A CHANGE in regulations to crack down on out-of-area cabbies working in the district has seen the number plummet further – from ten operators six months ago to just one, it has emerged.

In June the Telegraph & Argus reported that after new rules were implemented this year, the number of private hire cars in the district which held hackney carriage licences from Rossendale in Lancashire had halved to about 100.

Bradford Council said the number had now fallen even further, from ten operators to just one, on the back of the continuing action.

The practice of “cross-border” cabbies, where vehicles licensed as a hackney carriage in one district take private hire bookings in another area, was highlighted last year when Bradford Council deputy leader Councillor Val Slater urged the public not to get into cabs licensed in Rossendale, because of safety fears.

She said Rossendale had different rules to Bradford, and cars registered as hackney carriages there were also immune from safety spot-checks by Bradford’s licensing enforcement team.

New regulations introduced earlier this year in Bradford stipulate that advance bookings taken for hackney carriage vehicles licensed by another authority and operating as private hire cabs must be maintained in a separate register of bookings.

In addition,a separate telephone line and number must be used with a recorded message stating that the driver and vehicle is not licensed by Bradford Council.

Furthermore, Rossendale Council introduced an an “intended use” policy earlier this year, where anyone applying or renewing a licence would be asked where they planned to work.

Drivers saying they wanted to work outside of that borough would be unlikely to be granted a licence.

Councillor Sarah Ferriby, who has taken over the executive responsibility for hackney carriage and private hire, welcomed the reduction.

She said: “I’m pleased that our and Rossendale’s determined efforts to tackle this problem have been so successful and we remain committed to ensuring that this issue does not re-emerge.”

Stuart Hastings, of Keighley Private Hire Association, also confirmed that the numbers of “out of area” drivers had dropped significantly.

“The new rules from Bradford Council essentially ‘did for’ the Rossendale drivers. People in Bradford were using Rossendale as a short-cut to get a licence because it was much easier as the tests and checks were not hard as in Bradford.

“They could also use vehicles that are restricted in Bradford.

“But the separate bookings and phone line has made a big difference – there are very few Rossendale-licensed drivers working here now in comparison.”

Keighley Public Transport Watch chairman Michael Westerman, said: “We’re seeing less and less “cross border” activity, and it isn’t a major problem here any more.

“They’ve been clamping down on this in Rossendale and their own enforcement officers are now working closely with Bradford’s enforcement officers. It’s a big step forward.”