Taxi drivers have won an initial victory in their fight to re-introduce strict limits on vehicle numbers.

Watford Borough Council, which scrapped a limit on licence numbers back in 2006, agreed last night to re-examine its policy.

When the limit was abandoned (to improve competition) just 81 Hackney Carriages operated in the town. A total of 287 were on the road as of March.

The Hackney Carriage Drivers Association has claimed that, as a result, its members are struggling to make a living form the trade and has requested a reintroduction of the limit.

Although the move has long been opposed by the council, it has now agreed to commission an unmet demand survey to better assess how man taxis the town needs.

Association chairman Shafiq Ahmed, who spoke at a council meeting last night, said: “The survey will show what we have been saying for so long – that there are too many taxis in Watford and that the problems with over-ranking and traffic would be solved by restricting numbers.

“The impact on drivers has been huge. In Luton they have got 165 licences and have an airport and a university to serve. We’ve got Watford junction.”

The survey will be carried out in the coming months.

Councillor Jan Brown, chairman of the council’s licensing committee, explained: “The decision in 2006 was right at the time after five years it is time to have another look at it.”