Middlesbrough Council has granted a one-year licence extension to a wheelchair-accessible hackney carriage that had reached the authority’s maximum vehicle age, after being told the borough’s accessible taxi fleet has fallen from around 150 vehicles in 2020 to just 30 today.
The vehicle in question was due to leave licensed service on 30 June 2026 on turning 12 years old, the usual cut-off under Middlesbrough’s current policy for London-style taxis and approved side-loading wheelchair-accessible vehicles. The council’s Licensing Committee approved the renewal at a meeting on 22 June, on condition the vehicle passes three tests at four-monthly intervals during the extended licence period, rather than the standard six-monthly schedule.
The vehicle’s proprietor told the council it remained in good working condition and continued to provide a reliable service, including journeys for passengers reliant on wheelchair-accessible transport. It was first licensed by Middlesbrough Council in July 2014. Committee members heard the vehicle had passed most of its previous tests at the first attempt, with any faults described as minor and corrected before retest.
Middlesbrough’s Hackney Carriage Association backed the application, and a letter of support from a wheelchair user was also submitted. Officers supported the temporary departure from the age policy specifically because of the reduced availability of accessible taxis in the borough — the remaining fleet is made up of 12 larger side-loading vehicles and 18 smaller rear- and side-loading vehicles.
The council is expected to review its vehicle age rules later in 2026, considering whether to replace fixed age limits with emissions-based standards and whether wheelchair-accessible vehicles should be exempted to encourage continued provision. That would bring Middlesbrough closer in line with government best-practice guidance issued in November 2023, which advises licensing authorities against blanket vehicle age limits in favour of more targeted rules on emissions, safety and accessible vehicle availability.
The council was clear that this decision applies only to the individual vehicle in question and doesn’t represent a general policy change — any wider shift will depend on the outcome of the planned review and consultation.
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