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PostPosted: Tue Mar 01, 2022 9:02 pm 
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Isle of Wight taxi fees to rise further

ISLANDERS will be consulted ahead of a 'significant rise' in taxi fees.

The Isle of Wight Council's licensing committee yesterday (Monday) voted overwhelmingly in favour of a hike in taxi fees which would see a two-mile journey, charged on the lowest tariff, increase by £1.10.

It follows consultation with the Island's taxi trade who supported a fee increase due to rising running fuel, service charges and insurance.

Chair of the committee, Cllr Daryll Pitcher, said there were legitimate reasons to increase the fees and this was just the beginning of a complicated process.

Not all members were in favour, with Cllr Gary Peace saying the taxi charges on the Island were already ridiculously high.

He suggested, much like other businesses during the Covid pandemic including his own, drivers absorb the added costs.

If prices did have to rise, Cllr Peace said, they should be in line with inflation which would be a much simpler way of determining an increase and would probably have more support from the public.

Concerns had previously been raised by officers that it would be unlikely the public would support the 'significant increase' proposed.

Following the approval, a minimum 14-day consultation will start once a public notice is published in local newspapers and on the council's website.

If no objections are lodged, the new fees will begin on May 1.

However, if valid objections are submitted, the start date will be pushed back and the issue could come back before the licensing committee.

What are the changes?

The initial 'flag drop', or hire fee also covering the first half a mile of the journey increases by 50p

Each quarter mile, after the flag drop, increases between 10p and 50p depending on the tariff

Waiting time during a trip increases between 20p and 70p a minute.

Sundays would be charged at the same rate as bank and public holidays becoming more expensive, moving into tariff two

The cost for transporting animals doubles from 50p to £1 per animal

Soiling charge increases to £100, from £70


According to the draft table of fees, tariff hours are also set to change, pending approval, meaning travel will cost more from 8pm through to 6am. The higher tariff used to start at 10pm.

The fares set are the maximum amount drivers can charge, so some companies could charge less.

See the difference in tables of fees here: (the current fees top, with the proposed changes underneath)

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PostPosted: Tue Mar 01, 2022 9:03 pm 
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Not all members were in favour, with Cllr Gary Peace saying the taxi charges on the Island were already ridiculously high.

He suggested, much like other businesses during the Covid pandemic including his own, drivers absorb the added costs.

Can't believe people actually voted for this numpty. #-o

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PostPosted: Wed Mar 02, 2022 6:14 pm 
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The meter only cranks up every quarter of a mile? :-o

So before midnight the meters will go up in 90p increments, and £1.20 after midnight :-o

Thus that's almost a £5 running mile after midnight :-o

And that's just the saloons - 4+ passengers and it's £6 per mile after midnight? :-o


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PostPosted: Wed Mar 02, 2022 8:21 pm 
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StuartW wrote:
The meter only cranks up every quarter of a mile? :-o

So before midnight the meters will go up in 90p increments, and £1.20 after midnight :-o

Thus that's almost a £5 running mile after midnight :-o

And that's just the saloons - 4+ passengers and it's £6 per mile after midnight? :-o

Nothing happens on the Isle of Wight after midnight.

Might as well be £50 a mile.

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PostPosted: Thu Apr 07, 2022 7:49 pm 
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Advertisement of fares received objections so it's now down to the Cabinet in a month's time.

https://onthewight.com/isle-of-wight-ta ... six-years/

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PostPosted: Sun May 08, 2022 8:50 pm 
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CONCERNS OVER TAXI FARE INCREASE RAISED BY DRIVER AND LOCAL CHARITY

https://www.islandecho.co.uk/concerns-o ... l-charity/

“I don’t need a major pay increase” – that’s the words of an Isle of Wight taxi driver railing against a controversial price hike, with a local charity also objecting to the plans, fearing for the people it represents.

It comes as the Isle of Wight Council is looking to approve a ‘significant rise’ in taxi fees — which could see some fares go up by 50%, as previously reported by Island Echo.

The issue was first discussed in March when the proposed prices were put out for consultation. They would have been automatically approved if there had been no objections.

However, 5 representations were received, including 1 from a taxi driver who broke ranks and objected, citing fears for a knock-on impact on pubs and restaurants and possibly leading to more drink driving.

The taxi driver of 4 years believed the Island’s taxi fares were already quite overpriced and said an increase would lead to a significant drop in business, especially at night. The council consulted with the Island’s taxi trade and the majority were in favour of the increase, due to rising running costs.

Local charity, Sight for Wight, has also submitted the ‘strongest objections’ to “what must be an unprecedented increase and therefore not reasonable”. The charity said it understood petrol prices are rising but the increases ‘simply cannot be justified based on that’.

It said its members, who are all blind and partially sighted, rely on taxis, many on a daily basis and with 16% of its members of working age in employment, funds are not available to sustain such a hike in prices.

The Isle of Wight Council’s cabinet is now being asked to approve the increase but is advised by officers to make sure fares are proportionate and affordable while still ensuring the taxi operators have a viable business.

Officers have also previously warned about a lack of public support.

If cabinet members approve the increase, the news prices will start on 1st June.

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PostPosted: Sun May 08, 2022 8:51 pm 
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Quote:
“I don’t need a major pay increase” – that’s the words of an Isle of Wight taxi driver railing against a controversial price hike,

Everyone is entitled to a view, but just because you have a view doesn't stop you from acting like a prize [edited by admin]. [-(

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PostPosted: Mon May 09, 2022 5:17 am 
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Sussex wrote:
Quote:
“I don’t need a major pay increase” – that’s the words of an Isle of Wight taxi driver railing against a controversial price hike,

Everyone is entitled to a view, but just because you have a view doesn't stop you from acting like a prize [edited by admin]. [-(
If you don't need a Major pay increase then you don't have to charge it. You can always offer a discount.
Some drivers here said similar when ours went up by quite a bit. They all charge it now though.

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PostPosted: Mon May 16, 2022 9:31 pm 
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Looks like the increase has been approved.

I wonder if the grumpy numpty will increase his fares. I bet he does.

https://www.islandecho.co.uk/bad-news-f ... -1st-june/

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