TAXI drivers could face even longer queues to renew their licences.

Councillors agreed to cut opening hours at taxi licensing office to save money.

Cabbies visit the counter at Riverbank Court in Aspley to renew their licences and badges, book MOTs and fill in Criminal Records Bureau forms.

The Huddersfield office is currently open from 9am to 3.30pm five days a week, while the Dewsbury counter is open from 9am to 3.30pm on Tuesdays and Thursdays.

Kirklees Licensing and Safety Committee agreed yesterday to close the Huddersfield office on Tuesdays and Thursdays.

Councillors voted for the change after hearing that the Dewsbury office gets around 100 visitors in two days – the same amount who go to the Huddersfield office in five days.

But Fayyaz Sayed, of Batley-based taxi company Oakwell, complained about queues at the Dewsbury office.

He told the committee: “You can queue for one-and-a-half hours. When the staff come back from their lunch break there can be 30 drivers waiting.”