38 PRIVATE HIRE AND TAXI MONTHLY
MAY 2009 FEE RISE... BARNSLEY TAXI ASSOCIATION WARNS OF ACTION OVER FEE HIKES
A new association set up by taxi drivers has warned that changes to conditions and licence fees for driv- ers will ‘not go through without fur- ther protests’. The Barnsley Hackney Carriage and Private Hire Alliance Trade Association says it can- not rule out slow drive protests like the one held last month. Dozens of drivers brought traffic chaos to the town centre in a protest at increased licensing costs, in some cases from £136 to £320. The association was founded by Ian Foster, of Hoyland, who says he is outraged by the proposed changes. He said other associa- tions are not holding the council to account for what it is doing. He told the Barnsley Chronicle that: “The
1
council has written to every licence holder trying to justify the pro- posed changes. “We find the suggestion in that letter that ‘the increased costs of between £1.52 and £6.90 a week to licence and drive a taxi are not unreasonable’
both
insulting and unin- formed. “How many residents of Barnsley could afford to lose an entire week’s income?” The council said the changes proposed were in response to requests made by drivers. Mr Foster said this was rubbish. He said that under the old system, cars older than five years were required to be tested at the coun- cil’s Smithies depot four times a year - he says this was illegal. The law stipulates no more than three tests.
Cllr Charlie Wraith said: “I absolutely stand by what I said last week. The licensed trade has been asking for enhancements to enforcement activity for some
considerable
time. “There are genuine con- cerns about unlicensed activity and public safe- ty which have been highlighted further by two successful prose- cutions of illegal drivers by the council in the last ten days. “The increases in fees and charges we are looking for approval by council amount to an average of between £1.52 and £6.90 per week. “This is a very small price to pay and one a great many drivers have told us they are in agreement with, even during these difficult times.”
SOUTHEND CABBIES REVOLT OVER RUNNING COSTS HIKE
Cab drivers have pledged to take on Southend Council over huge increases in oper- ating costs. Drivers are facing a £50 hike in licence charges while a driver’s badge will go up from £198 to £292.50. In all, cabbies will have to shell out an extra £144.50 a year just to run a taxi in Southend. Dave Clift, secretary of the Southend Licensed TaxiDrivers’ Association, said members would be lobbying Southend Council in a bid to get the charges cut. Mr Clift
told the
Southend Evening Echo: “Last month all the licensed drivers in Southend voted to freeze prices for a year. “I would like to get the council in front of a meeting of all our driv- ers and justify the increase. They should
remember that we speak to more of their constituents in a week than they do in ten years.” He said: “We are deter- mined not to pay so we haven’t worked out how much more customers will have to pay.” Drivers have already begun sending out a preprinted protest letter to town clerk Rob Tinlin. They believe
the
charges are unfair as drivers were handed a £60 increase back in 1998 to cover the costs of an unmet demand survey which establish- es the need for taxis in the borough. A new survey is now taking place, but driv- ers have not stopped paying the additional £60 for the past ten years. Mr Clift said: “So far, all the opposition and all our drivers support the
campaign, but we’ve heard nothing from the Conservatives. We’ve been told the increase is to pay for the current survey on unmet demand. But we had a £60 increase in 1998 to pay for a simi- lar survey which we keep paying and that should pay for this lat- est survey.” Ian Roberston, council- lor whose portfolio includes cab and driver licensing, said: “I am aware of this issue and I’ve asked council offi- cers to look at a couple of possible compro- mises which may include waiting until we see the results of the unmet demand survey. “Fares in Southend are cheaper
than most
neighbouring coun- cils, however we do recognise the reces- sion is biting hard so we are listening.”
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