The threat of a New Year’s Eve taxi strike in Herefordshire has been averted after councillors voted to hold off on introducing a controversial new policy for licensing drivers and vehicles.
At a full council meeting today, attended by around 60 taxi drivers and addressed by the head of their trade body John Jones, councillors voted by a substantial majority to hold off approving the 250-page document.
The motion to defer was put forward by Conservative councillor Nigel Shaw, who said: “We need to take cognizance of the public view on this. This policy needs more work. There will be ample time to bring it back in March.”
Drivers had earlier threatened to strike as they felt the councillors and officers had failed to meet with them to discuss outstanding issues before bringing the final document forward, though they had undertaken to do so.
The drivers applauded the decision, taken in the atrium of the council’s Plough Lane headquarters.
More to follow on this story.
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