06-05-2025
Perth and Kinross Council seeks public's views on taxi provision in Perth
It wants thoughts on whether to raise the limit on taxi numbers or remove it altogether
Perth and Kinross Council (PKC) wants to hear what members of the public and the taxi/private hire trade think about the number of taxis currently available in the Fair City.
The local authority has launched a public consultation on whether to allow 24 more taxis in Perth or remove the limit altogether.
It comes after a recent survey concluded there was a "significant" shortage of taxis in Perth.
The Perth Taxi Unmet Demand Survey - carried out by LVSA in December 2024 - recommended PKC's cap on taxis in the city increase from 80 to 104.
In March 2025, Perth and Kinross Licensing Committee unanimously approved a public consultation on the matter.
The 2024 Perth Taxi Unmet Demand Survey found that while the total number of observed hires of taxis from Perth ranks was lower in 2024 than 2017, the number of people who had to wait for a taxi was "significantly higher". More people were waiting despite the number of taxis having increased from 75 in 2017 to 80 in 2024.
It also found that disabled passengers - particularly wheelchair users - faced increased difficulties.
As part of the public consultation, PKC wants to know if members of the public have a preference on what sort of vehicles they would like to see granted new taxi licences. The public and taxi trade is being asked if it would like to see only wheelchair accessible vehicles, only electric, both or any granted a licence.
A PKC spokesperson said: "Whether the council raises the number of taxi licences in Perth by 24 licences or removes the cap altogether (to allow for unlimited taxi licences) will have an impact on people who currently have a taxi.
"This is why we are asking the taxi trade as well as members of the public to make their preference known by completing this short consultation. We are making sure everyone's voice is heard before a decision can be made about which option the council should adopt."
The consultation will close on June 2. The feedback collected in the consultation, along with additional information, will be reported back to PKC's Licensing Committee for consideration at a future meeting.
