Local taxi firms fearing lay-offs and a crippling bill for new vehicles expressed relief after controversial council plans to change licensing requirements were shelved.

Taxi drivers in Abergavenny had grave concerns over Monmouthshire County Council proposals to limit the age of taxis, which would have forced one firm to lay-off two employees and find £25,000 to replace three vehicles.

After concerted pressure from local taxi firms, and the Chronicle, council plans to force through the measures were canned in a heated licensing meeting on March 22.

The regulations would have stopped new licenses for vehicles over five years old, whilst those over ten years old would not have been relicensed.

One local cab driver said the changes would have forced him to make redundancies and forfeit contracts, and replacing his current vehicles to meet the age limit would cost upwards of £25,000.

Peter Banfield, known locally as ‘Turkey’, said he was glad MCC ‘had seen sense’ and that he could ‘breath a sigh of relief’, after the council backtracked.

A council document said proposals would ensure taxis met a ‘high standard’ so ‘passengers have a comfortable and pleasant journey’, something local firms rejected outright as unnecessary.

Mr Banfield, who has been driving taxis for 20 years, said his current fleet passes three MOTs each year, and each vehicle is valeted weekly.

“I could not afford to go and get three vehicles. Not a chance in the world. You don’t need a 13-plate vehicle to have a comfortable ride. There’s obviously nothing wrong with vehicles that pass three MOTs a year,” he said.

Nigel Webb, representative for local taxi drivers, said the changes would have likely hit a lot of firms hard, forcing some to pack in their businesses.

“It would affect local trade. Most of these boys in town are a one-man operation, they’re scratching to make a living now. They would never be able to do it. I’ve been doing this for 37 years and I’ve never known anything like this,” he said.

Both welcomed the decision, and pressed MCC to limit cab numbers, like neighbouring councils, saying that ‘out-of-towners’ squeezed trade for local cabbies.

Monmouthshire County Council scrapped the plans after local taxi drivers vocally opposed the measures, saying it would force some drivers into unemployment and cause others to lose lucrative contracts.

Amendments made by MCC will no longer involve vehicle age restrictions, but taxis will still face more regular safety checks as vehicles get older.

Principal Licensing Officer, Linda O’Gorman said: “We listened to what local taxi drivers have said and have consequently amended our proposals. Following consultation, we have retained our policy placing no restrictions on the age of the vehicle and, in addition, to ensure safety we will carry on testing vehicles more frequently as they age.

“As before, vehicles over a year and under five years old will be tested annually, between five years and under 10 years old they will be tested every six months and vehicles over 10 years old will be tested every four months.”