IN THE NEWS
FUEL PRICE HIKE WILL LEAD TO LONGER HOURS FOR CABBIES
Petrol prices are on the rise again. Busi- ness leaders, hauliers and cabbies have joined a chorus of dis- approval over a hike in fuel prices. MPs had demanded that the Government abandon plans to slap 2p on petrol and diesel as the reces- sion continues to bite. The price at the pumps is putting more pressure on already struggling motorists, taxi drivers, families and businesses. In recent weeks petrol and diesel has soared over the £1 barrier back to an average of 106p after a few months’ respite of lower prices. While petrol prices have fallen from their height last year, they have not been falling
in line with reductions in wholesale oil prices. Cabbies say they will have to work longer hours to break even now that fuel prices have gone up. Barrow Taxi Drivers’ Association spokes- man Henry Fayyazi told the North West Evening Mail: “It is really hard for us already and the extra 2p makes it even more difficult. We cannot put our prices up because we will not get cus- tomers. “I think it will work out to about £10 to £15 a week more, so as fares will not go up, we will have to work even more hours.” Steve Foster, co-owner of Basildon-based NPHA member A&B Taxis, called the rise “despicable” and told
the Southend Evening Echo: “I am lost for words as to why the Government is doing this. We are just, final- ly, starting to come out of a recession so what do they do? Hit us with fuel tax rises at the pumps.”
This rise will be the third in nine months following rises in December and April and in December 2009 Alistair Darling plans to put VAT on fuel back up to 17.5 per cent after it was temporarily cut to 15 per cent last year. A Treasury spokes- man said: “The gov- ernment’s announce- ments set out the changes to fuel duty in line with the govern- ment’s long-term policy of reducing emissions.”
TAXI FIRM BOSS BACKS A TWO-TIER SYSTEM IN DUNDEE
A move away from a two-tier system to 100 per cent wheelchair accessible taxis would turn Dundee into a pri- vate hire city overnight, it has been claimed.
Director of Tay Taxis George Harris said experience suggests a fleet of both saloons and wheelchair taxis would be ideal sce- nario.
But Dundee Wheel- chair Taxi Association chairman Erik Thore- sen believes the current two-tier sys- tem, which allows licence holders to run ordinary saloon cars, will be resolved nationally by the implementation of dis- ability discrimination laws, though he would like to see action taken
locally as soon as pos- sible.
Mr Harris has said the public did not want a move away from saloon cars and it would cost drivers £580 to £620 a month just to pay the finance on wheel- chair accessible vehicles.
Mr Harris told the Dundee Evening Tele- graph: “Mr Thoresen said there has been a noticeable drop in trade in recent years. If there’s no work out there why is he trying to get people to splash out £30,000 for a wheelchair vehi- cle?
“The town doesn’t have the revenue for it. You would force every- body to go down that road and end up with a
private hire city. “By making all taxis wheelchair accessible you risk discriminating against able-bodied people.
“It’s all about con- sumer choice. People phone us up and actu- ally ask for a saloon car. I think the town has been flooded with wheelchair accessible taxis. There’s enough to go round.”
Mr Harris said the tier system was a matter for the Scottish Gov- ernment and it would be they rather than Mr Thoresen who would ultimately decide what would happen in Dundee.
He concluded by wel- coming the news that taxi tariffs won’t be increasing despite a fuel hike.
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