Taxi Driver Online

Not sure if councils normally issue news releases about fare increases, so this one is a bit different. And it sounds very defensive as well, and reads more like the kind of spin that an operator might use rather than the fare-setting authority.

For example, it refers to the last review as a 'minor increase', then there's a defensive comparison to Colchester, then the licensing chair's spiel at the end


Taxi fares increased in Tendring

https://www.tendringdc.gov.uk/council/n ... d-tendring

Thursday, 18 August, 2022

Taxi fares in Tendring have gone up following a request by cab drivers.

The increase in fares was backed by members of Tendring District Council’s (TDC) Licensing and Registration Committee on 21 July, subject to a public consultation.

Following the closure of the consultation, during which no objections were raised, the fare increase came into effect on 11 August.

Both the Tendring Taximeter Forum and the Clacton Taxi Private Hire Group had requested a rise – the first major increase since 2018, despite the increase in fuel, vehicle maintenance, insurance and RPI inflation. A minor increase, of 10p per mile, was implemented in February 2022 before the current global issues with fuel prices.

Under the new fare scheme, at standard rate one mile will rise by 65p to £5.35 (up 13.8%), two miles will rise by £1 to £7.60 (up 15%) and three miles will go up £1.35 to £9.85 (15.9% increase). Each subsequent 235 yards (215 metres) will cost 30p instead of 20p – though the distance has increased – while a waiting time of 60 seconds remains at 30p.

These tariffs will keep taxi prices broadly equivalent to those currently implemented in Colchester.

Colin Winfield, Chairman of TDC’s Licensing and Registration Committee, said the increase helped to support the local taxi firm industry.

“The request made by taxi drivers, given the current economic landscape, felt to the committee entirely reasonable – especially for an industry that was hit hard during the Covid-19 pandemic,” Councillor Winfield said.

“This small increase in fares will allow Tendring taxi services to remain viable, meaning people will be more likely to use them to visit the area – supporting our tourism industry.”

That just doesn't make sense. Kind of reads like the 30p increase from 20p applies after the three miles, but I'm guessing it's just after the flagfall distance. And each subsequent 235 yards can't cost 30p instead of 20p if the 'distance has increased'

And why not just decrease the distance but leave the increments at 20p?


Quite apart from describing 50% on the running mile as 'small', have you ever read such waffle?

In fact it's not 50% on the running mile, because presumably the statement "each subsequent 235 yards (215 metres) will cost 30p instead of 20p" is incorrect

A quick search online found this so I presume it's a trade representative organisation

_________________
Taxis Are Public Transport too

Join the campaign to get April fools jokes banned for 364 days a year !

I wonder if old grumpy from Harwick, the jewel of Tendering, is happy with this increase?

But it might help him get those 3 or 4 drivers he is on about.

_________________
IDFIMH

Sounds like it's some kind of meter agent

Watched this below from the meeting to see if it would shed any light. It didn't, and that's 11 minutes of my life I won't get back

When it actually gets to the substantive issues, there's actually more discussion about the driver numbers and recruitment problems than fares per se, but unfortunately it gets cut off in its prime, and I couldn't be bothered looking for any more

(Note - there are some sound issues )

https://www.facebook.com/watch/live/?re ... 9051789280