Taxi Driver Online

Anger expressed by council taxi-payers
TAXI users in Bromsgrove face a dramatic increase in fare after an announcement that firms which run them will be charged for car tests.

And it is feared it will be the elderly who will be worst hit as many of them use taxis to get to and from the town centre and to go shopping. Those visiting pubs and nightspots in the town will also be affected.

The plans, which have been unveiled by Bromsgrove District Council and will come into force on April 1, will see cars four years or younger charged for one test per year, cars four to seven-years-old forced to have two tests and those over seven have one every four months.

The charges will be £61 for Hackney Carriages and £36.50 for private hire vehicles, meaning firms who have several cars could see the extra costs spiralling well into the hundreds.

More than 30 taxi drivers, angered by the move, turned out to an emergency meeting on Wednesday (March 16) to voice their concerns.

They are now waiting for a response from the council over claims the new charge was not advertised appropriately.

One angry driver told The Standard he was not happy with the manner in which the council had introduced the fees.
He said: "Nobody consulted us or advertised the fact that they were going to bring in these extra charges. It feels like we're being dictated to."

Mitra Ramlal, from ENM About Town Taxis, said that firm would now face additional costs of £300 per year.

He said: "We have to do something now to stop them putting them up further down the line."

Another unhappy driver described the move as diabolical and added the fees will end up crippling the public.

"At the end of the day, the little old lady is the one that is going to pay," he said.

Bromsgrove residents are losing out again, as there are currently no requirements for a test and therefore no charges in place in Redditch, whilst in Wychavon only vehicles between seven and ten-years-old have to have the test for which, there is no charge.

A Bromsgrove District Council spokesperson said the decision was fully backed by a scrutiny committee.

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

LAs testing taxis and charging for this, whatever next?

Apart from that, the article seems to be making a mountain out of a molehill.

Even if each car pays £100 a year for testing, that's just a couple of quid a week, ie a lot less than 1% of turnover.

So even if fares went up 1% to compensate, this can hardly be described as 'dramatic' or likely to 'cripple' the public.

I'm surprised the press publishes nonsense like this, even assuming it's the trade that's instigated the story.

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Taxi Driver Online
www.taxi-driver.co.uk

Kin ell aren't they hard done to, try Mansfields test £240 per year plus £5 per fail, so if you fail on a few minor items like ripped carpet, stickers in the back window it will add up to a handsome fee. We also have to pay £25 for a saftey check 4 weeks before a test.