THE same number of private hire vehicles are transporting passengers through Basingstoke and Deane's streets as before the coronavirus pandemic, new figures show.

But the GMB Union said running taxis and pre-booked cars has become more expensive due to a "perfect storm" of problems, including the cost-of-living crisis, the coronavirus pandemic and licensing issues.

Department for Transport figures show there were 285 private hire vehicles in Basingstoke and Deane as of March – in line with the year before and March 2020.

Across England and Wales, the total number of private vehicles increased in the last year following a significant drop in 2021 – though it is still well below the number of vehicles on the roads before the pandemic.

There were 236,000 private hire vehicles in 2020, dropping to 197,000 last year before rebounding to 208,000 this year.

A spokesperson from Delta Cars said: "My experience has been that it's been pretty steady. If anything, the quality's got higher as there are more drivers that, as a result of the pandemic, are needing more money and income.

"I think the cost of living is certainly deterring customers but for many, the services we provide are essential."

Yaseen Aslam, president of the App Drivers and Couriers Union, which represents private hire drivers, said: "A lot of people stopped driving during the pandemic as they became couriers and decided it was more cost-effective.

Mr Aslam said low pay sometimes attached to working for a private hire vehicle company is another issue, adding that a cap on the total number of licensed drivers should be introduced to protect against increasingly lower fares.

He said: "When they try and make it unlimited, it is not sustainable."

The number of taxis in Basingstoke and Deane has fallen throughout the last few years, from 55 in 2020 to 43 in 2022.

Of the taxis available in March, all were wheelchair accessible, while one private hire vehicle offered disabled access.

The figures also show there are now 311 licences for taxi and private hire drivers in the area – below 365 in 2020.

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