Council reiterates safe travel advice for Festival goers after third Private Hire Driver fined

THE COUNCIL is highlighting the importance of travelling safely by cab during this year’s festival, after a third out-of-area Private Hire driver was recently found guilty and fined for illegally plying for hire during last year’s Reading Festival.

Mr Abdul Mashud of Portree Street, Tower Hamlets, was licensed by Transport for London (TfL) to accept pre-booked fares only within the London area. On the evening of 23 August 2024, undercover Reading Council Licensing officers approached Mr Mashud’s vehicle at the BP Petrol Station on Richfield Avenue, yards from the Reading Festival site.

Mr Mashud agreed to take the officers to Slough Train Station for an over-priced £120, without any prior booking.

It is illegal for Private Hire drivers to pick up passengers from the street or a taxi rank. Private Hire fares must be pre-booked; otherwise, passengers are not covered by insurance in the case of an accident.

At Reading Magistrates' court on 5 August 2025, Magistrates returned verdicts of guilty to both offences. Mr Mashud was fined £399 for plying for hire, and ordered to pay a £160 surcharge, as well as costs of £1,500, making a total of £2,059. His driving licence was endorsed with six penalty points for using a motor vehicle without insurance.

Licensing officers are stressing the importance of travelling to and from the Reading Festival site safely, as the town gears up to welcome 105,000 festival visitors over the August bank holiday weekend.

Festival-goers are reminded that the main festival Hackney Carriage/black cab pick-up and drop-off point is on Tessa Road, opposite Rivermead Leisure Centre and close to Red Gate.

Queues for taxis leaving the site are often quite long, particularly on Sunday night and Monday morning, as weekend guests leave.

Officers recommend pre-booking a ride with a licensed operator. Drivers can use the designated Private Hire vehicle pick-up/drop-off area on either Cremyll Road or at Hill’s Meadow, George Street, Caversham.

Travellers are strongly advised against accepting cheap, convenient fares without a prior booking, as this may put them at risk in the event of an accident.

Cllr John Ennis, Lead Councillor for Climate Strategy and Transport, said:

“This marks the third successful prosecution of a driver operating illegally during Reading Festival 2024, and I am grateful once again to our Licensing Officers for diligently carrying out test purchases to keep our travelling public safe.

“Our town sees more than 100,000 visitors come through the festival gates each year, and it’s vital that everyone can trust their journeys around Reading and beyond are safe, legal, and properly insured.

“To underline the sage advice of our Licensing team, officers recommend pre-booking a ride with a licensed operator, and drivers can use the designated Private Hire vehicle pickup areas off on Cremyll Road, or at Hill’s Meadow, George Street, Caversham.

"While a cheap fare may seem convenient, it’s simply not worth the risk.”

Anyone with concerns about taxi or Private Hire drivers can report them confidentially to licensing@reading.gov.uk or by calling the Council Contact Centre on 0118 937 3787.”

ENDS