TAXI drivers are planning to take industrial action next week in protest over what they claim is the council’s “unfair” licensing policy.

Earlier this year town hall chiefs carried out a review which resulted in a number of drivers having their licences revoked after historical convictions were discovered.

The review followed the child grooming scandals in Rochdale and Rotherham, in which taxi drivers were implicated in child sexual exploitation.

Town hall chiefs say they are keeping the public safe with a “robust approach” to private hire and hackney carriage licensing.

But drivers and operators complain they are being “tarred with the same brush” and licences are being revoked or refused for relatively minor offences or those committed several years ago.

And they are gearing up to take industrial action next week – possibly in the form of a slow drive or a blockade of the town hall – to make their point.

Asif Vali, chairman of the Private Hire Operators Association, said: “Drivers in Bolton are upset the council is bringing in historical issues, problems that have take place in the past, back to licensing meetings.

“When it comes to sexual exploitation of any nature that individual is not a fit and proper person, we have been clear on that.

“However they are tarnishing everybody with the same brush for minor traffic issues, complaints, motoring offences, just minor stuff.

And Mr Vali believes someone who committed a non-sexual assault 20 years ago, should not have it held against them.

He added: “How can you revoke it after 20 years? The council themselves have given that person a second chance.”

But Cllr Nick Peel, cabinet member for environmental services, said the council’s approach was the right one.

He said: “The licensing authority in Bolton is determined to do its best to get rid of that small minority of drivers who are giving the rest bad name, and if the Private Hire Association thinks that by taking strike action it will deter us then they have got it completely wrong.

“Drivers are in an incredibly unique position where they are often alone with sometimes vulnerable people and in Bolton we expect the highest of standards from our drivers. The decisions made are entirely in line with our tough, zero-tolerance policy.”

He believes the public will back the council in any dispute.

He said: “The public mood is ‘we want to feel safe’. The majority of our drivers have never had any issues. They just get on with the job and provide an excellent service. But there are a minority of existing drivers and new applicants we don’t deem to be fit and proper persons to be driving taxis in Bolton.”

In January a man who made a teenager pregnant while a private hire driver was refused a taxi licence because of concerns over his history of violent and inappropriate behaviour.

And last month a taxi driver has had his licence revoked after a sexual assault allegation was made against him.

Bolton taxi drivers staged a strike in December ay to try to force bosses to raise fares, claiming they are earning less than the minimum wage.