Staying Safe and Legal: A Guide to Taxis and Private Hire for Cheltenham Festival Goers
Every March, the Cheltenham Festival transforms this Gloucestershire town into the epicentre of the racing world, drawing over 100,000 enthusiastic racegoers. With such a significant influx of visitors, securing safe and legitimate transport is paramount. Local authorities, led by Cheltenham Borough Council and supported by multiple partner agencies, have issued crucial guidance for anyone using app-based private hire services like Uber during the event. Their advice centres on one core principle: always confirm your booking and know your driver’s licensing details.
Understanding the Rules for Private Hire Vehicles
The fundamental rule for private hire vehicles (PHVs), including those booked via apps, is that they must be pre-booked through a licensed operator. It is illegal for these drivers to pick up passengers who hail them on the street or wait at taxi ranks. To ensure your journey is lawful and insured, councils strongly advise passengers to: confirm the trip shows as a confirmed booking in your app before entering the vehicle, check that the car displays a valid local authority licence plate, and verify the driver is wearing a visible badge showing their licence number. The driver should also be able to confirm your booking details.
Why Noting the Licensing Authority Matters
With thousands of drivers from across the region converging on Cheltenham, your vehicle’s licence plate and driver’s badge will display the council that issued the licence—be it Cheltenham, Gloucester, Tewkesbury, or another authority. This detail is critically important. Any complaint about a private hire driver or vehicle must be directed to the council that issued the licence, not necessarily the council where the journey occurred. To facilitate a proper investigation, officials recommend making a note of the vehicle’s registration number, licence plate, and the issuing council’s name. If you feel unsafe, gathering as much information as possible, including photographs where safe to do so, is advised before reporting the issue.
Enforcement and Zero Tolerance
Cheltenham Borough Council has declared a zero-tolerance policy towards illegal taxi and private hire activity during festival week. Cllr Victoria Atherstone, Cabinet Member for Safety and Communities, stated: “We would like to advise Cheltenham Festival racegoers to familiarise themselves with the locations of taxis and private hire vehicles around Cheltenham before arrival, to make your trip easier and safer. The council is dedicated to a zero-tolerance policy regarding unlawful taxi and private hire activities. Unlicensed drivers tempted to operate illegally, as well as licensed drivers seeking to accept cash payments on the side, should be aware that enforcement officers will be monitoring the area through spot checks.”
Drivers found illegally plying for hire face fines of up to £1,000 and potential licence revocation. Michelle Bignell, Licensing and Public Protection Manager at Cheltenham Borough Council, reinforced the message: “Don’t get lured by unlicensed private hire drivers. Book your ride in advance. Failing to do so puts you at risk of travelling in an uninsured vehicle, and the driver would be acting unlawfully. We want everyone to arrive home safely, starting with securing a licensed vehicle.”
What to Do If You Haven’t Pre-Booked
For those without a pre-arranged ride, the only legal options are to use an authorised taxi rank or hail a hackney carriage (traditional black taxi) licensed by Cheltenham Borough Council. These vehicles are easily identified by a white roof light displaying the word “TAXI”. They can be hired on the street and are subject to a different, meter-based fare regulation.
This multi-agency operation, involving Cheltenham Borough Council, Gloucestershire Constabulary, Avon and Somerset Constabulary, Tewkesbury Borough Council, and neighbouring authorities, will be actively monitoring vehicles throughout race week to ensure compliance and public safety.
Image Credit: www.taxi-point.co.uk
