Taxi Driver Online

Charity fears elderly will be hit if taxi fares are increased


Councillors urged to carry out an impact assessment before they take decision


A rise in taxi fares across Angus could hit the elderly particularly hard, it was claimed yesterday.

Angus Council’s civic licensing committee will meet at Forfar today to discuss recommendations by local taxi companies to increase fares across the board.

Proposed increases include a 11% rise in the cost of a one-mile journey during the week and a 10% rise for a three-mile journey.

Evening and weekend journeys could rise by as much as 63%.

Festive revellers could also be hit hard, with a one-mile journey for five passengers or more at Christmas and Hogmanay going up by 44%.

Age Concern Angus treasurer Ron Scrimgeour said he feared elderly residents would be forced to limit the number of journeys they take as a result of the price increases.

He said: “The elderly and the disabled use taxis for short journeys to go shopping or to visit friends and family, so it seems quite punitive to increase these fares.

“The situation is exacerbated by cuts to bus timetables and I’m worried this could lead to social isolation because these people simply can’t get out and about any more.

“I understand that petrol prices have gone up but it still does not merit that kind of an increase.

“I am calling on the council to undertake an impact assessment before approving any such increases.”

Local authorities are required to review taxi fares about every 18 months. However, there is no obligation to increase them at every review.

The last review took place in February 2009, when it was agreed that fares should be maintained at the December 2007 level.

The current review was initiated in March and any increase is likely to be implemented in July.

Montrose-based taxi operator Tommy Stewart defended the increases.

He said: “Fuel prices are going up, licence fees are going up – basically everything is going up and we have not had an increase for almost three years.”



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Charity fears??

I cant speak for what happens to taxis/ph inside the Arctic circle..but in general Its more likely the Taxi/PH trade should fear the Charity groups as them fear us...we have to drive to make a living whilst they often form groups of volunteers to drive without profit.

They cant have it both ways...take our punters for a pittance and then when they cant source a volunteer driver to transport the elderly still expect the trade to fill the gap and pick up the pieces at antiquated prices.

So the drivers have got to carry on subsidising the fares?? These Charity groups need to get out there and try and earn a living driving a cab.