DRIVERS of private hire cars have accused Watford Council of sponsoring "anti-competitive" business practices, and warned they will join companies outside the town unless action is taken.

Drivers are calling for an end to "business discrimination" and about 60 of them took their protest to a meeting of Watford Council recently.

A spokesman for Watford Private Hire Drivers Association (WPHDA) said Hackney Carriage or taxi drivers were being given unfair advantages.

Private Hire cars are not considered "proper taxis" and cannot pick up customers on the street.

They are not allowed to wait at taxi ranks, including the newly built one near Sainsbury's in Albert Road South.

Despite this, the council has proposed a 240 per cent increase in Private Hire licence costs which will mean they pay £203, the same as taxi drivers.

WPHDA said the rise had to be reassessed. It was also critical of plans to stop private hire drivers picking up customers at The Parade, claiming there was a shortage of cars at weekends.

The group were backed by Labour Councillor Rashid Choudhrey, who said private hire drivers were "treated very badly" and seen as "untouchable".

He warned that if drivers left the town for neighbouring authorities, they would still be able to work in Watford, but the Council would not benefit from licence charges.

In Three Rivers District Council, a vehicle licence costs more than £100 less. The vital driver licence is also £100 cheaper.

Liberal Democrats and Conservatives also said the Council should "go back to the drawing board" and drop the proposed price increase.

Councillor Brian Graham, executive board member for transport, refused to back down, saying the law was on his side.

He said the present system meant Council Taxpayers gave a £43,000 subsidy to drivers. The plans will reduce this to £6,000.

Increased charges will also allow the Council to have more licence inspectors, to stop fraudulent and unsafe drivers posing as legitimate carriers.