U-turn over taxi tariffs TAXI drivers have petitioned the council to reverse a decision to change maximum tariffs, after arguing it would have increased fares. Some drivers argued that passengers were not seeing an increase in their incomes and it would even stop people using taxis if the fares were increased.
At a meeting in March, West Berkshire Council approved changes to the tariffs that could be set by a driver while using a meter, from a three-tariff system to a five-tariff system. This would mean higher charges for shorter journeys under the five-tariff system which has more starting rates depending on the time of day.
However, the council’s decision was met with three objection letters and a petition signed by 46 drivers. One objector, M.B.Elliot said that he didn’t see any justified increase in taxi fares when the public were not seeing increases in their incomes. As a result, the council were forced to reconsider the matter at a policy committee meeting last week.
Speen councillor, Paul Bryant, said that the council should not change the tariff as he proposed to “keep the status quo.” He said: “All we want to see is that the taxi drivers are getting a decent return for their work and we want to make sure the public gets a reasonable service and one they can afford. “We realised the mistake when we thought the taxi trade were speaking for the whole trade. At the previous meeting, the council were encouraged to go along with that. I’m a firm believer that if something is not broken, or does not work, there is no benefit in changing it.”
Paul Westbrook, owner of Westbrook Cars, presented to the council on behalf of the taxi drivers, to appeal against the decision. He said that at the previous meeting in March, representatives from the association who presented to the council, did not consult nor reflect the views of taxi drivers in West Berkshire.
He added: “I think it was unpopular. No one wanted the five-tariff system, which is what the association had presented to the council. “The tariff had been presented to the council before the general election so the councillors that were sitting and voting were on their last sitting so in reality, were they even listening? I do know that two of the councillors when it was being debated were asleep.” Mr Westbrook, who has run Westbrook Cars for five years, said there needs to be better communication between drivers, customers and the association.
He added: “I disagree with the five-tariff system whole heartedly. It penalises some parties who use our service and discriminates against the people most in need of our help. We don’t think it’s fair for us to be taking a two percent pay rise, when our customers can’t afford to use our service.
Those little old ladies that use us just to go to the shops, these are the people that keep us going, and we don’t think it’s fair that they can’t use our service while we pocket a pay rise. In reality we have got to remember we work in the service industry, and if that means we have to hold our prices then that is what we are going to do.” The decision was reversed as councillors unanimously voted to keep the three-tariff system.”
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