DESPITE apps like Uber shaking up the taxi industry, new figures show the number of private hire cabs across Bournemouth and Poole have declined in the past decade.

There are two main kinds of licensed vehicles in the trade – traditional taxis, which can be hailed from the street, in the conurbation’s case only from designated taxi ranks, and private hire vehicles which need to be pre-booked.

Department for Transport figures show private hire vehicles, also known as minicabs, accounted for 51 per cent of hireable vehicles in Bournemouth in March – down from 60 per cent a decade before.

Overall, 260 minicabs were licensed to work in the area in March, compared to 381 a decade before.

In Poole private hire taxis accounted for 63 per cent of hireable vehicles in March – down from 70 per cent a decade before.

Overall, 147 minicabs were licensed to work in the area in March, compared to 181 a decade before.

Meanwhile, Department for Transport figures show private hire vehicles accounted for 54 per cent of hireable vehicles in Christchurch in March – up from just 18 per cent a decade before.

Overall, 160 minicabs were licensed to work in the area in March, compared to 22 a decade before.

Although minicabs remain more popular, the drop in the share of licences taken by minicabs bucks the trend across England and Wales.

Of the 302,000 licences recorded across the two nations in March, 75 per cent were held by minicabs, compared to 67 per cent ten years earlier. Uber, and other companies that provide mobile ride-hailing services, have become increasingly popular in recent years – their drivers require private hire licences.

However, the Local Government Association (LGA) is calling for new powers to help councils regulate the taxi industry following the rise of ride-hailing apps across England and Wales, to ensure taxi drivers are protected.

A recent government-commissioned study also found the rise of ride-hailing apps has led to more minicab drivers working completely outside their licensed area.

Simon Blackburn, chairman of the LGA’s safer and stronger communities board, said councils have long called for an overhaul of taxi laws “in an era when mobile phone technology is significantly changing the way people access private hire vehicles”.

He added: “The government has said it is committed to reforming taxi licensing – it now needs to bring forward new legislation which addresses the need for national minimum standards.”

A Department for Transport spokesman said: “The government has consulted on a wide range of measures, including new driver safety standards to ensure passenger safety, and will publish its response in due course.”