UP TO 700 taxi and private hire drivers are threatening to take their cars off the road because of a row with Bolton Council.

Leaders of Bolton Hackney Association (BHA) and the Private Hire Association are demanding talks with town hall bosses over the rising cost of a test certificate.

The two groups also want the council to end its monopoly on the testing of vehicles and allow private companies to carry out the role.

Both have claimed that the authority's only testing station at Wellington Yard is "over zealous" and "inconsistent" in its inspections.

They have set the council a two-week deadline to respond to a letter which has been sent to party leaders and the council's chief executive Bernard Knight.

BHA chairman Charles Oakes said: "If we take industrial action, it will be because of the council refusing to sit down and talk with us about something which is very important."

A council committee approved a move to increase the cost of a six-month test certificate from £91 to £99 - a total of £16 per year - and will continue to use Wellington Yard as the sole taxi testing station.

Bolton Taxi Drivers' Association - the body which represents black cab drivers on the council's consultative committee - is backing the council and condemned the strike threat.

Mr Oakes added: "The Bolton Taxi Drivers' Association took the decision without consulting us and we want to get round the table with the council to discuss the changes."

Sajid Khan, who represents the Private Hire Association, said: "The contract to for testing should go out to tender.

"We will take our vehicles off the road if this is not resolved."

Bolton Taxi Drivers' Association chairman Bill Williams said that despite the higher cost of the test certificate, the council had abandoned the requirement for all drivers to have their engine steam cleaned prior to inspection - saving up to £20 per year.

"The threat of strikes does nothing to help our image," he said.

"We previously had a number of garages who carried out tests but that was stopped because of the different standards to which cars were being tested."

The rise in the cost of a test certificates is to cover the cost of a second bay at Wellington Yard to allow tests to be carried out more quickly.

Cllr Andy Morgan said: "We were asked to do this by the trade and as far as we are concerned, the due process is now complete."