THE THORNY issue of whether taxis on the Isle of Wight should be de-zoned was due to come before councillors today.

In 2001, groups including the West Wight Taxi Proprietors' Association and the Isle of Wight Taxi Proprietors' Association both said they were opposed to de-zoning, as it could result in taxi wars.

Taxis on the Island are, at present, licensed by the council to operate only within geographic zones, preventing them picking up customers who hail them from outside the zone.

The issue has come before the council's hackney carriage working party after being deferred last year.

The Island's chamber of commerce said an end to zoning would remove restrictive practices, and a MORI poll had shown the public was also in favour.

If a decision is made by the council to support de-zoning, then backing from the government would be required.