Cambridge's taxis to get a new look

Green stripe agreed - but some wanted Cambridge blue

Official Hackney Carriage taxis in Cambridge will get a new colour scheme to make them more recognisable – but it could take years to update the entire fleet.

City councillors agreed official Cambridge taxis should have a silver base colour in July, but they could not decide on a colour for their stripes.

Members of the licensing committee were concerned that indistinct colours would be difficult for “drunks” to see, while initial calls for a yellow and black chequered pattern for the stripe were rejected as “too ugly”.

On Monday, the committee agreed that a dark green stripe, following the natural line of the vehicle, would be added to silver taxi cabs and minibuses. The city council’s crest will be displayed on the doors.

There was some disappointment that a lighter Cambridge Blue – a colour used in this newspaper’s news pages – was not chosen for the stripe to foster a sense of identity.

Former city mayor George Pippas said: “I prefer Cambridge blue. It represents Cambridge and says to people: ‘You have arrived’.”

But it was feared it would lack contrast against the silver background.

In July, Cllr Jeremy Benstead said the new livery had to be distinctive so passengers could easily distinguish licensed city cabs.

He cited the 2005 killing of Cambridge student Sally Geeson as an example of how clearly identifiable liveries could potentially save lives.

Miss Geeson was picked up and killed by a soldier who had been posing as a taxi driver.

The new colour scheme will be applied when each taxi’s licence comes up for renewal.

It could take up to nine years for all 321 Hackney Carriages in the fleet to change.