Private hire drivers across Telford today said they will not take any action over the Christmas period despite being at loggerheads with council bosses over a proposed hike in licence fees.

Mohammed Zaman, chairman of the Telford Private Hire Drivers’ Association, said there would be no action until January as the dispute between drivers and Telford & Wrekin Council continues.

Last year drivers called off a New Year’s Eve strike at the last minute.

Mr Zaman today said drivers would remain at the wheel until January when “all options” would be on the table – including strike action.

The dispute centres around the borough council’s decision to increase the licence fee for operators who would see their annual fees jump from £462 to £2,495.

There will now be a period of consultation where drivers and operators can make representations to the council’s licensing department.

Mr Zaman said: “We will not be doing anything until January.

“It is going to be a peaceful Christmas and we are going to get on with our job.

“But come January we will be making some big decisions and all options are open for us and we have quite a few.”

Hundreds of private hire drivers from across Telford turned out to protest earlier this month against plans by council chiefs to put fees up.

It was revealed during a meeting of the council’s licensing committee on December 1 that council tax payers were paying more than £40,000 annually to subsidise the cost of operating private hire vehicles in the borough.

The council had said its aim was to reduce the burden on the taxpayer.

Currently a private hire driver’s licence for 12 months costs £125 – but this would rise to £170.

Similarly, a private hire operator’s licence for 51 plus vehicles is currently a flat charge of £462. But under the new rules the flat charge would be £200, plus £45 for every vehicle.

In that situation, operators would see their annual fees jump from £462 to £2,495.

After consultation, if the submissions are deemed relevant they will then be put to the committee, otherwise the hike will be introduced.

By Jason Lavan