Stafford Borough Council has scrapped its long-standing rule requiring all hackney carriage taxis to be white, opening the door for black cabs to operate in the borough for the first time.
The change was approved at a full council meeting on Tuesday, 9 September, following calls from the local taxi trade to ease restrictions on vehicle colour.
End of the White-Only Rule
For years, Stafford’s policy only permitted white hackney carriages, but councillors acknowledged this was creating serious challenges for drivers. According to the council’s report, white vehicles are “becoming harder to come by and waiting lists can be up to 12–15 months, thereby presenting a barrier to the trade.”
The new rule allows black hackney carriages alongside white, bringing Stafford into line with many other UK authorities and easing pressure on drivers seeking to licence vehicles.
Incentives for Wheelchair-Accessible Vehicles
The new 2025–2030 taxi licensing policy also seeks to address declining numbers of hackney carriage proprietors. One of the main measures is an incentive scheme for drivers who invest in wheelchair-accessible vehicles (WAVs), which are “very expensive to buy.”
Drivers who licence a WAV for eight consecutive years will now be permitted to licence a standard saloon vehicle as a hackney carriage. The council hopes this will balance accessibility with affordability, ensuring enough WAVs remain available for passengers who need them.
Greener Fleet by 2030
As part of its long-term strategy, Stafford Borough Council confirmed its commitment to transitioning to a low-emission taxi fleet. From 2030, all licensed taxis in the borough must be hybrid, fully electric, or hydrogen-fuelled.
The taxi trade had requested the deadline be pushed back to 2035, but councillors said the earlier date was “reasonable and proportionate,” given the UK government’s 2030 ban on the sale of new petrol and diesel cars.
What This Means for Drivers
The move is expected to make it easier for taxi operators to source vehicles, particularly at a time when supply chains remain stretched and wait times for new cars are lengthy. It also signals a clear direction for the local trade: adapt to greener vehicles, or risk falling behind.
By providing more flexibility on colour and offering incentives for WAVs, the council hopes to keep Stafford’s hackney carriage sector viable while ensuring passenger accessibility and aligning with national environmental targets.
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