With nearly 1,000 taxis licensed in Salford, a call has been made for the ‘broken’ taxi licensing system to have local control.
The call comes after Mayor of Greater Manchester Andy Burnham critcised England’s “broken” taxi licensing laws, demanding greater local control to tackle the surge in out-of-area vehicles operating.
The changes could have a major impact on local residents and drivers for the future.
This is significant with figures showing that almost half of private hire vehicles operating in Greater Manchester are now licensed by authorities outside of the region.
Many of the regions taxis are licensed to Wolverhampton Council, meaning the figure has increased from under 7,000 in 2023 to over 12,000 in 2025.
Burnham said: “Local leaders have zero oversight over nearly half the private hire vehicles on our streets, with no relationship with the drivers, no levers to enforce the standards we want and no control over the numbers of taxis serving our communities.”
The Mayor of Greater Manchester is also demanding that the government devolve taxi licensing powers through the English Devolution Bill, arguing that more local control will improve safety, standards, and support drivers.
“We want to guarantee our residents that if they’re getting in a Greater Manchester taxi – no matter how they book it – it’s one that meets high standards we expect across all public transport.”
The campaign, Backing our Taxis: Local. Licensed. Trusted is also launching a 12-week review of Greater Manchester’s licensing approach.
The review, led by Trafford Council’s Chief Executive Sara Todd, will include roundtables, surveys, and interviews with local drivers.
Mayor Andy Burnham said: “We’re today kickstarting in-depth discussions with the trade.
“We want to get under the bonnet of the issues that affect them.”
He added: “This is as much about making Greater Manchester the best place to be a taxi driver – and safeguarding the livelihoods of our cab drivers – as it is about passengers.”
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