TROTTING TAXI: Council mulls over horse-drawn taxi carriages in unusual licensing talks

Image credit: DALL.E (AI generated)

A recent meeting of the Pendle Borough Council Taxi Licensing Committee at Nelson Town Hall has brought an unusual proposal to the table: the introduction of licensed horse-drawn carriages to the town’s Hackney carriage fleet.

The committee, led by Councillor Newman, gathered on 12 August 2024 to discuss the feasibility and framework for such a service.

The committee reviewed a report submitted by the Assistant Director of Planning, Building Control and Regulatory Services, which proposed an amendment to the town's taxi licensing policy. The current limit of 71 Hackney carriage licences would need to be extended to accommodate four new licences solely for non-motorised, horse-drawn vehicles.

If adopted, the council would introduce specific conditions for these horse-drawn carriages. This would include a table of fares, which was also presented to the committee. The fare structure, designed to reflect the unique nature of the service, would be advertised to the public for feedback under the Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1976.

The committee recommended that the Council amend the taxi policy to issue these new licences, potentially bringing a touch of tradition back to Nelson’s streets. The decision now moves to the Executive for final approval.

This potential addition to Nelson’s transport options could offer both a tourist draw and a nostalgic twist, but the proposal’s success will ultimately depend on public reception and council approval.