Taxi Driver Online

This is Essex

March 20, 2007 Tuesday

Taxi passengers face higher fares

Geoff Percival

TAXI passengers will soon pay almost 2.6 per cent more for their fares during the day - but should have extra cabs on the street in the early hours at weekends.

Members of Southend Council's licensing sub committee agreed to allow drivers to charge 2.58 per cent more for fares during the day.

This would raise the cost of a three-mile journey from £5.90 to £6.

But cabbies will be allowed to extend the current £2.40 night fee until 6am on Saturdays, Sundays and Bank Holiday Monday mornings, as an incentive to have more drivers either staying later or starting earlier.

Allan Evans, the council's hackney carriage officer, said it was felt more early morning taxis were needed because of the increase in later licensing hours for pubs and clubs.

Barry Friar, chairman of the Southend Taxi Drivers' Association, said: "I am sure this change will encourage more drivers to stay out late or start work earlier.

"There will always be some drivers who are not going to work after 4am, whatever the incentive, but the majority will do so."

Sub committee chairman Derek Jarvis (Con, West Shoebury) said: "Since we as a council have agreed the longer hours, then we have to bear some of the responsibility.

"We appreciate the work which the taxi trade does in getting people back from the town centre late at night, when they are the only form of public transport which is available."

John Lamb (Con, West Leigh) said it was important to encourage more taxis on the road late at night as there were people who were frightened to go for a night out if there was doubt about how they would get home.

However, he said he had some concerns that shift workers using taxis early in the morning to get to work would be hit with the extra cost.

The new charges are due to be introduced within the next eight weeks, unless there is any public objection.
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I think if there is work for the drivers then they will stay out.

But getting paid a bob or two more also helps.

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IDFIMH