TAXPAYERS have been landed with a �23,000 court bill after rules introduced to bring uniformity to Welwyn Hatfield’s taxi trade were deemed unreasonable.

Despite uproar among taxi drivers, the borough council had brought in the terms and conditions to make travelling safer for passengers.

These included vehicles having to display a council sticker, drivers with six points on their licence having to re-sit their taxi assessment, and a certificate of insurance current cover note being carried in the car at all times.

But furious taxi drivers – both Hackney Carriage (allowed to pick up from the rank) and private-hire (pre-book only) – disagreed with the imposition and sought court action, claiming the rules would harm their businesses.

The case was heard at West Hertfordshire Magistrates’ Court, where a district judge ruled in the taxi drivers’ favour.

Costs of �23,000 were awarded against the council.

For reaction to this story, see today’s Welwyn Hatfield Times.