Taxi Driver Online

Not much to see here, but since there are a couple of Borderers regularly contributing on here...


Taxi fares in Borders set to rise by almost 4%

https://www.thesouthernreporter.co.uk/n ... 4-1-490861


Channel Street, Galashiels (Image: Southern Reporter)

Taxi fares are set to rise in the Borders despite misgivings being voiced by councillors about them being too high already.

At a meeting of Scottish Borders Council’s executive committee today, April 16, councillors voted to approve proposals to allow the region’s 111 taxi operators to increase their fares by 3.7% if they wish to.

The new charges will mean a 10-mile journey in a taxi for up to four passengers will rise from £19.59 to £20.32 during the day and from £24.49 to £25.40 late at night and early in the morning.

The council assesses taxi fares annually using a formula taking into account the cost of vehicles, fuel, and insurance.

This will be the first rise in the Borders since one of 4% in the financial year 2014-15.

Despite the formula showing an increase is on the cards this year, several councillors expressed reservations.

Kelso councillor Tom Weatherston believes taxis in the Borders are already expensive in comparison to the rest of Scotland, saying: “I compared us to other authorities, and I found that we’ve probably got the highest taxi fares in Scotland.

“What concerns me is the flag rate, the distance you can go before the meter kicks in. In other areas, they can go much further before the meter kicks in.”

Galashiels councillor Euan Jardine claimed that the price rise will hit vulnerable people the hardest, saying: “For the most vulnerable in society, this is going to push up the expense of getting around.

“I was at a lunch club the other day, and there was an elderly lady there. She said she can’t walk far and has to get taxis everywhere.

“Say she’s going to the shops, she’s spending an extra 20p on this, she forgets her bags, has to get another 10p for carrier bags, and these little things add up.

“There’s some elderly people who will have this just eating away at their fixed income.

“I know this has to go through, but I’m against this altogether as it does harm the most vulnerable people.”

A motion by Mr Jardine to put the increase on hold temporarily failed to attract support.

The taxi fare increase will now be put to a public consultation, the results of which will go before the council in June.

During that period, taxi operators will have the opportunity to appeal against the increase agreed, but if none do so, it could be introduced as early as September.

Council officers also confirmed that taxi operators must pay to have the new rates installed on their meters by a professional at a cost of upwards of £30 per vehicle.

That reminds me, were the fees for the Group 2 medicals ever sorted out?

How many local bus services have you axed?

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Grandad,

I assume they are quoting 10 mile journey prices because there is no "local" work ?



it would be interesting to put that theory to the test

and now over to our Borders correspondent Skippy.......................

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lack of modern legislation is the iceberg sinking the titanic of the transport sector

Instead of some ignorant councillor stating that the Borders are more expensive than other areas he should instead put his money where his big mouth is and show us the proof that every other authority is factually cheaper.

If the figures on my spreadsheet are correct then the 10 mile trip in Fife is £25.40 on T1 and £31.75 on T2, so about £5 and £6 more than yours, even after the rises.

In fact, by coincidence your T2 for the ten mile trip is precisely the same as our T1

Also, a quick check of the PHTM tables suggests there are 11 or so (out of 33, or thereabouts) Scottish authorities higher than the Borders for the two mile trip, so don't know where he's getting his information from.

He may be right, though, in that he says:



However, the flag is just £2.25, and the running mile isn't particularly high, therefore...

To be fair, though, there's a hefty 50% premium for 5+ seaters. Perhaps that's not particularly hefty by national standards, but in Fife there's no passenger premium of any kind, whether for vehicle size or per additional passenger.

So saloons here quite expensive compared to yours, while bigger taxis here a bargain by comparison.

c'mon Skippy hop to it what is the locals opinion ?

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lack of modern legislation is the iceberg sinking the titanic of the transport sector

Every one is happy about the increase, apart from Skippy.

He is reducing his fares.

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IDFIMH

I thought Skippy had had a change of heart - couldn't help notice that he recently said:



Which seemed to conflict with the signature that he's used for a long time, but which seems to have been removed. Managed to find it via Google, though



Change of business strategy, perchance?

Maybe he has finally realised he is working in Scotland.

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IDFIMH

Always reminded me of the tv ad for walkers crisps, before lineker, of the Scotsman in a shop asking about a packet of said crisps, “ you’ll no be having a sale, will ye?”

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Former taxi driver