According to a report by BBC News, Cllr Richard Overton — Telford & Wrekin Council’s cabinet member for highways — said the authority maintains “better standards” than Wolverhampton, highlighting that the neighbouring city licenses drivers “very quickly”, which attracts out-of-area applicants.
He added that Telford operates stricter conditions because the council “really care about passenger safety.”
DM News Commentary
Comments like these reflect the ongoing tension around cross-border licensing — an issue that continues to frustrate many taxi and private-hire drivers across the UK.
Wolverhampton’s rapid licensing turnaround has made it the go-to authority for thousands of drivers nationwide, but other councils, like Telford & Wrekin, argue that speed shouldn’t come at the cost of robust checks, higher standards or local accountability.
For local drivers, this is all too familiar:
- Vehicles and drivers licensed elsewhere operating on their patch
- Councils competing on speed rather than standards
- Confusion for passengers who assume the local council is responsible
- Enforcement teams struggling when licences are issued hundreds of miles away
If national minimum standards are eventually introduced — something the Transport Select Committee is currently exploring — the gap between councils like Wolverhampton and Telford could finally narrow. Until then, drivers will continue to feel the impact of uneven rules depending on where someone chooses to apply.
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