Taxi Driver Online

Taxi Fare Price Hike to Hit 10 per cent

14th July 2008

Taxi fares in Neath and Port Talbot are set to rise for the second time in as many months - this time by more than ten per cent. Traditionally, the fares are reviewed annually, but cab owners trying to counter spiralling fuel costs have again asked to put up prices.

Just last month, council licensing bosses sanctioned a three per cent hike per journey.

But with fuel prices still increasing, taxi bosses want councillors to approve further fare rises in an attempt to keep their businesses afloat.

If they agree to the hikes tomorrow, it will mean customers paying £5 - a 46p, or 10.1 per cent, increase - for an average two-mile trip between 7am and 7pm; and £8.52 for an average three mile night-time trip, between 7pm and 7am, a rise of 68p - or 8.7 per cent.

Licensing boss Jim Sullivan said: "Due to increases in fuel costs over the past few months, a further application has been received from Neath Port Talbot Proprietors Association for a rise in the fare tariff."

Since November, 2007, there has been an overall rise of more than 18 per cent on cab journeys in the county. And increases could become more frequent.

One of the options open to licensing and registration committee members tomorrow is the possible introduction of a system which increases fares automatically in line with petrol prices. Neath Taxi Proprietors' Association chairman Bob Hoyles said: "We want to ask that councillors consider a system where fares are put up automatically to reflect the constant rises in petrol prices.

"We submitted an application for a fare increase six weeks before it was considered in June.

"In that time, diesel had gone up from £1.16 per litre to £1.32 a litre, with petrol prices rising up to three times a week."

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Kind regards,

Brummie Cabbie.

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