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PostPosted: Wed Apr 10, 2019 7:49 pm 
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Presumably the 'flat rate of taxis' referred to here is the flagfall, although it's not 100% clear.

Also, not sure whether the cars in the photos are HCs, or PHVs with roofsigns. First one could just be queue of PHVs in street, second could be some kind of exclusive 'rank' at Asda, because it's private property.

However, the firm's Yell page does say that it's "a well established private hire and taxi operator".


Chris O’Neal of Premier Cars has labelled Gwynedd Council’s plans to increase the flat rate of taxi’s from £3 to £3.60 “totally unacceptable”

https://www.northwaleschronicle.co.uk/n ... cceptable/

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Images: Premier Cars Bangor/Facebook

THE OWNER of a Gwynedd-based taxi company says “there is no justification” as to why the county council are considering raising the set prices for fares by 20%.

Chris O’Neal, who is operations manager at Premier Cars in Bangor, has labelled Gwynedd Council’s plans to increase the flat rate of taxi’s from £3 to £3.60 “totally unacceptable”.

“I don’t see how these people can justify such a hike in the prices,” he said.

“If the plans go ahead then it could have a major effect on our business and several others in the city too.

“We at Premier provide taxi’s for locals who maybe want to only make a one mile trip down the road for their shopping. I don’t think it’s very fair to raise the prices for such short trips.”

Mr O’Neal, who lives in Llandegfan on Anglesey and is a former Councillor himself, added that the company would not be going ahead with the recommended increase if it was to be introduced in the coming months.

“Life in general has already become expensive enough for the locals living in the city,”

“If we carry on raising prices continuously like this then it’s going to get to the stage where only the rich can survive.”

A Gwynedd Council spokesperson responded by saying: “Taxi fares tend to be market-led, and companies do not always charge the maximum fare allowed.

“Following a request from the Gwynedd taxi industry, the Council’s General Licensing Committee will be considering possible options for increasing the maximum fare that hackney taxi drivers are allowed to charge customers.

“This would be the first change in maximum fares since 2011. This would not affect journeys in private hire vehicles.

“It is expected that a report will be considered by the Council’s General Licensing Committee in the coming weeks.”

Premier Cars, owned by Mr O’Neal’s wife, Cheryl, was established four years ago. It now employs 52 staff members.


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PostPosted: Wed Apr 10, 2019 7:51 pm 
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I wonder how many of the drivers on his firm share his view?

Of course there is nothing stopping his firm giving 60p off every new fare.

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PostPosted: Thu Apr 11, 2019 7:04 am 
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I am told that there is one car owner here who has objected to our proposed increase. Muppet

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PostPosted: Thu Apr 11, 2019 6:26 pm 
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Sussex wrote:
I wonder how many of the drivers on his firm share his view?

Of course there is nothing stopping his firm giving 60p off every new fare.
Only thing he cares about is getting the rent off his drivers each week. And now they've had a pay rise they can afford to pay more (and probably lower the fares as well - to get more business of course) ! :roll:


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PostPosted: Thu Apr 11, 2019 7:15 pm 
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Taxi fare increase for Gwynedd approved - this is how it could affect you

https://www.dailypost.co.uk/news/north- ... d-16115562

It will be the first maximum fare rise to be introduced for black cabs since 2011

Taxi users in Gwynedd face having to pay more for their journeys after calls to increase the maximum charge for the first time in eight years were approved.

A report, passed by Gwynedd's General Licensing Committee this morning, proposed raising the maximum cost of a two mile journey in a hackney cab from £5 to £6 following complaints from taxi firm owners.

The move follows a decision by the authority in June 2018 to hike the cost of licences for both drivers and operators in order to cover the council's own administrative overheads.

It will be the first maximum fare rise since 2011.

The cost of a journey of one mile or less is currently £3, but would rise to £3.60 under the proposals.

But according to Gwynedd Council , the proposed £6 charge for a two mile journey would bring the county in line with neighbouring Anglesey, and was recommended following requests from Gwynedd taxi company owners.

The cost of a similar journey in Conwy is currently £5.20, £6 in Denbighshire, £6.20 in Flintshire and £7.20 in Wrexham.

The maximum fare does not apply to journeys made in private hire vehicles booked in advance, however, with no additional charges proposed for drivers having to wait, or fees for carrying additional bags.

Addressing this morning's meeting in Caernarfon, the committee chairman Cllr Peter Read said fares had remained largely stagnant since 2011.

"We must also remember that the companies do not have to charge the maximum amount, this gives them the choice."

While Cllr Angela Russell added: "All this does is bring us in line with Anglesey.

"As it's the taxi companies that have asked us to do this, I can't see the problem to be honest.

"At the end of the day they have a lot of red tape they have to contend with, so we must also do our bit to support these local firms."

While Cllr John Brynmor Hughes added: "It should be remembered that it's not us as a council hiking the fares directly, but giving private companies the right to do so if they wish."

The report noted that many firms already charge below the maximum fare, depending on what they consider to be a "competitive rate."

"Over the past six years, the council has had to increase the fees charged for driver's licences, taxi licences and taxi operator licences in order to attempt to recover the costs of processing and administrating licences; this has increased the financial burden on the industry," it added.

"Although there has been no increase in fuel costs on average since 2011, the costs of appropriate insurance for licensed vehicles has increased.

"The proposed increase for the hackney vehicle journey maximum fare has been calculated by adding inflation at an average of 2.6% per year to the price of the journey per mile that was fixed in 2011."


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PostPosted: Thu Apr 11, 2019 7:17 pm 
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Councillor Angela Russell wrote:
"As it's the taxi companies that have asked us to do this, I can't see the problem to be honest."


She obviously gives these things a lot of thought :-s


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PostPosted: Thu Apr 11, 2019 8:14 pm 
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Quote:
It will be the first maximum fare rise to be introduced for black cabs since 2011

Let's not wait till 2026 for the next one please.

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