Taxi Driver Online

Malvern taxi drivers 'surprised' at failed bid to increase fares

http://www.malverngazette.co.uk/news/16 ... _increase/

TAXI drivers are 'surprised' that the district council rejected a proposal to increase their fares.

If the motion had been successful, the Malvern district would have become the 11th highest place in the country for taxi prices, according to Worcestershire Regulatory Services.

Local drivers wanted to hike their fares because of rising costs and inflation, however councillors argued that they were already high enough.

Stuart Pearson, who represents Malvern hackney carriage drivers, said: "I'm a little surprised.

"It's been four years since we have had a fare rise. I'm pretty sure everyone else has had a pay rise in the last four years.

"Costs have gone up for all self-employed drivers. I think the only cost that hasn't gone up is the fee to the council themselves.

"There were drivers who wanted to bump it up by a pound to start with, we went with the lowest option."

Addressing councillors' concerns about the impact on elderly residents, Mr Pearson told the Malvern Gazette that different rates could be introduced for tourists and locals.

He asked the council to increase the first mile tariff for hackney carriages from £4 to £4.40.

He also requested that drivers be allowed to charge 20p for every subsequent 123 metres - instead of the current distance of 134 metres - and £2.60 for each extra mile.

The cost of a two-mile journey would also jump from £6.40 to £7.00, under the plans.

However councillors rejected the proposal at the Malvern Hills District Council executive committee meeting on Tuesday.

Cllr Bronwen Behan questioned why Malvern's taxi fares should be so 'immensely high'.

She said the thought of the district becoming the 11th most expensive place in the UK for taxis was frightening.

Cllr Melanie Baker added that the area has become increasingly reliant on taxis since county council cuts to bus services.

The councillor said a lot of elderly residents might struggle to pay for the 10 per cent increase with their pensions.

Cllr Sarah Rouse also argued that people could not afford the proposed rates.

The committee voted unanimously to reject the motion.

A hackney carriage tariff table for May, published by The Private Hire and Taxi Monthly, lists Malvern as 72nd in the country for fares, whereas Worcester is 188th and Wychavon is 276th.

A two-mile trip costs £5.80 in Worcester, compared to £5.40 in Wychavon.

And I wonder why those services were cut?

Possibly down to running at too low a rate.

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IDFIMH

I wonder if the association presented any evidence of the increase in costs to the council ?