Taxi Driver Online

Published: Saturday, 6th November, 2010 9:30am

Council drive to increase taxi fares
by Ally McGilvray
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Councillor Michael Cook.
TAXI fares across the Borders are being driven up this month - after one councillor claimed most passengers tip drivers anyway.

However, fears have been voiced that it will drive customers away and the local taxi trade will suffer.

Councillors on Scottish Borders Council’s Executive Committee approved a new fare structure at their meeting in Newtown St Boswells.

They agreed an increase in the maximum fare of up to more than four per cent. That means, for example, one to four passengers travelling two miles, who were previously charged £5, can now be charged £5.20.

Councillor Jim Fullarton. the local authority’s Executive Member for Roads and Infrastructure, said: “There is a need for an increase in fares to cover the cost of petrol and maintenance of vehicles.” And he added: “I think these fares are not unreasonable, although there is a lot of controversy out there.”

The local authority revealed it was duty bound to review taxi fares every 18 months.

However, the meeting heard only two people responded to the formal consultation - and both objected.

Councillor Vicky Davidson, the council’s Executive Member for Economic Development, said: “It may be statutory for the council to review taxi fares every 18 months but it is not statutory for the council to increase them every 18 months.”

A total of 16 taxi operators attended consultation meetings in Galashiels, Kelso and Hawick. None attended in Peebles or Duns.

And Councillor Graham Garvie, Tweeddale East, claimed the council must assume those who did not respond were in support of the scheme.

However, Councillor Carolyn Riddell-Carre, Selkirkshire, disagreed. She said: “We can’t say people who haven’t turned up are happy with it. What is the point in going to the expense of consulting if we’re not going to listen? They (the taxi operators) say they don’t want it so we shouldn’t do it.”

The meeting heard taxi operators did not have to charge the maximum fare. However, they would have to pay up to £50 to have their meters changed.

Councillor Michael Cook, East Berwickshire, said: “In my experience passengers tend to tip drivers anyway. If the fare’s £5, you give him £6.”

It is understood taxi operators are considering an appeal to the traffic commissioner.

Local taxi driver Graham Gray, who claimed the council have “absolutely no idea of how a taxi is operated”, said: “With around 50 per cent unemployment in the Borders there is absolutely no increase required.”

And he added: “To change the meters to the new tariffs will cost operators £25 to £50 and it will take months to recoup that back.”

http://www.bordertelegraph.com/news/rou ... axi-fares/

Sorry Mr Gray i Disagree

http://www.scotborders.gov.uk/council/y ... 33379.html
Click the first PDF and see if there is anything wrong with the tariff
This is what we have at the moment
http://www.scotborders.gov.uk/life/appl ... 27556.html

I have sent Bryan a copy of both tariffs as they got the tariff wrong last time and it had to be corrected

Any operator at this present time not taken a tariff increase is effectively taken a pay cut. The trade is struggling as it is ffs wake up and smell the coffee.
Taxis drivers do not want a increase of wages they just want to cover their increases in costs its not rocket science

Skippy with all due respect how can you be objective to an increase when you give 25% off

Why assume that? Only the responses received should have been considered.
Perhaps we could just assume the people who don't vote in council elections actually want a monster raving loony council? In this case I think they got one.

I'd say local operators would be best placed to decide if a tariff increase is what they want or need. They know their punters best.
If they don't want it, why do it?

(Unless you have an arrangement with the meter setters )

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http://wingsoverscotland.com/ http://www.newsnetscotland.com/

Tone, there was 16 operators at the meeting representing around 70 drivers, 15 objected

The whole country is expected to tighten their belts ,councils and goverment are cutting back on spending ,shops are having sales to get people to spend ,and Tone wants to put his prices up . A sure way to lose customers .

And for those councillors, well the local trade should post photos of them
in their cabs to show the public who voted for the increase of their fare.

The Dundee taxi trade have said to the council if they do a unmet demand survey and stop issuing plates that they would not be asking for an increase. The pie is only so big and costs are going up, i do not think that it is unfair to be asking for an increase.In Dundee housing rent is going up by 5% and operators have had letters from their insurance companies this week saying that their insurance is going up by £250 and more.

What gets me is why do they ask the owners of fleets to the meetings?? Why don't they ask the drivers who are out there 10 hours a day trying to earn a living??

Probably because the owners know exactly what it cost to run the companys

There is no appeal to a fare Increse or Decrease.

_________________
C. Oakes


The Hackney Association Ltd
bbha@btinternet.com

There is in Scotland.

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IDFIMH

well they should be in the uk as well.

_________________
C. Oakes


The Hackney Association Ltd
bbha@btinternet.com

They are.

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IDFIMH