FARES ANDFEES
NORTH DEVON CABBIES’ ANGER AS FARE INCREASE IDEA IS AXED
North Devon Council’s licensing sub-commit- tee passed a report last month which said taxi prices were too high and “unfit for pur- pose” - despite claims some drivers are being crippled by ris- ing fuel costs.
But the 20 drivers who attended the meeting claim they were “rail- roaded” after com- mittee chairman Joe Tucker did not allow them to make com- ments.
The proposals, which have come after a long-running feud, have now been put to a 28-day public consul- tation, which Mr Tucker said was the only way to address any issues. According to the Devon Journal, in the report, which was passed
unanimously by the committee, it says the use of meters in hack- ney carriages should be made mandatory - something for which many cabbies have been campaigning. In the report, council licensing manager Marjory Parish said the add-on fee for night-time driving would be changed from 100 per cent of the standard rate to 50 per cent. It would also kick in at 11pm rather than midnight.
Under the recommen- dations, Mrs Parish said the tariff set by the council should not increase as it is “not doing the job it is intended to do”. About 40 drivers out of a registered 280 asked for 20p to added to
each running mile at a meeting in April. She said a survey showed only a quarter of taxi drivers always use the full meter price. But she said the flag for taxis would also increase by 10p to £2.60.
The tariff should also be increased by 1p per mile as fuel rises by 6p per litre, a decision which would be dele- gated to the licensing manager, rather than councillors.
The council also agreed it would not regulate the number of licensed taxis - one of the main bugbears for many cabbies.
The proposals will come back for approval by the licensing sub- committee, after consultation.
COUNCIL CHIEFS AGREE TO LOOK AT IPSWICH TAXI PLIGHT
Ipswich Borough Council chiefs are seeking urgent talks with taxi bosses in the hope of resolving their calls for a fares rise. Some taxi drivers in the town say they have been forced to leave the profession due to rising fuel costs. Eric Pearl, of the Taxi Drivers’ Association, said drivers were
seeking a ten per cent rise in fares to alleviate the burden.
New transport portfo- lio holder Phil Smart told the East Anglian Daily Times: “I am planning to meet driv- ers’ representatives to give them a chance to air their concerns and to discuss ways to move forward. “We understand the
drivers’ plight and recognise the need to maintain a viable taxi service in Ipswich while trying to give passengers a fair deal as well. We want to find a fair solution for everyone.” Mr Pearl said he knew of about a dozen taxi drivers who had quit because of the mount- ing pressures.
PRESSURE FROM FIRMS DRIVES UP EAST HAMPSHIRE FARES
The three-year taxi fare freeze has come to an end, East Hamp- shire licensing com- mittee decided last month after pressure from taxi drivers. The Petersfield Taxi Association has led a fierce campaign to increase their fares. Members of the group say that due to rises in the cost of fuel and other essential ameni- ties, they are barely breaking even.
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PAGE 24
The council last reviewed the fares in December but decided
for the second year running not to increase them. In February the Petersfield Taxi Asso- ciation and the Alton Taxi Association asked for an urgent review of taxi fares.
At the head of the campaign was Barry Winter, chairman of the Petersfield Taxi Association. He told the Petersfield Post: “This result was very well received, it has been long over- due but at least we can now put up the prices as of June 17.”
Mr Winter added: “East Hampshire is known to be a rural area so it was even more essential that we got the increase. “If you’re a driver in a large city there is always another fare waiting round the cor- ner; it’s not like that here.”
The new rates are £4.20 for the first mile and then £1.80 after that, between 6am and 11pm Monday to Sun- day. There is a basic increase of 30p extra per mile.
GLASGOW CABBIES’ PRESSURE PAYS OFF AS INCREASE IN FARES ALLOWED
A ban on an increase in taxi fares was over- turned after council bosses received hun- dreds of objections. In April, Glasgow councillors threw out a recommendation from a top council official that fares in the city should rise by almost seven per cent.
But more than 400 taxi workers complained, claiming it would put the trade at risk. An objection was lodged by Glasgow Taxis, which represents 2,000 licensed hackney drivers, via a letter from their lawyers.
The Glasgow cab sec-
tion of union Unite also complained about the decision. It wrote: “We believe Glasgow City Council has not taken into account the rising costs associated with the taxi trade when making this decision.” A local taxi owner, who is not named, said: “Glasgow can no longer afford to keep up - you only need to look at the average age of a cab in Glasgow. “They are getting older and ultimately it is the public that suffer due to older and poorly maintained cabs.” Last month, the licens-
ing and regulatory committee considered the 410 objections and voted to allow a fares increase of 6.64 per cent.
A report to councillors said objectors high- lighted the spiralling cost of fuel, insurance, licensing fees and VAT, claiming refusing an increase would hit driv- ers and their families. A spokesman for Glas- gow Taxis told the Glasgow Evening Times: “The commit- tee has agreed to go with the formula which has been in place for many years. It’s as simple as that.”
PHTM JULY 2011
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