Proposed taxi test changes for Dacorum slammed as '˜atrocious'

Recommendations, due to be discussed by a Licensing and Health and Safety Enforcement Committee tonight, include scrapping the ‘knowledge test’.

But Tabrez Khan, chairman of the Dacorum Hackney and Private Hire Association, thinks the prospect of dropping the test for drivers is ‘atrocious’.

He has gathered more than 180 signatures as part of a petition against the proposals.

Mr Khan said: “It goes against the fundamental part of being a taxi driver.

“Against the fact that the public should have trust in drivers having adequate knowledge of routes and places.

“This will damage the trade in its entirety as it would allow many more drivers when there was no need.

“We feel very upset by this.”

Mr Khan, who was due to attend last night’s meeting, is calling for a means-test study to show there are already “too many taxis in Dacorum.”

He said there are currently more than 450 drivers – including for Uber – who are operating in Dacorum.

A Dacorum Borough Council spokesman said: “As this is due to be discussed at this evening’s meeting, we will not be able to provide a comment.”