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Black cab fuel charge row
BLACK cab passengers could be paying a fuel surcharge by Christmas - despite the falling cost of diesel.
Black cab drivers claim the 20p extra charge for each journey is still needed because their costs have rocketed since April.
But bus company Rossendale Transport, which uses 45,000 litres of fuel a week, has announced it will slash fares after imposing a surcharge in July. Meanwhile, M.E.N readers have reacted angrily to news of fare increases at a time when fuel is going down. At the end of August, Manchester council allowed the 20p flat rate taxi surcharge after a plea from the Manchester branch of the Taxi Owners and Drivers Association (TODA).
Originally, the drivers had wanted a 40p flat rate increase, claiming they were out of pocket by £40 a week because of fuel rises. Some drivers were even demanding a 60p flat rate increase. Fares could have gone up as soon as Thursday.
Notice
But after a public notice was published in the M.E.N, a member of the public objected to the plans - automatically stalling the increase. The plans will be now have to be discussed again at a meeting of the Licensing and Appeals Committee on November 24. The increase would then have to be introduced by a December 4 deadline.
TODA secretary George Simms said: "We still need this increase because of our extra costs since April. It only lasts until next April, when fares will be under discussion again." Petrol prices in August rose to £1.20p a litre, but unleaded petrol has dropped to as low as 97.9p a litre, while diesel, which hackney carriages use, has dropped to under £1.06p a litre.
Poll
An M.E.N street poll found public opinion was largely against the 20p surcharge. John Lindsey, 61, an insurance broker from Bury, said: "The extra charge doesn't sound right. I sympathised with taxi firms when petrol prices were higher, but now they should recognise the prices has dropped." Steve Field, 48, a local government officer from Prestwich, said: "It's a rip-off. Taxis are very expensive anyway - you pay a fiver to go less than a mile."
Paul Risby, 48, an electrician from Broadway Road, Sale, said: "I think it's typical of people in a position where they can get away with charging excessive costs. "t's very annoying. Vulnerable people who need to use taxis and can't really afford it are being exploited. It's unfair on older people who need to use taxis for shopping, getting out of the house and visiting people nearer Christmas."
Angela Carradus, 43, a hair and make-up artist at the Library Theatre, who lives in the city centre, said: "It's not so great news. Putting charges up is just moving the goalposts. As a small business owner I know you must reflect what the customers need - you can't just raise the charge."
However, Paul Meek, of Manchester's Private Hire Owners and Drivers Association, has defended cabbies. He told the M.E.N: "I'm in sympathy with the hackney drivers - when fuel started going up we had to increase our fares too, but we didn't have to go through a laborious process to do it. "The process has taken so long that the hackney drivers are trying to get back money that they paid out earlier this year. Meanwhile, fuel prices will probably go up again within two to three months." Coun Tony Burns, who chaired the licensing committee meeting at which the increase was agreed, said: "This increase will be constantly monitored by the committee, and if it is imposed, could be removed before next April."
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Think of how stupid the average person is, and realize half of them are stupider than that.
George Carlin
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