Taxi Driver Online

http://www.getwokingham.co.uk/news/s/20 ... s_the_same

The price of a taxi ride in Wokingham could increase as licensed drivers in the borough push for changes which could make shorter journeys more expensive.

Members of the licensing and appeals committee at Wokingham Borough Council will next week discuss possible changes to Hackney Carriage tariffs for the next 12 months.

Councillors will be presented with two options when they meet at the civic offices in Shute End on Monday, January 10 – agree to a change in the tariff by reducing the initial yardage from 880 yards to 600 yards or leave the current charges as they are.

Changing the distance would see passengers charged more for shorter journeys.

Julie O’Brien, environmental health officer responsible for licensing at Wokingham Borough Council, said: “From our consultation with our drivers we had 18 responses from a possible 100, with eight of them suggesting the initial yardage be reduced.

“That is a possibility, but it is up to the panel to make the decision of whether to change or not.”

However, not all cabbies are happy with such a proposal.

Some are calling on the council to cap the number of Hackney Carriage licences it is issuing, while others believe tariff changes are not a good idea, given the current economic situation.

One driver, Imran Hussein, has written to the panel asking it not to agree such a change.

He said: “To me, this would be just like window dressing and the majority of my colleagues don’t want to see an increase of any sort.

“As the taxi trade we are more than fully aware of the unprecedented pressures affecting our work, both externally and internally.

“The aforementioned financial constraints for our customers have been deeply felt and devastating for the trade, resulting in at least a 30 per cent reduction in fares.

“Due to the economic squeeze consumers’ disposable income has decreased, as has customer demand, and as a result drivers are having to work much longer hours for less financial gain.

“In turn waiting time between fares has dramatically increased to well over an hour, and a two-hour wait is not rare. It feels like working overtime but not getting paid.

“Pressures emanate from the fact that customer demand is truly and sufficiently met, always an over service provided.

“Therefore we urge Wokingham Borough Council’s licensing and safety committee to limit or cap the number of hackney carriage vehicle licenses issued, instantly alleviating the pressures being experienced by the taxi trade.

“We accept to freeze any forthcoming tariff increase for an agreed time [if] in turn Wokingham Borough Council limits or caps the number of Hackney Carriage licences issued. A mutual benefit would arise for customers, consumers and taxi drivers alike.

“Residents and visitors to Wokingham will benefit from lower taxi fares and the taxi trade can start to earn their way to the national minimum wage.”

What do you think about an increase in taxi fares? Leave your comments below or email Lewis Rudd at wokinghamtimeseditorial@trinitysouth.co.uk

A three-mile taxi journey will cost a customer, under existing charges, travelling through Wokingham, between the hours of 6am and 11pm, around £6, while between 11pm and 6am the overnight tariff will cost a passenger in the region of £9.

In Reading the same journey would cost £6.20 during the day, but just £7.40 overnight.

The same distance travelled in Bracknell, though, would cost a customer around £5.40 between 7am and 11pm and £8.10 between 11pm and 7am. Passengers travelling in all three boroughs, however, can expect a 20p penalty waiting charge for whenever a vehicle is forced to stop by its customers.

This charge is imposed on customers every 40 seconds in Wokingham, 48 seconds in Reading and 57 seconds in Bracknell.


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