| Taxi Driver Online http://www.taxi-driver.co.uk/phpBB2/ |
|
| Cabbies demanding fare rise plan Olympics protest http://www.taxi-driver.co.uk/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=18217 |
Page 1 of 1 |
| Author: | captain cab [ Tue Jan 03, 2012 2:04 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Cabbies demanding fare rise plan Olympics protest |
Cabbies demanding fare rise plan Olympics protest TAXI drivers in Guildford will protest as the Olympic Torch passes through the town next July if their complaints are not listened to by Surrey County Council. The Guildford Hackney Association (GHA) wants a fare increase of 2.7% to be implemented plus new rules to stop unlicensed private cabs picking up passengers. The peaceful demonstrations will not disrupt the taxi service in Guildford but it is hoped by the GHA that it will be seen in front of the world’s cameras. “We are not being listened to,” said David Williams-Wynn, chairman of GHA, who has been a Guildford cabbie for 37 years. “We have a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to bring pressure to bear on local councils that are not listening to our complaints.” The 72-year-old added: “We are not out to cause trouble.” Mr Williams-Wynn said the costs of running a taxi service had spiralled out of proportion due to increasing costs in fuel, car repairs and paying £536 per cab each year to be able to collect fares from the railway station. Surrey County Council will hold a licensing meeting on Wednesday, January 4 to decide whether the tariff used by GHA to come up with the 2.7% proposed increase is justified. The council said it was not opposed to any fare increase if it was deserved, but has asked for evidence about why the rise, based on London taxi fare increases, is legitimate. Councillor Matt Furniss, chairman of the licensing committee, said the council wanted to come up with a methodology that actually reflected Guildford prices. The evidence the authority needs is based on fuel costs, car maintenance, mileage and cost per mile among other aspects. However, Mr Williams-Wynn said that the fare increase was accepted earlier this year, but the council was now asking for evidence before it goes through, which he said was unexpected. When asking for the minutes from that meeting, Mr Williams-Wynn said the council could not produce them. “It is all very bizarre,” he added. Cllr David Goodwin, vice-chairman of the licensing committee, confirmed there were no recorded minutes from the meeting earlier this year, however, he pointed out that as there were no Guildford borough councillors present, no formal decisions on taxi fares could have been made. “Those decisions have to come from a licensing committee,” he added. Mr Williams-Wynn believes basing prices on London fares is appropriate because the capital has a much larger fleet of vehicles and Guildford cabbies rack up almost twice as much dead mileage, which is driving without a paying passenger. The GHA also believes the council is not dealing with the issue of private hire cars picking up passengers wherever they want, as opposed to when they are allowed to. The association claimed evidence of this had not been accepted by the county council. For more information on the planned protests, visit www.taxi-driver.co.uk. |
|
| Author: | Sussex [ Tue Jan 03, 2012 7:25 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Cabbies demanding fare rise plan Olympics protest |
captain cab wrote: Surrey County Council will hold a licensing meeting on Wednesday, January 4 to decide whether the tariff used by GHA to come up with the 2.7% proposed increase is justified. Must have missed that new law, that allows County Councils to set taxi fares, being implemented. 
|
|
| Author: | captain cab [ Wed Jan 04, 2012 9:04 am ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Cabbies demanding fare rise plan Olympics protest |
Quote: For more information on the planned protests, visit www.taxi-driver.co.uk.  I can see this protest going down a treat, it'll make cab drivers look like opportunists who want to embarrass the country in front of the world. CC |
|
| Author: | spaceinvader1 [ Thu Jan 05, 2012 4:00 am ] |
| Post subject: | It aint that bad in stockbroker surrey! |
"Mr Williams-Wynn said the costs of running a taxi service had spiralled out of proportion due to increasing costs in fuel, car repairs and paying £536 per cab each year to be able to collect fares from the railway station." £10.30 a week on station permit-whats that 2 or 3 fares a week-yes definately gonna send you into receivership-oh and if guildford is that bad then why are drivers running 10 reg and 60 reg tx4s or 57,58,59,60 reg E7s not to mention posh e class estates.It aint THAT bad in guildford believe you me-it is a very affluent area with drivers affording their foreign holidays in spain,egypt,cuba,portugal,bangladesh,pakistan,india etc-not cutting back on these on the ranks from word of mouth i hear. Spaceinvader1 |
|
| Author: | captain cab [ Thu Jan 05, 2012 5:37 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Cabbies demanding fare rise plan Olympics protest |
London 2012: Guildford taxi drivers consider Olympic protest Taxi drivers in Surrey are threatening to protest as the Olympic torch relay passes through Guildford in a dispute over increases in fares. Drivers of licensed taxis want to put their fares up by 2.7%, which they say would bring them into line with London black cab drivers. But Guildford Borough Council said the increase was not based on clear and transparent calculations. A licensing committee meeting on Wednesday failed to resolve the issue. "We are looking for a way to get the council's attention," said Mark Rostron, secretary of Guildford Hackney Association. "The taxi drivers are considering a protest at the Olympic torch event because our voice hasn't been heard for several years. "Fuel prices have shot up. It costs £80 to fill my car with diesel where not so long ago it cost £40." He said drivers were also concerned about unlicensed minicabs plying for hire on Guildford's streets on Friday and Saturday nights. The council had also deregulated the numbers of licensed cabs, which had increased from 100 to 180. Continue reading the main story London 2012 - Begin your journey here London 2012: Latest Olympic news, sport, features and programmes from the BBC The Olympic torch relay will arrive in Guildford on 20 July where it will make an overnight stop before entering London for the 2012 Games. A night of celebrations is planned at Stoke Park. Councillor Stephen Mansbridge said the council did not respond well to threats. "The taxi drivers have wanted a fare rise for some time," he said. "We want a clear and transparent calculation which allows us to understand how we can raise fares and how the fares can be justified." He said the council was proposing to increase the number of taxi ranks in the town in time for the Olympics. "There was a very unhappy group of taxi drivers at the licensing meeting and nobody wants that," he said. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-surrey-16423434 |
|
| Author: | captain cab [ Thu Jan 05, 2012 8:18 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Cabbies demanding fare rise plan Olympics protest |
Quote: Councillor Stephen Mansbridge said the council did not respond well to threats. I don't blame them....because that's what it looks like. CC |
|
| Page 1 of 1 | All times are UTC [ DST ] |
| Powered by phpBB® Forum Software © phpBB Group http://www.phpbb.com/ |
|