Taxi Driver Online

Cabbies revolt over running costs hike


CAB drivers have pledged to take on Southend Council over huge increases in operating costs.

Drivers are facing a £50 hike in licence charges while a driver’s badge will go up from £198 to £292.50 In all, cabbies will have to shell out an extra £144.50 a year just to run a taxi in Southend.

Dave Clift, secretary of the Southend Licensed Taxi Driver Association, said members would be lobbying Southend Council in a bid to get the charges cut.

He said drivers were determined not to pay the charges and said if the council did not back down passengers would have pay through increased fares – even though the association has voted to freeze prices for a year.

Mr Clift said: “Last month all the licensed drivers in Southend voted to freeze prices for a year.

“I would like to get the council in front of a meeting of all our drivers and justify the increase They should remember we speak to more of their constituents in a week than they do in ten years.”

He said: “We are determined not to pay so we haven’t worked out how much more customers will have to pay.”

Drivers have already begun sending out a pre-printed protest letter to town clerk Rob Tinlin.

They believe the charges are unfair as drivers were handed a £60 increase back in 1998 to cover the costs of an unmet demand survey which establishes the need for taxis in the borough.

A new survey is now taking place, but drivers have not stopped paying the £60 more for the past ten years.

Mr Clift said: “So far, all the opposition and all our drivers support the campaign, but we’ve heard nothing from the Conservatives. We’ve been told the increase is to pay for the current survey on unmet demand. But we had a £60 increase in 1998 to pay for a similar survey which we keep paying and that should pay for this latest survey.”

Ian Roberston, councillor whose portfolio includes cab and driver licensing, said: “I am aware of this issue and I’ve asked council officers to look at a couple of possible compromises which may include waiting until we see the results of the unmet demand survey.

“Fares in Southend are cheaper than most neighbouring councils, however we do recognise the recession is biting hard so we are listening.”

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Think of how stupid the average person is, and realize half of them are stupider than that.
George Carlin

how do they do a survey on unmet demand?

by definition it SHOULD take place at times of high demand, do they come out on the rank at midnight/2am friday/saturday night and ask the drunks how long they have been waiting?

there cant be any unmet demand in the slack times, when the ranks full.

more to the point, if plate numbers are restricted and have a 100% take up, whats the point? if theres spare plates whats the point of the survey, will they force newbies to plate?

and do they actually DO the survey, now theres a thought...whats the rise, £144 a year, how many cabbies?....400, 500, more? PLUS, the rise will be payable every year, the fee for the survey wont.

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Of all the things ive lost, i miss my mind the most

In a highly flawed way.

There are many dotted around TDO, but basically most surveys come out the way the council wants them too.

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IDFIMH

how do i get into doing unmet demand surveys?

ill be cheaper (ish)

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Of all the things ive lost, i miss my mind the most

Not as cheap as me.

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IDFIMH

I'd heard a rumour about how cheap you are which I of course didn't believe until now

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Note to self: Just because it pops into my head does NOT mean it should come out of my mouth!!

I think the sussex survey company will take a quick look and recommend deregulation.....even in deregulated areas

CC

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Think of how stupid the average person is, and realize half of them are stupider than that.
George Carlin