Taxi Driver Online

Daily Echo

September 26, 2007 Wednesday

Cabbies call for fares U-turn

TAXI bosses in Southampton are today calling on the city council to scrap a proposed new flat fare - just weeks after they backed it.

It follows criticism of a lack of consultation from many cabbies worried the proposal would appear to passengers as a 45 per cent hike.

Now cabbies' representatives want to continue with the present fare table, but add 10p to the initial fare to cover rising costs.

The split arose after the council proposed a new fare structure to incorporate a small increase but scrap an "accelerated start" to the fare.

Passengers presently pay £2 and then 20p for each additional 110m up to 550m, thereafter the distance for each 20p increases to 235m.

The licensing committee last month agreed to put out to consultation an increase in the initial charge to £2.90 to pay for the first 550 metres up front.

However, in a joint statement taxi bosses said "after taking on board public opinion and the concerns of taxi owners and drivers" they wanted to object to the council's proposal and resubmit their own.

The committee is due to decide whether to implement its new table of fares today to take effect on October 8.
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