TAXI drivers in Rossendale are threatening to go on strike if the council does not agree to change its licensing policy.

The 230 members of Rossendale Taxi Association are concerned that their personal information could get into ‘the wrong hands’ if new regulations are carried.

Rossendale Council’s licensing committee passed a motion allowing a private company to carry out taxi drivers’ Criminal Record Bureau and DVLA checks.

This allows the firm to hold their names, addresses, dates of birth and other private details.

David Lawrie, chairman of the Rossendale Taxi Association, has called the ruling a ‘very dangerous thing’ and said his group would take strike action if the decision was not quashed over the DVLA checks.

However, Coun Sean Serridge, deputy leader of the council and cabinet member for customers, legal and licensing, said using private companies to issue checks was routine procedure.

A meeting was held between the borough authority and taxi chiefs yesterday to prevent a strike.

Before the talks, Mr Lawrie said: “All the taxi drivers in the borough will be going on strike if the council don’t back down on this very dangerous thing.

“We will be forced to give our personal details over to a company who could share them with whoever they want. They could get into the wrong hands and our members are very concerned about it.

“It is a cost-cutting measure by the council, but these are corners that shouldn’t be cut.”

Coun Serridge said: “Most government agencies use companies to perform these checks. For instance, many councils in Lancashire use Capita to process their CRB checks.

“The council will not allow people’s private information to go into the hands of companies who could misuse them.

“It is perfectly legal and safe.”

If the ruling goes ahead, the changes will be brought in on August 1. It has not yet been disclosed which company will be contracted to manage the process.