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Taxi fares in Sefton set to jump by nearly 25 per cent

Taxi fares across Sefton could rise by up to 24% from December.

The cost of travel in one of Sefton’s 271 Hackney taxis could be increasing for the first time since March 2017, if plans are approved at a meeting of Sefton Council ’s licensing committee tonight, November 1.

There are three tariffs for Hackney fares across the borough, and with the lowest, Tariff 1, which is the day rate, fares currently start at £3.50 for the first mile.

From December they could rise by 20% to £4.20 for the first mile if proposals are approved at Bootle Town Hall tonight.

For the night rate, Tariff 2, there could be a one mile increase of 23% from £4.20 to £5.25 while Tariff 3, which comes into effect during the Christmas period, could see a one mile rise of 24% from £5.10 to £6.30.

At two, three and four miles, the tariffs could increase between 9% and 17% depending on time and day.

The plans also include a standardisation of waiting fees to 25p per minute across the tariffs. At the moment, waiting rates vary between 20p and 30p depending on when someone is travelling.

Higher weekend rates could also be brought into force at a much earlier time, from 7pm instead of 11pm.

A statement from trade representatives, contained in the report, states: “This is to encourage drivers to better service these times surrounding the night time economy by increased usage of the current Hackney Carriage fleet at the weekends” and to ensure maintenance and renewal of the borough’s cabs.

According to a report produced ahead of tonight’s licensing meeting, trade representatives said the proposed tariff rises were needed due to the increase cost of living since the previous fare increase in 2017.

The report adds that it is believed the 10% reduction in the number of Hackney drivers in the borough is due to the “migration of drivers” to private hire vehicles, which have already seen an increase in fare rates.

If the proposals are agreed at tonight’s meeting, people will have fourteen days to register any objections, and if none are received, the new fare rates could come into effect from December 1.

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IDFIMH

Seems very reasonable to me.

Four years of no increase is always going to lead to a jump, and if the good folks of Sefton want to get home late at night then they should be prepared to pay for it.

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IDFIMH

IT got knocked back but

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Justice for the 96. It has only taken 27 years...........repeat the same lies for 27 years and the truth sounds strange to people!

But because each item was Voted for separately I have withdrawn the one they did not like so it goes through

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Justice for the 96. It has only taken 27 years...........repeat the same lies for 27 years and the truth sounds strange to people!

and that one is ?

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

The one that was never expected to go through, a red herring if you like, so the council feel like they are in control of negotiations. The taxi drivers got what they wanted, and maybe more besides.

( ) this is where Mr T states he couldn’t possibly comment.

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Former taxi driver

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IDFIMH

T2 from 7pm instead of 10 pm

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Justice for the 96. It has only taken 27 years...........repeat the same lies for 27 years and the truth sounds strange to people!

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Justice for the 96. It has only taken 27 years...........repeat the same lies for 27 years and the truth sounds strange to people!

The problem we have had in Sefton Is one particular private hire company that for years have kept the fares low,, But now after losing over 1500 vehicles and new drivers going to Uber because their fares are better and the drivers are earning more money, They have had to increase their fares dramatically

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Justice for the 96. It has only taken 27 years...........repeat the same lies for 27 years and the truth sounds strange to people!

So they have run out of mugs barely surviving on starvation rates.

At least some good has come out of this pandemic.

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IDFIMH