Fuel costs, fare freeze and driver shortage hits Highland Perthshire taxi firms
Staff shortages, fuel costs and price rises are squeezing Highland Perthshire businesses, leading to cuts in activity - and in some cases closure.
Aberfeldy Taxis told customers it had taken the decision to stop taking short distance fares in the town.
“I am very sorry that due to increasing costs I have had to take the decision to decrease the hours that we are working,” taxi fleet owner David Macdougall explained.
“Unfortunately it is no longer viable to cover short distance journeys within Aberfeldy. We hope this is just a short term measure.”
Mr Macdougall told the PA that “something had to give”.
He added: “Unfortunately the council set our meters. A fare review is underway by the council but, as of yet, I’ve no idea when the results will be known.
“We are still only getting the same fare as we were getting 10 years ago, yet fuel has risen astronomically.
“Our average fuel bill per week used to be £220, we are now paying roughly £80 per week more in fuel, so we need to do a lot more £3.50 fares to cover that.
“The cost of starting and stopping and the time it takes to do a town run just doesn’t pay.
“Thankfully the school contracts help to cover the costs, but it still eats into your profit.”
National figures show fuel costs alone have increased 35 pence plus VAT per litre since January. On March 23, in the Spring Statement, a five pence per litre cut in duty was made.
But the fuel duty move failed to ease pressure as retailers declined to pass on the savings to vehicle users.
The latest RAC figures report an average diesel cost of £1.77 a litre.
The cost of fuel in Perthshire gets higher in rural areas where competition is low.
Pitlochry’s BP garage was asking 165.9 a litre for unleaded and 184.9 per litre of diesel on Saturday.
Howard Cox, founder of FairFuelUK, said: “In FairFuelUK’s survey, over a third of respondents said they are having to cut back on driving.
“Our latest survey of opinion shows the eye watering pump prices... are forcing motorists to change their driving routines. Even driving to medical appointments and carrying out voluntary work are being affected because of profiteering unnecessarily sky high pump prices.”
Craig Mackinlay MP, chair of the Fair Fuel APPG for Motorists and Hauliers, said: “With the highest fuel prices ever recorded and other cost of living pressures coming into view, it is little wonder that the public are having to make tough decisions on personal finances with car use being minimised.
