TAXIS older than 10 years have been refused a licence.

Calderdale Council this week rejected applications from three private hire vehicles.

The council told the taxi drivers they need to ensure that their vehicles are maintained “to the highest standard” if they want to continue running them beyond 10 years old.

Members of Calderdale Council’s Licensing and Regulatory Committee said none of the vehicles were deemed to be in a suitable condition and all of the applications to renew licences were refused.

Clr Pat Allen, chairman of Calderdale’s Licensing and Regulatory Committee, said: “The whole committee wants to make it clear that the safety of the public is absolutely paramount and we expect very high standards.

“These are difficult times for all businesses and the council recognised this when it changed its policy so that private hire vehicle proprietors did not need to change their vehicles once the cars reached 10 years old.

“But our main priority is the safety and the comfort of the public and we will only allow proprietors to extend their licences beyond the vehicle’s 10th anniversary if they are in the very best condition.”

In 2008 the Licensing and Regulatory Committee changed its policy so that a vehicle could continue to be licensed beyond the maximum age of 10 years, provided the vehicle was able to pass the Council’s mechanical test.