A KEIGHLEY private hire firm boss says new rules to ensure taxis are safe for passengers and other road users are welcome but don't go far enough.

The regulations for private hire car companies and hackney carriages in Keighley and Bradford were given the go ahead at a meeting of Bradford Council's Regulatory and Appeals Committee last Thursday. (July 13)

Stuart Hastings, of Keighley's Metro-Go Private Hire, said: "I agree with what the council is doing, but it's still not enough.

"The situation is a mess and it's going to get worse before it gets better. But at least Bradford Council now realises something needs to be done."

The changes agreed last week mean owners of licensed vehicles must now display a safeguarding window sticker, encouraging people to report child sexual exploitation, produce a “code of conduct” on how employees should behave, and conduct adequate background checks and provide training for those who work within their business.

New conditions will also be introduced from September on the duration of driver and operator licenses and there will be an increase in retest fees if vehicles fail, following a “failure to improve vehicle safety inspection results”.

Vehicle owners will be required to provide a certificate of safety and maintenance.

Taxi drivers have slammed the council’s consultation process and criticised the hike in retest fees.

But council officer Carol Stos told last week's meeting an electronic survey had been sent out to operators. When there had been little take up, a reminder was sent and the closing date was extended, but out of a possible 7,500 responses, just 123 were received.

Speaking after the meeting, Mr Hastings said he remained concerned that too many taxi drivers in Keighley and Bradford are using unsafe vehicles.

"It's not hard to make a car pass its MOT," he said.

"What is hard to do is keep that car safe. You can't do that with a car that's done 250,000 miles and is eight or nine years old.

"Many of the cars being used as taxis are just not fit for purpose, and they will never see a spanner until they actually break down."