Taxi Driver Online

Seems to be a bit more of a sense of urgency from the council here than in the likes of Fife, which probably means they'll get a tariff rise by the summer at least

But it's the lads in Neath again, who at least seem to have the luxury of oodles of space at their bus station rank, at least judging by the amount of space they leave between the cars


'Some days it's hardly worth working' Taxi fare rise for Neath Port Talbot to meet fuel price hike

https://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/cost ... h-23366423

One taxi driver in Neath Port Talbot said it was 'hardly worth working' some days due to increase in fuel prices


Image: Jonathon Myers/Wales Online

Councillors agreed to an 'urgently' needed taxi fares increase in Neath Port Talbot to meet the ever-increasing cost of fuel.

Neath Port Talbot County Borough Council (NPTCBC) councillors were unanimous in their support for an increase in the hackney carriage fare for the county borough at a meeting on Friday, March 11.

The council said an increase in taxi fares was already on the agenda due to the increased cost of living.

However, a report by the Head of Legal and Democratic Services at NPTCBC, said that in the last week there have been more requests for an urgent increase to the hackney carriage fare, with drivers and proprietors "very concerned about the increasing costs of petrol and diesel".

Drivers are also reportedly concerned about the increase in service charges and other costs, like insurance.

Council officer, Neil Chapple, said: "The cost of living is why we are increasing the tariffs.

"The intention was to bring a report to members in summer time and then everything happened in Europe. Petrol prices went through the roof [and] it was urgent that we got this tariff increase through."

As the crisis in Ukraine continues, petrol prices have soared in the UK.

Figures from data firm Experian Catalist show the average cost of a litre of petrol in the UK at 159.6p, up from 158.2p on Tuesday.

The average cost of a litre of diesel reached 167.4p on Wednesday, up from 165.2p on Tuesday.

Cabinet members approved a 30% increase to the start rate of the tariff - from £2.60, up to £3.40.

A three-mile journey would now cost £8.20, where it once cost £7.66. A five-mile journey would rise from £12.06 to £13.

Taxi drivers in Neath Port Talbot, which has one of the lowest tariffs across the 22 authorities in Wales, are relieved to see fares going up.

One taxi driver, Martin Clements, said that on some days it is "hardly worth working" due to the increase in fuel prices.

He said: "As a new starter just before the pandemic hit, it hit me really hard.

"[I] Went from earning enough [to] live comfortably to earning about £15 [per] day.

"I have to take on other jobs such as Amazon Flex, Just Eat and Uber Eats."

Adding to the struggles already faced by taxi drivers, Martin said the number of people who fail to pay and "runners" has increased.

On the tariff increase, Martin added: "Many of the customers agree that something does need to be done and understand how it's affecting us."

An impact assessment report attached to the Head of Legal and Democratic Services report revealed that the last time Neath Port Talbot saw a tariff increase was in 2019 - meaning taxi drivers had not seen a pay increase in two and a half years.

The impact assessment report adds that those most likely to be affected are the elderly, disabled and in some cases women with young children.

However, the anticipated impact to these groups is marked as 'medium'.

Although there will be an increase to the maximum permitted fare, it is not mandatory for all taxi firms to do so.


Image: Google Maps/Wales Online

What a load of rubbish. He starts by saying it's hardly worth working due to the fuel prices, then starts waffling about largely unrelated stuff.


Where to start with all this nonsense?

No, nothing has happened at all with regard to drivers' earnings since 2019

But at least if the old dears and people in wheelchairs are complaining about a 30% rise in the flag, the drivers can tell them that the council's Head of Legal and Democratic Services has decreed in an impact assessment report that the effect on them will be 'medium'

Does food not go up because of the old dears?

Does electricity and gas not go up because of the old dears?

Does council tax not go up because of the old dears?

FFS why is the taxi trade so different?

_________________
IDFIMH

Wasn't going to bother responding, but here goes...


Don't know, but I suspect some retailers and restaurants will decide their pricing policy depending on their clientele, so maybe Waitrose will be more inclined to put their prices up than a corner shop with a large contingent of OAPs nearby, say.

But I've done most of my shopping in Tesco for about 30 years now, partly on the basis of their own brands, value brands and 3 for 2 offers etc. But that's about to change, because of some of their price *hikes* this year, and their abandonment of the multibuy offers etc. Aldi and Home Bargains, here I come.

On the other hand, since I dumped the petrol Mondeo in 2006, can't recall ever using supermarket fuel, on the basis that branded fuel is better for a high mileage car in the long run. But unless the gap between the two narrows again once prices settle down, I intend starting to use supermarket fuel. And since the car only has a couple of years to go, once I stop, doubt I'll be back, with this car at least.

And no doubt many motorists will be buying less fuel, or maybe stop buying fuel altogether because of what's happening.


Funny you should mention that, because I've stopped using my central heating system, and doubt I'll be using it much again unless I have people round, or whatever, and will just rely on electricity to heat the single room I happen to be in at the time.

To be honest, that's more of a long-term thing, because the house is off-grid, so it's LPG gas, it's very poorly insulated, and the boiler is ancient and inefficient. And the price five years ago was about 35p/litre, but just got a letter saying it's now up to 85p/litre. Suspect I could pay more than my rental to heat the house in winter, and it would still be relatively chilly. Bye, bye LPG gas.


Not really the best comparison, because that's a compulsory tax. But, for example, Dundee City Council were charging me *double* council tax for my flat which they in my opinion had played a large part in making uninhabitable. And the reason they were charging me *double* council tax was because it was, er, uninhabited. And which I couldn't do anything about because of lockdowns etc. Not even sure if I was allowed to visit it.

But which, to cut a long story short, is one of a long list of reasons I'll never trust Dundee City Council again. And, of course, you can't mess with the likes of councils. I recall maybe twenty years ago when they sent me a letter saying sheriff officers would be calling round and forcing entry if necessary unless I settled my council tax debt. Of 50p, or something like that. Which I didn't even know I was owing them.


Well that's the point - it's no different, and pricing/fare-setting doesn't take place in a vaccuum, and has consequences, as per the likes of the stuff above.

For example, no doubt you've heard this, that and the next expert and commentator saying that many families will soon have to choose between heating the house and putting food on the table. Where do taxi fares fall in that kind of pecking order?

Well, of course, no one knows precisely. But neither does the legal eagle with the fancy pants job title at Neath Council.

And his 'impact assessment' categorisation is, in my opinion, economically illiterate tosh and little better than meaningless comms/PR spiel.

So maybe the fare *increase* in Neath should be less. Or more. I don't really know, and neither does he. And I don't think I really said so the other day, one way or the other