PEOPLE in West Yorkshire have hundreds fewer taxi and private hire vehicles to choose from than they did before the pandemic, new figures suggest.

The National Private Hire and Taxi Association (NPHTA) said the huge drop in the number of licensed vehicles across England was because of the "sheer absence" of any financial support from the Government.

Department for Transport figures show that 11,980 vehicles were licensed to operate in West Yorkshire at the end of March, a figure down from 13,565 the year before.

Across England, the number of licensed vehicles dropped from 298,800 to 251,100 over the same period - a fall of 16 per cent.

In Bradford, Better Taxi Action Group also said that as many as “30 to 40 per cent” of taxi drivers in the city have decided to go and work in Leeds instead, creating a shortage of drivers in the district, which is leading to “longer waiting times and higher fares”.

The NPHTA added that many of its members have left the industry and moved to delivery driving.

David Lawrie, NPHTA Director, said: "Due to the sheer absence of any financial support for the taxi and private hire industry, many have had to go on benefits, and many have had to find alternative work in order to keep a roof over their heads and feed their families.

"They have felt abandoned, unappreciated, unsupported, kicked into the long grass and forgotten about."

He called on the Government to offer more targeted financial support while the trade is "clutching at straws" to keep going.

Asif Shah, Chair of Better Taxi Action Group, added that there is now a shortage of taxi drivers in Bradford, an issue which will impact “the whole district".

He added that many drivers have “had no choice” but to “find work elsewhere", due a “lack of demand” for taxis during the pandemic.

He also said that around 30 to 40 per cent of Bradford taxi drivers have decided to take their trade over to Leeds instead.

“There's been an increase in demand for delivery drivers, so a lot of taxi drivers have switched trades", he said.

"I don’t think that a lack of funding has really been a problem, as drivers have been given grants - I think there's just been a lack of business.

“One of the bigger issues in Bradford is that a lot of our drivers are leaving here in droves and flying over to Leeds.

"They earn a lot more there, so we keep losing drivers here. It's a massive problem.

“It’s leading to longer waiting times and higher fares, and it could get even worse. School transport will be affected - if taxis go down it affects a lot of people, as taxis are a lifeline to many.

“All trades have ups and downs - like pubs and restaurants, for example. But if a restaurant went down, it wouldn’t affect the whole community as much as a taxi firm closing would.

“The way operators are struggling now, some firms could shut. People in Bradford need to know that they will have to get used to longer waiting times and higher fares.

“I think the Council needs to look at new ways to encourage more people to become taxi drivers and get their licences.

"There needs to be a recruitment drive so we can get more people into the trade."