The Comedy of Errors/Much Ado About Nothing/All's Well That Ends Well
Freeze lifted on cab fare hike
ALAN RODEN
TRANSPORT REPORTER
A freeze on taxi fare rises in the city will be lifted next week after Scotland's traffic commissioner threw out a sole objection.
The proposed increase of around seven per cent, which was due to start on May 1, was put on hold following a complaint from a cabbie.
The freeze has created chaos for 1200 taxi drivers in the Capital who already had their meters changed to the new prices, after being given the go-ahead by the council.
But the drivers were then warned that they would have to calculate a seven per cent discount for passengers carried in their cabs, or risk prosecution, until the problem was sorted out.
Yesterday, the traffic commissioner wrote to the cabbie who protested, Michael Gordon from Cramond Terrace, and rejected his complaints.
The taxi driver believed the fare rise was not high enough - and argued that the increase was not actually seven per cent.
The amount on the meter before people get into the cab has jumped from £1.45 to £1.50 - a 3.5 per cent increase.
But the time/mileage rate has risen from 23p to 25p - an 8.7 per cent hike.
The decision to find in favour of the council means that cabbies can start charging the full fare as soon as a one-week statutory period is over next Thursday.
The remaining drivers who have not had their meters changed will now also be able to increase their fares.
Edinburgh council leader Donald Anderson said: "We were always convinced that the traffic commissioner would find in our favour - and we have been proved right.
"It was just a shame that one individual owner has been able to cause this problem for the city, and I think that is something we need to look at."
Last week, traffic commissioner Joan Aitken criticised the city council for mishandling the situation.
She said the local authority had failed to advertise its plans properly, and said she had never come across such circumstances before.
But Mr Gordon today defended his decision to object, and insisted the rise was not equivalent to seven per cent.
"I am disappointed that the traffic commissioner chose not to take this case to a full hearing," he said.
"I'm very upset that she didn't take my point about the extra £1 we now have to pay to pick up fares at Edinburgh Airport.
"The council are responsible for Edinburgh's taxi trade and they have been destroying it for several years now. This was the straw that broke the camel's back."
The fiasco has angered cabbies, who have already called for an inquiry into the council's handling of the situation.
While some taxi drivers have been returning seven per cent of the fare to passengers, others have refused to do so.
They claim not to have received a letter ordering them to refund the increase, and have advised people to write to the council's licensing officials to complain instead.
Since the fare rise was put on hold, aggrieved customers have been able to report taxi and private-hire drivers to police for refusing to take off the amount.
However, a police spokeswoman said no complaints had been received, and no drivers had faced any charges.aroden@edinburghnews.com
This article: http://edinburghnews.scotsman.com/index ... =746182006
