TAXI DRIVERS who have been severely affected by the pandemic will be able to claim a one-off grant.

Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council has announced the one-off grant payment of £500 for taxi drivers from monies allocated from Central Government.

Councillor Parwaiz Akhtar is the Chair of the taxi drivers’ forum. He said: "I am delighted the Council is helping the taxi trade at this extremely difficult time.

"Like a lot of businesses, they are struggling to make ends meet. It is important to support the trade now so there is a viable trade ready to go when restrictions start to be lifted."

Since the start of the pandemic, the Council’s Discretionary Grant Programme has supported more than 600 local businesses, including people who are self-employed. The Council has so far issued discretionary grants with a combined value of over £3.5million, in a bid to protect jobs and livelihoods.

The Council recognises that restrictions on travel, as well as the closure of many venues across the hospitality and leisure sectors, have reduced overall demand for taxi services over much of the last year.

Councillor Phil Riley, Senior Deputy Council Leader and Executive Member for Growth and Development, said: "Whilst the Government’s road map gives us all hope that restrictions will be eased, businesses of all sizes and sectors continue to face significant challenges. As well as businesses required to close due to the national lockdown, these challenges are also being felt by those in the supply chain.

"Taxi drivers, like many who rely on trade from the travel, hospitality and leisure sectors, have been severely impacted, and I’m pleased that the Council is implementing support through its Discretionary grant programme.

"The Council is also continuing to make further grant payments covering the period to the 31st March 2021 to businesses which are mandated to close and those who can still trade but are impacted as a result of the ongoing national lockdown."

To be eligible for the Taxi Driver Covid-19 support grant, a driver must be a resident of Blackburn with Darwen, hold an existing Taxi Driver licence issued by Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council, and be able to provide evidence of trading since September 2020. In addition, documentation allowing the Council to verify the applicant’s bank account details (for any grant payable) will also be required.

Councillor Quesir Mahmood, Deputy Council Leader and Executive Member for Digital and Customer Services, added: "By listening to the local trade bodies, local drivers and taxi operators, there is no doubt in my mind that the borough’s resident hardworking taxi drivers will have found the past months extremely challenging – I am happy that we can offer this crucial financial support in their time of need."

Applications can be made online via the Council’s website from 9am on Tuesday (March 2), and will close at 11.59pm on Sunday March 14.