Taxi Driver Online

UK cab trade debate and advice
It is currently Fri Mar 29, 2024 2:00 pm

All times are UTC [ DST ]




Post new topic Reply to topic  [ 30 posts ]  Go to page Previous  1, 2
Author Message
PostPosted: Thu Nov 18, 2021 8:07 pm 
Offline
User avatar

Joined: Wed Sep 03, 2003 7:30 pm
Posts: 53921
Location: 1066 Country
Quote:
No it is not, Police act when called as it is a criminal offence to refuse to pay any charges on the tariff table.

Regrettably I live in the real world.

_________________
IDFIMH


Top
 Profile  
 
PostPosted: Thu Dec 09, 2021 12:40 pm 
Offline

Joined: Wed May 16, 2012 6:33 am
Posts: 13823
Taxi drivers' anger as pre-Christmas fares rise ruled out

https://www.somersetcountygazette.co.uk ... ise-ruled/

A PRE-Christmas rise in taxi fares in the Taunton and Minehead areas has been blocked after eight people submitted objections to the council.

Irate cabbies say there has not been an increase in the past 11 years, despite spiralling vehicle insurance and fuel costs.

A taxi firm had requested permission for the rise from the licensing department at Somerset West and Taunton Council ahead of the festive season.

But the council has now put off the decision until into the New Year following opposition voiced during a consultation period that ended on Monday (December 6).

Robin Colclough, spokesperson for The Taunton Taxi Drivers and Owners Association, said a 12 per cent fare rise proposed by SWT was agreed with the trade.

He added: "The trade was hoping this increase would go through with no objection and the increase would be available for the Christmas and New Year period.

"To discover that, following eight objections, the licensing department must now present the proposal to the executive committee and they will not meet until January 19 is very disheartening.

"The increase is desperately needed to go some way to cover the increased costs associated with running a taxi business.

"The trade is dealing with at least two of the main drivers behind inflation, namely fuel and commercial insurance. Vehicle insurance has increased by more than 40 per cent in the last 11 years, fuel has increased by more than 30 per cent in the last six months.

"On top of this, you have all the other costs going up in line with inflation - tyres, servicing, repairs and maintenance have all increased hugely since the trade's last pay rise. We can no longer keep paying all these higher prices without some increase in the money we earn."

Mr Colclough conceded that "money is tight" due to Brexit and the pandemic, but he knows of nobody who has not had a pay rise in 11 years, while the last 18 months has seen many drivers leave the industry, while those who remain have seen company profits wiped out following "months of little or no work".

He added: "The proposed fare increase would be a godsend for us and allow us to replace essential backup funds and go a small way to paying for the increase in everything we need to operate.

"If this increase does not go through or is drastically cut back then the trade in this town will continue to dwindle and, we're convinced, will eventually die.

"A business with the overheads we deal with cannot run without a realistic and sensible income. There is little or no chance of attracting new drivers into the trade when they are often struggling to match the minimum wage."

An SWT spokesperson said a public consultation was held into a local taxi firm's request for a fares increase.

They added: "It was also an opportunity to align taxi tariffs between the two former districts of Taunton Deane and West Somerset, which remain unchanged since 2010 and 2011 respectively.

"Adoption of the proposed table of fares along with the eight objections received will be considered by elected councillors at an executive meeting scheduled for January 19.”


Top
 Profile  
 
PostPosted: Thu Dec 09, 2021 12:40 pm 
Offline

Joined: Wed May 16, 2012 6:33 am
Posts: 13823
Presumably the eight objections would include members of the trade? Couldn't imagine eight members of the public objecting, particularly after 11 years.

But of course it's complicated by the amalgamation, which I'm guessing is the reason for the objections. It's not as straightforward as portrayed by Taunton TOA in the piece :?


Top
 Profile  
 
PostPosted: Thu Dec 09, 2021 5:48 pm 
Offline
User avatar

Joined: Thu May 03, 2007 8:15 pm
Posts: 9163
jimbo wrote:
I wonder what the cover price of the gazette is in now, and how much it was in 2012.


80p then and £1.50 now.


Top
 Profile  
 
PostPosted: Thu Dec 09, 2021 9:33 pm 
Offline
User avatar

Joined: Wed Sep 03, 2003 7:30 pm
Posts: 53921
Location: 1066 Country
I suspect most of the objectors would have been from the public.

Maybe some disabled group or old dear reps.

All that said I'm not overly sympathetic to the trade's pre-Xmas woes.

The local trade has had 11 f***ing years to ask for a rise, and Xmas comes at the same time every year.

They should have put their request for a rise in during the summer, which would then have allowed time for the council to undertake the process, even with objections, in time for Xmas.

_________________
IDFIMH


Top
 Profile  
 
PostPosted: Thu Dec 09, 2021 10:41 pm 
Offline
User avatar

Joined: Sun Jan 28, 2007 8:58 pm
Posts: 3486
Location: Plymouth
Sussex wrote:
They should have put their request for a rise in during the summer, which would then have allowed time for the council to undertake the process, even with objections, in time for Xmas.

Plymouth put in for a Rise at the very end of July.

All accepted in October.

Advertised and any objections?

So, because of a few objections, maybe in the New Year.

_________________
Chris The Fish

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gdlyi5mc ... re=related


Top
 Profile  
 
PostPosted: Thu Jan 13, 2022 7:43 pm 
Offline

Joined: Wed May 16, 2012 6:33 am
Posts: 13823
Plenty stuff here, particularly for the number crunchers :?


Proposed taxi fare increases in Taunton and Minehead

https://www.somersetcountygazette.co.uk ... -minehead/

TAXI fares in the Taunton and Minehead areas look set to become the highest in Somerset under proposed increases.

Somerset West and Taunton Council's executive meeting on Wednesday (January 19) is being recommended to push through the new rates.

The rise, which would come into effect from February 6, has been requested by cab firms who have not been allowed to up charges for over a decade.

One company's formal request to adopt a new table of fares before Christmas was delayed following a number of objections from members of the public.

But taxi owners point to higher costs incurred since the last increase caused by inflation; a VAT hike from 17.5 per cent to 20 per cent in 2011; lack of drivers entering the trade; a 50 per cent increase in the minimum wage; and 'dead' mileage in our sparsely populated rural areas.

Currently taxi fares in Taunton Deane are ranked 151st out of 364 in a UK table of hackney carriage fares, while West Somerset is 237th.

If approved, the new rates would be the highest in Somerset on a par with Bath and North East Somerset and see both districts jump to around 20th in the league table.

Image
Image: Somerset County Gazette

Max Bishop, a director at Taunton Taxi Services, said: "Just on those factors alone, you can see why there is need for an increase from 11 years ago - not to mention the increase on taxi insurance, which currently stands at around £1,300 a vehicle per year for fleets, public liability insurance, taxi vehicle licensing, medical checks, DBS checks, tyes, accountants, officve wages, internet, phone lines, dispatch systems - the list goes on."

Image
Image: Somerset County Gazette

He added that there is a "huge shortage" of drivers and the increase will "hopefully entice drivers to come back and also bring in new drivers to better serve our community".

Jared Colclough, of Grab-A-Cab, said the last increase in the Taunton area was in November 2010 and the latest rise equates to a 1.1 per cent increase.

Most of the objections concern the percentage increase in West Somerset fares would be higher than in Taunton Deane. One opponent claimed fares in Taunton are "already punitively high".

Here are some examples of journeys to help demonstrate the difference between existing fares and the proposed fares.

    • 2 mile journey on a Monday afternoon: This would come to £7.20. That is £1 more than it would cost currently in Taunton Deane and £1.40 more than in West Somerset.

    • 2 mile journey in the early hours of Sunday morning: This would come to £10.80. That is £1.50 more than it would cost currently in Taunton Deane and £2.10 more than in West Somerset.

    • 2 mile journey on a Bank Holiday: This would come to £14.40. That is £1 more than it would cost currently in Taunton Deane and £2.80 more than in West Somerset.

    • 5 mile journey on a Monday afternoon: This would come to £14.60. That is £1.80 more than it would cost currently in Taunton Deane and £3 more than in West Somerset.

    • 5 mile journey in the early hours of Sunday morning: This would come to £21.90. That is £2.70 more than it would cost currently in Taunton Deane and £4.50 more than in West Somerset.

    • 5 mile journey on a Bank Holiday: This would come to £29.20. That is £3.60 more than it would cost currently in Taunton Deane and £6 more than in West Somerset.


Top
 Profile  
 
PostPosted: Thu Jan 13, 2022 8:40 pm 
Offline
User avatar

Joined: Wed Sep 03, 2003 7:30 pm
Posts: 53921
Location: 1066 Country
Quote:
But taxi owners point to higher costs incurred since the last increase caused by inflation; a VAT hike from 17.5 per cent to 20 per cent in 2011

Don't know whether to laugh or cry that they are using the VAT change nearly 11 years ago as evidence for a rise. #-o

Personally I would be embarrassed.

_________________
IDFIMH


Top
 Profile  
 
PostPosted: Thu Jan 13, 2022 8:44 pm 
Offline
User avatar

Joined: Wed Sep 03, 2003 7:30 pm
Posts: 53921
Location: 1066 Country
I wonder if the folks doing the proposal actually have any idea about the world in 2022.

All day Saturday and Sunday 50% extra.

Bank holidays 100% extra.

_________________
IDFIMH


Top
 Profile  
 
PostPosted: Thu Jan 13, 2022 8:46 pm 
Offline
User avatar

Joined: Wed Sep 03, 2003 7:30 pm
Posts: 53921
Location: 1066 Country
Quote:
Jared Colclough, of Grab-A-Cab, said the last increase in the Taunton area was in November 2010 and the latest rise equates to a 1.1 per cent increase.

Guess it must have been him, because those increases are far higher than 1.1%.

_________________
IDFIMH


Top
 Profile  
 
PostPosted: Thu Jan 13, 2022 11:46 pm 
Offline
User avatar

Joined: Sun Jan 28, 2007 8:58 pm
Posts: 3486
Location: Plymouth
Chris the Fish wrote:
Plymouth put in for a Rise at the very end of July.

All accepted in October.

Advertised and any objections?

So, because of a few objections, maybe in the New Year.

A bit weird quoting myself......

....objections rejected today, new Tariff starts next Thursday.

=D>

_________________
Chris The Fish

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gdlyi5mc ... re=related


Top
 Profile  
 
PostPosted: Fri Jan 14, 2022 3:22 am 
Offline
User avatar

Joined: Thu Sep 07, 2006 8:26 pm
Posts: 8518
Chris the Fish wrote:
A bit weird quoting myself......

....objections rejected today, new Tariff starts next Thursday.

=D>
=D> =D> =D> =D> =D> =D> =D> =D> =D> =D> =D>

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


Top
 Profile  
 
PostPosted: Sat Jan 15, 2022 12:00 pm 
Offline
User avatar

Joined: Sun Jan 28, 2007 8:58 pm
Posts: 3486
Location: Plymouth
My Error, New Tariff comes in on the 18th inst, which is Tuesday.

_________________
Chris The Fish

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gdlyi5mc ... re=related


Top
 Profile  
 
PostPosted: Sun Jan 30, 2022 6:33 pm 
Offline

Joined: Wed May 16, 2012 6:33 am
Posts: 13823
Taxi fares set to rise 17%

https://www.wsfp.co.uk/article.cfm?id=1 ... hyear=2022

TAXI fares in West Somerset and Taunton will be increased for the first time in a decade on February 6 - but by 25 per cent less than cab firms had asked for.

At their meeting last Wednesday, Somerset West and Taunton Council’s Executive agreed to modify fare increase proposals to 75 per cent of the rise requested by the area’s taxi drivers to bring them in line with Mendip and Sedgemoor fares.

Proposing the modified tariff, Cllr Andrew Sully said that under the previous Taunton Deane and West Somerset councils, taxi fares had been kept separate for nearly 11 years but now was the time to bring them together.

He said: "We decided not to increase fares by the full amount asked for, which would have been, for example, £7.20 for a two-mile trip, but to align them with Mendip and Sedgemoor at £6.80. The current price in Taunton Deane is £6.20 and in West Somerset, £5.80.

"West Somerset taxis will get an increase of 17 per cent and Taunton 10 per cent.

Cllr Sully added: "The sum of £6.80 is a 75 per cent of the original proposal, plus an extra 5p. We are doing this because prices have not gone up for a very long time and have been subject to inflationary pressure.

"We are achieving parity with other neighbouring councils and then it will be up to the future new unitary authority to look at the whole price structure."

Taxi firm representatives told the meeting that since the last increase there had been a massive rise in the price of everything from tax and insurance to wages and running costs. They said there was a serious shortage of drivers and that an increase might encourage new applicants.

Executive chairman Cllr Derek Perry said: "I am in no doubt that there needs to be a significant rise in taxi fares because our two predecessor councils did not increase the rates and those rates are just not tenable ten or 11 years on."

He added: "We all have sympathy with the financial pressures on taxi drivers, and an increase is in the public interest to preserve the number of taxi drivers available. It also needs to be quite significant.

"We should go with the amended figure because many people with limited incomes rely on taxis in rural areas where there are often are poor levels of public transport.

"In a national taxi fares league table which contains 364 taxi fare licensing areas, Taunton is in 151st place and West Somerset 237th. We are a long way down. A fare of £7.20 would put us between 17th and 22nd in the national table but £6.80 would put us level with Mendip and Sedgemoor."

West Somerset councillor Marcus Kravis said that in his area there was a serious lack of taxis and an increase in fares might encourage more people to operate rural taxi services. He supported the increase which would bring local taxis in line with other districts in the county.

Cllr Roger Habgood agreed that in rural areas taxis were out of reach of most residents. He understood that taxi fares should increase ’but there is more to the transport problem in rural areas than taxis’.

Cllr Mike Rigby said that the forthcoming unitary council should have an early review of taxi fares rather than leave it another ten years. They should be looked at again in another year or so to make sure they had been pitched at the right level.

The modifications to the original fare structure proposals were passed unanimously by Executive members.


Top
 Profile  
 
PostPosted: Sun Jan 30, 2022 7:06 pm 
Offline
User avatar

Joined: Wed Sep 03, 2003 7:30 pm
Posts: 53921
Location: 1066 Country
Quote:
Executive chairman Cllr Derek Perry said: "I am in no doubt that there needs to be a significant rise in taxi fares because our two predecessor councils did not increase the rates and those rates are just not tenable ten or 11 years on."

Fella makes a good point, but the blame should be shared equally with the trade for so many years of inaction.

_________________
IDFIMH


Top
 Profile  
 
Display posts from previous:  Sort by  
Post new topic Reply to topic  [ 30 posts ]  Go to page Previous  1, 2

All times are UTC [ DST ]


Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 86 guests


You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum
You cannot post attachments in this forum

Jump to:  
Powered by phpBB® Forum Software © phpBB Group