A proposed change to taxi zones in North Northamptonshire has been approved.

There are currently four zones that cover the former council areas of Corby, Wellingborough, Kettering and East Northamptonshire.

A consultation ran from late 2023 to early 2024 on whether they should be retained or replaced with a single zone covering the whole of North Northamptonshire.

Hackney carriage drivers have claimed a new enlarged taxi zone would be unworkable because they would struggle to learn all the streets.

Of the responses to the consultation, 54 agreed with the proposal to create a single zone while 143 disagreed.

At a meeting of North Northamptonshire Council’s executive on Thursday, David Brackenbury, executive member for growth and regeneration, said: “I do understand the concerns of the trade, I do understand the special status that Corby has… I know Corby has always tended to be a black-cab town.

“This is about de-zoning… The knowledge test is not part of the discussion today. That will come to a future meeting.”

There are 228 hackney carriages licensed in North Northamptonshire, with half of them working in Corby.

Neil Reilly, a taxi driver in Corby since 2013, said: “Most drivers in the Corby area are due to renew their badge next year.

“Many are approaching or past retirement age and have no interest in renewing. The costs involved in getting a badge, on top of the knowledge test, is putting drivers off applying.”

Taxi driver Ian Robb addressed Thursday’s meeting and said: “I find it very difficult to say anything positive… You’ve ignored our representations… The consultation clearly shows there is no desire to de-zone but you intend to go ahead anyhow.”

The four current zones will be scrapped and replaced with a single zone from 1 April 2025.