Taxi Driver Online

Aberdeen Evening Express

October 19, 2006 Thursday

HEADLINE: Anger as taxi fares set to rise

BYLINE: Jill Duffell

Passengers across the North-east are to be hit by a hike in taxi fares just before the Christmas period.

Today taxi firm bosses slammed the rises which they said would cause outrage among customers during the festive season.

Aberdeenshire Council has announced taxi fares will rise from December 1 as part of its annual review.

Taxi fares will increase by 20p for the first 800 yards of a journey - from £2.10 to £2.30 between 6am and 10pm and from £2.80 to £3 between 10pm and 6am.

Christmas will see the biggest increase, rising from £4.20 to £4.60 for the first 800 yards of a journey.

But Ian Stanley, of Ellon Taxis, said: "It is completely the wrong time of year to change the prices. If they have to change them, why not do it in the summer, not just before Christmas. "It just means taxi drivers are going to get a hard time from passengers, and it's not our fault. "We weren't even given a say, it's ridiculous."

Stonehaven taxi driver Michael Innes thinks it's a good idea for most of the year, but not during the festive season. "It's a dramatic increase at Christmas and I think it will hit the customers' pockets hard," he said.

"The taxi firms will lose out on a lot of business as people would rather walk." But Douglas Pirie, of Garioch Taxi's, Inverurie said: "The price of living is continuously rising and this is no different.

"It may well stop some people getting taxis."

Garioch Taxis deals mainly with business fares and Mr Pirie does not think it will affect that. He said: "It might put people off getting taxis at Christmas, but it's better to be safe than sorry.

"No matter what the price people should always get a taxi rather than drink and drive." A council spokesman said: "It is something we assess every year in an annual review.

"It is not a dramatic increase."
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