Some interesting reading here, but in principle nothing that hasn't been done to death over the years - if it's not the age-rule debate per se, it's now the associated emissions stuff (if they're actually formal age rules, then in effect they're often effectively the same in terms of application).
And these are all the photos illustrating the website piece - which I've included to beg the question, why two near-identical mugshots of the driver, one of the demo and two of councillors, but no proper photo of the vehicle that's central to the whole piece?
Anyway, if his Tourneo is 11-years-old at present, it would be 13 by the time the rule comes in - I wonder how long he intends keeping it?
Private hire driver says new vehicle age restriction rule for Thanet will ‘wipe out’ business and result in cabbies ‘quitting’https://theisleofthanetnews.com/2025/12 ... -quitting/
Image: The Isle of Thanet NewsVehicle age restrictions in Thanet council’s new Hackney Carriage and Private Hire Policy will result in ‘isle drivers quitting, sky high fares for customers and fewer cabs on the road,’ says one business boss.
Andy Gifford, who runs Andy’s Airport Cars, says the vehicle age policy will ‘wipe out’ his business and he is willing to take the case to judicial review if necessary.
The restriction is contained in a new policy for drivers and operators in Thanet, which is expected to receive approval at full council this month and be implemented early next year.
Image: The Isle of Thanet NewsA number of changes have been made to the policy following consultation earlier this year where drivers protested outside the council offices . Amendments include the ditching of a ‘tailored shorts’ dress code but the vehicle age restriction has proved to be a sticking point.
The proposal is:
• For new licence applications the vehicle must not be older than seven years – this is extended from the five years originally proposed.
• Petrol or diesel vehicles: maximum age 10 years (then can no longer be used)
• Hybrid vehicles: maximum age 12 years (then can no longer be used)
• Electric vehicles: no age limit and application fees for EVs have been waived for the period of this policy.
• Unlimited age for fully adapted wheelchair vehicles
• All vehicles must meet Euro 6 emission standards (or equivalent)
A two year transition period is proposed to assist with the financial implications this will have for existing drivers.
Thanet council says the aim of the policy is twofold – vehicle safety and the reduction of pollution through Euro 6 emission standards.
Image: The Isle of Thanet NewsDad-of-two Andy, from Palm Bay, said: “I am a Thanet private-hire driver of 15 years and I run one of the local airport transfer firms. The council’s new vehicle age policy is about to wipe out the business I built from nothing.
“My 11-year-old Ford Tourneo minibus is spotless, triple-MOT’d every year and in constant demand for airport runs, family groups and tourist work – yet within the next 24 months it will be illegal to license.
“A replacement that meets the new rules will cost me £30,000–£45,000, money I simply cannot find on Thanet’s rock-bottom fares.
“I’m not alone. Up to half of the district’s drivers will be forced to hand their badges back because they can’t afford the same massive bill either. The result will be far fewer cabs on the road, much longer waits, sky-high fares and many residents and visitors jumping back into their own cars – making air quality worse, not better.
“Despite clear warnings at the scrutiny meeting (where one councillor openly agreed with us), the council is ploughing ahead with no proper impact assessment and almost no transition time or grandfathering for existing cars.
“This isn’t an environmental policy – it’s economic eviction for hundreds of local drivers and a devastating blow to Thanet’s tourism and everyday transport.
“I have lodged a formal legal objection and will take this to judicial review if necessary, because losing my livelihood after 15 years of serving this community is simply wrong.”
The issue was discussed last month at a council scrutiny meeting, where Andy and other private hire drivers spoke, including Hackney Carriage driver Andrew McMillan who also voiced his concerns in the Summer.
Cllr John Davis told that meeting he welcomed controls but thought the age restriction was ‘onerous.’
Image: The Isle of Thanet NewsHe added: “We are in a situation where vehicles are MOT’d twice a year, so if they pass the emissions and running conditions they are fine and legal.”
He said the rule would put pressure on the welfare of drivers, push up fares and make the service less accessible to the public, adding that is would potentially “cost jobs and leave us with a shortage of divers because they can’t get the finance and arrangements to run these cars.”
Image: The Isle of Thanet NewsCabinet member Cllr Heather Keen said Thanet was ‘already an outlier’ with age restrictions in neighbouring authorities being much stricter, such as Canterbury with a two year rule and Dover with a five year age restriction. She highlighted that existing drivers would have a two year transition period, meaning they will have until 2028 to comply.
It was confirmed the restriction will affect approximately 263 isle drivers. The policy also applies to Uber drivers.
Cllr Alan Currie said many amendments had been made to the policy following consultation and Thanet vehicle age restrictions were ‘less strict than other areas.’
He added: “The majority of drivers and operators I have been in touch with are pretty happy with this policy.”
The scrutiny committee recommended the policy go forward for approval with an addition, proposed by Cllr Davis, that there was a moratorium on the age restrictions until further investigation is carried out.
The policy was approved by Cabinet to go to full council without the moratorium and is expected to be agreed by councillors on December 11.
Mr Gifford says he believes the policy is unlawful because it “constitutes a blanket restriction on a lawful trade without sufficient justification or mitigation.”
He adds: “A sudden seven-year age cap (with two year transition) applied to existing, roadworthy, MOT-compliant vehicles is not a mere condition of licence — it is a de facto exclusion from trade for drivers unable to afford £20,000+ replacements. This is precisely the kind of arbitrary barrier condemned in common law.”
Thanet has 117 Hackney Carriage drivers, 581 private hire drivers and 61 private hire operators.
Thanet council does not currently have a policy in place which brings all Hackney Carriage and Private Hire Licensing together in one document.
The authority says it has a statutory duty to ensure the safety of any taxi or private hire customer and wants to “ensure all licensed vehicles are safe, comfortable, insured and are driven by safe, professional and competent drivers.”
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