Bridgend Council consider changes to MOT testing for taxishttps://herald.wales/south-wales/bridge ... for-taxis/BRIDGEND County Borough Council have agreed to look at changes for how taxis in the area get MOT’s and compliance tests done.
The move will see the authority consult on whether or not to allow taxi and private hire vehicles to get MOT and compliance tests at any DVSA approved garage, or keep the current regime of in-house testing at the Ty Thomas Centre on Newlands Avenue.
The report given to members said the current in-house testing offered a number of advantages such as consistency in testing, increased public confidence, and an income generation worth £46,000 per year from the taxi trade.
However, it also said there were disadvantages to having the service in-house as there were a limited number of testing slots available which reduced flexibility, and stopped proprietors shopping around for the best deal.
It added that as Ty Thomas are a local authority garage they are “unable to carry out repairs on vehicles, therefore if vehicles fail, proprietors must take them to another garage for the repair and then get them re-tested at Ty Thomas.”
Speaking at the meeting Cllr Malcolm James said he had spoken to a number of taxi drivers in the Llynfi Valley who were very unhappy with the service as a result of this.
The Ty Thomas Joint Vehicle Maintenance facility is based in Brackla Industrial estate and is shared between South Wales Police and Bridgend County Borough Council for repairs and MOTs on vehicles.
The decision to go out to a public consultation was made at a council licensing committee in February of 2026, following discussion by councillors.
It comes after a previous consultation which officers said didn’t go anywhere as the authority was tied into a contract with Ty Thomas.
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