Taxi drivers allowed adverts in cars

The olive branch handed to drivers will be strictly enforced however - it can only be an advert of their own taxi firm.

Licensing bosses have refused to allow drivers to make profit from advertising other companies on the back of their cab, despite a call to go all the way.

The city council believes a subtle rule change will allow taxi drivers to drum up more custom, and that it will help residents identify their taxi more quickly.

The policy change was announced by the licensing committee after a long debate about the merits of it.

Until now all back windows had to be clear of adverts, both for safety reasons and for taste.Two applications from taxi firms to allow it led to a fiery discussion about whether the rule book needs to "move with the times".

Coun Ian Imray, chair of licensing, said: "Our policy at the moment is that this is not allowed, and we've got to look at it and say is this a form of advertising or simply recognition'?

"I'd suggest anything that attracts business is advertising. Big logos on the side of Sainsbury's lorries, for example - that's advertising."

Coun David Tibbutt said a change in the rules should be adopted as long as officers can check cabs to make sure each one is complying with the rule change properly.

He said: "Could I propose that we allow advertising on taxi cars as long as it refers to the taxi company only?

"Officers could check it out to make sure that's the case, so taxi cars could not advertise anything else."

Coun Simon Cronin said: "I think either go all the way with this or not at all. Maybe we should allow advertising on the back of taxi cars."

After a vote, a new policy was enforced allowing taxi cabs to advertise themselves on the rear view window.

Each advert can include the firm name, telephone number and website, and will need to be checked by officers.

The adverts will need to be contravision' style - meaning they cannot be seen from inside the taxi and will not block the drivers view.