Taxi Fares Increased By 20p For Every Mile
27th September 2008
Taxi fares are set to rise because of spiralling fuel prices.
Basildon Council’s licensing committee agreed to increase taxi prices after cabbies argued they needed the extra income to help them survive.
The £2.20 start rate, the charge on the taxi meter before a journey starts, will stay the same while the charge per mile will rise.
The formula for the increases is complex, but it basically means cabbies will charge around an extra 20p per mile.
This means the first mile of a journey will now cost £3.60, instead of the £3.40 current charge, while a two-mile journey will cost £5 instead of £4.60.
Dave Blackwell, chairman of Basildon Licensed Taxi Drivers Association, said: “We were paying about 96 pence a litre for diesel a year ago, now it’s around £1.23. It isn’t just the cost of fuel that’s affecting us either, rising oil prices affect other things for a car like the price of tyres.
“It has cut into our wages and we’ve had several cabbies giving up driving altogether, because they can’t make ends meet.
“We know everyone is finding it tough at the moment, but I think the majority of customers will understand why we’ve had to put our fares up a small amount.”
The increases are due to come into effect from November 1.
However, June Davies, 72, who regularly catches a taxi from her home in Wickford Avenue, Chalvedon, said: “I understand petrol has gone up, but it’s the same for every driver. It’s hard enough to make ends meet at the moment without paying more for things like taxis.”
Anyone who wants to object to the increases can call the council’s licensing department on 01268 533333.
Otherwise, you can write to the Licensing Department, the Basildon Centre, St Martin’s Square, Basildon, Essex, SS14 1DL.
Source; Basildon Echo
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