Taxi numbers could increase

The number of private hire vehicles in Plymouth has trebled in a decade

The number of taxis in Devon cities could dramatically increase under new proposals.

The Office of Fair Trading (OFT) is recommending legislation aimed at ending local authority's powers to limit the number of licensed cabs.

About half of the local authorities across the country have already deregulated, but controls remain in Exeter and Plymouth.

Those in favour of deregulation say it will increase competition, but opponents fear it could flood the market and clog up the city's streets.

In Exeter, there has been a gradual small increase in the number of hackney carriages.

This is an industry where drivers are still allowed to urinate against the front wheel of their vehicles by law - it's archaic John Preece, Taxifast managing director

But in Plymouth the number of carriages has remained static for about a decade, while the number of private hire vehicles has trebled in the same time.

The OFT says the current laws cause long queues, public disorder and the increased usage of illegal mini-cabs.

They estimate that another 15,000 taxis would take to the streets across the country if the market was freed up.

John Preece, managing director of Taxifast in Plymouth, welcomed the proposals.

"A lot of the hackney drivers have a dinosaur instinct about the past," he said.

Clogging streets

"This is an industry where drivers are still allowed to urinate against the front wheel of their vehicles by law. It's archaic.

"It's good to see the Office of Fair Trading has eventually looked at it and come up with the idea to deregulate and make them compete.

"When that happens people will have a choice and that will make an improvement to the taxi industry."

But Exeter city councillor Richard Branston warned that he would not be happy with too many taxis potentially clogging the city's streets.

"I would not like to see taxis cruising around the city centre causing congestion and pollution. The city is already heavily congested.

"The other problem for the council would be where do you put all these taxis?"