QUEUES of taxis from the bottom of Unicorn Hill to Easemore Road have prompted drivers to call for Redditch Council to stop issuing licences.

Redditch Taxi Association chairman Araf Mohammed said there were now more than 200 taxis operating in the town because it was so easy to get a licence.

The problem has arisen after the council decided to lift a restriction which only allowed a maximum of 38 taxis in the town.

Mr Mohammed said: "There are far too many taxis. There is not enough room for them all.

"There are a lot of drivers coming from out of town to work here.

"In other areas, it can be quite hard to get a licence but in Redditch it is easy."

He added: "The test drivers have to pass should be more difficult.

"The new written test is not as hard as we would like and doesn't go into enough detail.

"Drivers should also have to get a higher percentage to pass."

Mr Mohammed said taxi drivers' English had to be up to scratch and having someone who couldn't speak the language was pointless.

"We are trying our utmost to get the council to put a stop to issuing so many licences. It needs to be much stricter," he added.

Meanwhile, plans to move taxis from a temporary rank on Unicorn Hill to Bates Hill have met with protest from the drivers.

Mr Mohammed believes there is not enough room for all the taxis and it could prove hazardous trying to get out of the junction if night-time revellers are filling the road.

Council licensing officer Eddie Isaacs said three years ago the council lifted the restriction on the number of taxis.

He said: "It is now driven by market forces. We are aware of the concerns of taxi drivers and we're looking into it.

"The proposal regarding the rank on Unicorn Hill still has to go to full council before a final decision.

"It was only meant to be temporary. The highways authority has now asked us to return Unicorn Hill to parking for the shops."