A private hire driver has contacted DM News after receiving an email inviting drivers to attend a meeting with Manchester City Council’s Infrastructure team to discuss roads and transport infrastructure affecting PHV work across the city.
The email, sent by a regional representative from the GMB union, confirms that a meeting has been arranged for Tuesday 27 January, running between 11:00am and 2:00pm, at a venue in Trafford Park.
According to the message, the purpose of the meeting is to give decision-makers the opportunity to hear directly from private hire drivers about the real-world impact of Manchester’s road layout and infrastructure changes.
Drivers who mainly operate within Manchester city centre and who have strong knowledge of the city’s road network are being encouraged to attend. The email stresses that spaces will be limited and asks interested drivers to make contact as soon as possible.
The message also highlights that driver input is considered “vital” in shaping a transport system that is fair and balanced for all stakeholders, signalling a willingness for direct engagement between drivers and the council’s infrastructure team.
DM Commentary
Meetings like this are rare — and for many drivers, long overdue.
Private hire and taxi drivers spend more time navigating city centres than almost anyone else, yet too often major road changes, restrictions, and layouts appear with little or no meaningful consultation with the people most affected.
If this meeting genuinely allows drivers to speak openly about loading access, road closures, congestion schemes, confusing layouts, and enforcement hotspots, then it’s a positive step. However, drivers will understandably remain cautious until they see whether feedback actually leads to practical changes on the road.
The key question, as always, is what happens after the meeting.
Listening is one thing — acting on what drivers say is another.
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