Uniforms for cabbies suggested in Rochdale

Friday, 22 August 2025 12:20

By George Lythgoe

The idea of cabbies having a dress code in Rochdale has been floated by town hall bosses.

As the council’s cabinet approved a new taxi emissions policy, Coun Shah Wazir questioned whether a new uniform for cabbies could be brought in. The highways boss felt that ‘first impressions count’, so making taxi drivers look smarter could help boost the town’s image amongst visitors.

Coun Wazir said: “When people visiting the borough arrive at the train station for example, usually taxi drivers are their first point of contact. First impressions count.

“Is it possible for us to have a dress code for taxi drivers so they can be easily recognised.”

The council officer at the meeting in Number One Riverside admitted there had been no progress on this idea since Coun Wazir mentioned it last year. There are currently no plans in place, but the officer said his team would look into it.

The town hall meeting went on to approve an implementation date for when all taxis and private hire vehicles had to be up to date with emissions standards. By August 31, 2030 all licensed cabbies must be a minimum of Euro 6 diesel cars (vehicles newer than September 2015) or Euro 4 petrol cars (vehicles newer than January 2006).

This forms part of the Greater Manchester Clean Air Plan, which aims to have 100 per cent of its taxi and private hire fleet licensed to a Greater Manchester Council compliant with the emissions standard.

Currently 345 out of 1,852 vehicles licensed in Rochdale are non-compliant with the standards being implemented in five years’ time. Council bosses heard on August 21 how the taxi trade has welcomed the scheme, as it opens up potential for government funding of £8m across Greater Manchester to help upgrade their vehicles.