Taxi Driver Online

Taxi fares to go up 50p to cover rise in fuel costs

TAXIS in Sheffield are to slap a 50p surcharge on every journey to cover the rocketing cost of fuel. Black cabs will have a notice displayed in every vehicle informing passengers the cost will be added to every metered bill to try to compensate for the massive rise in diesel.

Sheffield Council's Licensing Board turned down a request from the Sheffield Taxi Trade Association for a 20p a mile increase - opting for the surcharge instead. It will be reviewed after four months and can be scrapped if fuel prices drop.

Hafeas Rehman, spokesperson for Sheffield Taxi Trade Association, said: "I suppose this is fair. It was one of the options put to our drivers when we met recently to discuss the rise in the cost of fuel.

"It means that there doesn't need to be any change to the meter and if fuel drops in price - which it probably won't - then it can be reversed quite easily.

"Most of our journeys are quite short so the surcharge will help us. It is only when journeys start getting beyond four or five miles that we will start to lose out."

Coun Ibrar Hussain, a taxi driver for 20 years, is writing to Gordon Brown to plead for some financial help in the November pre-budget review. He said: "I am requesting that Government considers how it may be able to help subsidise struggling taxi drivers, possibly by providing them with a tax rebate, as taxi drivers form a vital part of public transport.

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