliant on Wolverhampton licensing authority, receiving reports sent in about their taxi drivers and their licensed vehicles, and then acting on the reports. “The likelihood of them acting on very serious misdemeanours is high but of other matters such as any public complaints, dirty or poor quality interiors, smoke-filled taxi, incorrect display of ID, issues that do really matter, are Wolverhampton dealing with all of those reports about their drivers who are working hundreds of miles away from the office? “‘The question so many people ask me is ‘Why aren’t Wolverhampton Council coming to Bolton and doing checks on their drivers?’ “In a nutshell, this is why Transport for Greater Manchester want this deregulation system e.