Taxis and Private Hire Licensing Service

Information for Customers/Passengers

Introduction
How to recognise a Taxi
How to recognise a Private Hire Vehicle
Drivers of Taxis and Private Hire Vehicles
Your rights as a passenger
Existing Taxi Ranks
Hackney Carriages - Table of Fares
Complaints
Who to Contact
List of Licensed Taxi & Private Hire Operators within West Wiltshire

 

Information for Taxi/ Private Hire Providers

Taxi Talk Newsletter - March 2006 - (PDF file - opens in new window)
Applying for a Hackney Carriage / Private Hire Licence
Private Hire FAQ - (PDF file - opens in new window)
Notify us of your new address details here
Useful Links

 

Introduction

This information has been prepared for the information and convenience of people requiring a taxi or private hire service in West Wiltshire.

The list should not be taken as a recommendation by the District Council that a person requiring a taxi or private hire service should use any particular firm mentioned in this list.

The public should only use Taxi Proprietors or Private Hire Operators shown in the list, as licences are only granted by the District Council to Taxi Proprietors or Private Hire Operators who operate to a standard approved by the Council.

 

How to recognise a TAXI

Taxi Sign

All taxis are required to display an illuminated TAXI sign. On licensed cars the sign is fitted on the roof and the word "taxi" is visible from the front. During hours of darkness all taxi signs are illuminated when the vehicles are available for hire.

Licence Display

All taxis have to display license plates, one fixed to the rear and the other to the internal dashboard of the vehicle. The plate displays the licence number and the number of passengers that the vehicle is allowed to carry.

Hailing a taxi

Taxis can be hailed (flagged down) directly from the street or hired from taxi ranks, which are situated in each town.

The cost of hiring a taxi

All taxis are fitted with fare meters, which must be used for every journey within West Wiltshire. Fare levels are fixed for all vehicles by the district council and a fare chart must be displayed inside the taxi. Passengers should refer to the fare chart to see if the correct fare is being charged.

 

How to recognise a Private Hire Vehicle (PHV)

Top sign

Private Hire Vehicles are not allowed to display any sign.

Licence display

Private Hire Vehicles have to display a licence plate on rear of the vehicle to show the licence number and the number of passengers that the vehicle is allowed to carry.

Pre-Booking

Private Hire Vehicles are not licensed or insured to be flagged down or hired from taxi ranks. These vehicles Must be pre-booked through a private hire operator's office, either by telephone or in person.

The cost of hiring PHV

These vehicles do not need to have a fare meter fitted. If no meter is fitted you may negotiate the fare with the driver before the start of the journey.

Where meters are fitted voluntarily, the District Council tests for accuracy. Records must be kept by the driver of all booked journeys.

Operators of Private Hire Vehicles

Private Hire Vehicles must be pre-booked through an operator licensed by the District Council. Licences are only issued to operators who are fit and proper persons who understand the relevant laws. Licensed operators must ensure that drivers and vehicles used by them comply with all licence conditions.

Licensed operators are responsible for providing a safe and courteous service to their clients.

 

Drivers of Taxis and Private Hire Vehicles

Drivers licences are only issued by West Wiltshire District Council after the driver has been checked to ensure that he or she:

• Has a valid driving licence
• Is a fit and proper person
• Understands the relevant law
• Has a good knowledge of the town in which he or she is based.

All licensed drivers must wear an identification badge, which includes a photograph of the bearer.

 

Your rights as a passenger

When you hire a taxi or pre-book a private hire vehicle you have certain rights. These are:

• The driver must only charge the fare that is shown on the meter unless the fare is agreed before the journey of commences.
• The driver must comply with your instructions as to route etc.
• The driver must take you to your destination by the shortest possible route.
• The driver must not allow other passengers to share the vehicle without your agreement.
• When requested, the driver should assist in loading and unloading luggage and should also carry it to or from a house, station or place where the passengers are taken up or set down.

 

Existing Taxi Ranks

Bradford on Avon - Bridge Street

Melksham - Market Place

Trowbridge - Market Street, Wicker Hill, Church Street, Castle Street

Warminster - Station Road

Westbury - Edward Street

 

Hackney Carriages - Details of Fares

For journeys starting	Vehicles up to 4 seats	Vehicles with more than 4 seats carrying more than 4 passengers
0600 hours - 2359 hours	Tariff 1	Tariff 2
Midnight - 0159 hours and Bank Holidays, Public Holidays and Easter Sunday	Tariff 2	Tariff 4
0200 - 0559 hours and 25 December, 26 December and 1 January	Tariff 3	Tariff 5

Table of Tariffs	Tariff 1	Tariff 2	Tariff 3	Tariff 4	Tariff 5
Journeys up to 1/10 mile	£2.10	£3.15	£4.20	£4.73	£6.30
Subsequent 181.7 yards	16p	24p	32p	36p	48p
Waiting time per 45.7 seconds	16p	24p	32p	36p	48p
Fouling charge (minimum)	£50	£50	£50	£50	£50

 

Complaints

In case of any complaint about a driver, or a taxi or private hire vehicle, you will need to take note of as much information as possible in order for any action to be taken:

• Check fare shown on meter
• Note the driver’s badge number
• Note the vehicle licence plate number
• Note time, date and place

You will then need to complete and send in a complaint form - print one here -and your complaint will then be investigated.

Some examples of the kind of complaints we are able to deal with include:

• The condition of a licensed vehicle
• The attitude / behaviour of a licensed driver
• Overcharging

 

Who to Contact

For further information about taxis or private hire please email:

licensing@westwiltshire.gov.uk

 

List of Licensed Taxi/Private Hire Operators within West Wiltshire

To view list, please click to select an area:

Taxi Operators in:

Bradford on Avon,  Trowbridge,  Melksham,  Westbury,  Warminster

Private Hire Operators in:

Bradford on Avon,  Trowbridge,  Melksham,  Westbury,  Warminster

 

Taxi Operators in Bradford on Avon

A & D Taxis - 01225 865620

Alpha Taxis - 01225 752916 / 01225 753218 / Freephone 0800 371297

Ashley Cabs - 01225 868111

Time 4 Travel Cars - 01225 862076

* wheelchair accessible

Taxi Operators in Melksham

ABT of Melksham - 01225 353637

A & P Taxis - 01225 706133

City Cars - 01225 700038

Forest Taxis - 01225 705453

Index Taxis - 01225 700800

Jim's Taxis - 01225 790222

MJB Taxis - 01225 700776 / 01380 871399

Paul's Taxis* - 07986 517319*

Webbs Private Hire & Taxis - 01225 706805

* wheelchair accessible

Taxi Operators in Trowbridge

ABT of Trowbridge - 01225 777555

A & D Taxis - 01225 751332 / 01225 755675

Alpha Taxis - 01225 752916 / 01225 753218 / Freephone 0800 371297

AMS Taxis - 07785 915841 / 01225 710152

Andy's Handy Taxis - 01225 763269

Ashton Cabs - 01225 776898

County Cars - 01225 352173C

Cowdry's Cabs - 07765 170685

Mim's Taxis - 01225 767918

PC Taxi - 01225 766806

Rico's Cabs - 01225 353281

Round-A-Bout Travel - 01225 766716

RPB Executive Travel - 01225 712233

Terry's Taxi* - 07795 180596*

Text-a-cab - 07840 807170

* wheelchair accessible

Taxi Operators in Warminster

1st Class - 07976 514569

A & G Minibuses* - 01985 218754*

D J's Taxis* - 01985 215151*

Prestige Private Hire Taxi - 01985 847301

Rod's Taxis - 01985 219001

Starline & Wessex Taxis* - 01985 212215 / 01985 212243 / 01985 218988*

* wheelchair accessible

Taxi Operators in Westbury

24-7 Taxis - 01373 824789

5 Star Travel - 07736 002868

Beta Taxis - 01373 822986

Round-A-Bout Travel - 0800 848 8716

Tony's Taxis - 01373 823893

* wheelchair accessible

Private Hire Operators in Bradford on Avon

Private Hire Operators in Melksham

ABT of Melksham - 01225 353637

Caravelle Chauffeuring - 01225 703886

Executive Chauffeur  - 01225 704707

Leszan Travel* - 01225 790232*

* wheelchair accessible

Private Hire Operators in Trowbridge

ABT of Trowbridge - 01225 777555

Airport Specialists - 01225 764141

Customised Chauffer Services - 07860 810737

* wheelchair accessible

Private Hire Operators in Westbury

R J Private Hire - 01373 864391

Private Hire Operators in Warminster

A & G Minibuses* - 01985 218754*

R Burt (Codford) - 01985 850083

* wheelchair accessible

 

Applying for a Hackney Carriage / Private Hire Licence

A licence is required to drive a hackney carriage (taxi) or private hire vehicle. Licences are valid for 12 months from the date of issue and cover both hackney carriage and private hire.  If you are intending to operate from or be based in West Wiltshire you need to obtain a licence from us.

To become licensed, applicants must:-

• Have held a full British driving licence for at least 12 months.
• Be certified medically fit by a doctor
• Not have any criminal or motoring convictions that would pose a risk to the public
• Have a basic knowledge of the district

The annual licence fee is £61 for new applicants, with renewals, where the application is made before the old licence expires, being £56. Medical fees are variable and the cost will depend on where your medical is carried out. CRB (Criminal Records Bureau) checks cost £36 payable at the time of check. (These fees are in place until 1 April 2009)

If you would like to be sent an application pack, which includes a step-by-step guide on how to become a licensed driver, please email licensing@westwiltshire.gov.uk stating your name and address. If you would like to download an application pack, click on this link (Please Note that this downloadable pack does not contain a CRB disclosure form. If you do not have one of these CRB disclosure forms, you can obtain one by contacting us on 01225 776655).

 

Useful Links

Taxi Driver Online - www.taxi-driver.co.uk This website contains news comment and advice on the UK taxi and private hire trades. (page opens in a new window)

last updated 9 June 2008