Taxi Driver Online

50p taxi levy condemned as 'stealth tax'

Plans to impose a surcharge on all taxi fares in Sheffield in an attempt to help improve air quality have provoked a political row. Sheffield Council's cabinet will be asked to approve plans to add an extra 50p to all journeys as a means of helping cab operators to pay for new vehicles with cleaner exhausts. They must be in use by 2010 to meet a Government ruling on low emissions for taxis.

The development also contributes towards one of the objectives of a local transport plan for South Yorkshire, which aims to improve air quality in Sheffield city centre. The cabinet is being recommended to approve the introduction of the charge but the suggestion has been condemned by the Liberal Democrats, who say that the system is flawed. They have described the charge as a 'stealth tax' and suggest it will contribute to the problems already facing the city from a lack of public transport.

Under the current plan, the surcharge would take no account of the length of journey and there was no system in place to ensure that money raised through the surcharge was spent towards the costs of new vehicles.

Some taxi drivers were cautious about the reaction from their customers if an additional charge was introduced, according to Lib Dem leader Coun Paul Scriven. The Lib Dem party would prefer to see more taxi ranks, with better quality facilities, created to allow the public better access to cabs instead.

Coun Scriven said: "Labour's policy simply doesn't make sense and,
in my view, the policy is little more than a stealth tax on the people of Sheffield who are becoming increasingly frustrated at the rising costs of getting around our City. "Liberal Democrats are against this crude levy, and significantly even taxi drivers have voiced concerns over how customers will react to this extra charge. "The way to help our taxi drivers is to increase their customers by making it easier for customers to get taxis. "This means more taxi ranks and ranks in places outside the city centre where there is significant demand."

Taxi operators have criticised council policy, which does not restrict the number of licensed taxis in the city. They believe that spreads the available work too thinly, leaving drivers working increased hours to maintain their income. They have also complained that changes in the city centre have reduced available space on ranks.

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IDFIMH

So they're offering thousands extra a year for each taxi, and at the same time there's no obligation to spend it on anything, even assuming upgrading costs that much.

So won't that deter customers and attract more drivers into the trade, while they're complaining about a lack of rank space?

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

It's gone a stage further.

http://www.sheffieldtoday.net/ViewArtic ... ID=1190917

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IDFIMH