Taxi Driver Online

Another Sailsbury article about a fare rise. You would have thought the driver would have welcomed a decent fare rise, thus enabling him to stop looking like a tramp.

Salisbury taxi driver opposes 'selfish' tariff fare increase



A TAXI driver in Salisbury has criticised plans to increase taxi fares, describing the proposed 10 per cent rise as "selfish and greedy".

Wiltshire Council says it has concerns that some taxi drivers in Wiltshire are adding extra charges to fares to help meet rising costs.

To address this, the council proposed to increase the tariff one fare rate, from 6am to 10.30pm, by 10 per cent. This followed a consultation with all hackney carriage licence holders in Wiltshire.

The tariff one day fare rate is currently £2 per mile, if the proposed changes go through, this will be increased to £2.20 per mile.

Giles Harries, 57, has owned Salisbury Executive Cars for eight years and he is the only employee.

Mr Harries strongly opposes the effective 10 per cent pay rise during the day, he said: “It’s so much more than the money, this is about taking advantage of the public at a time when everyone is suffering.

"Costing the people of Salisbury more money at a time of very high inflation is probably not the best thing to do and it doesn’t put the taxi community in a very good light."

Wiltshire Council's consultation got 32 reponses back out of the 670 licensed hackney carriages across the county, a five per cent response rate.

Gary Taylor, owner of All The Sevens, said his drivers are in favour of the change, with some wanting a further increase.

He said: "The average journey in Salisbury is less than three miles. For local trade, prices are going up 60 pence.

"It's basically covering the huge increase in fuel costs and it has been introduced to help drivers with the cost of living."

Concerned his reputation with customers is on the line, Mr Harries said he won't be able to look his customers in the eye if the price to hire his taxi increases.

He added: "I think we’ve never had it so good. I don’t think it’s our place to beg for more."

Hackney carriages can only charge based on the schedule of fares and tariffs published by the council.

However, a hackney carriage can also agree a fare for the journey before it commences. If a fare is not agreed prior to the journey, drivers must charge what is shown by the meter and no more.

Councillor Mark McClelland, Wiltshire Council cabinet member for transport, said: "We've had some reports of taxi drivers adding charges to the tariff as a way of meeting rising costs, and it’s important for passengers to understand that they cannot do this.

“However, we do recognise the cost pressures faced by taxi drivers, and that’s why we have recently completed a consultation with drivers on whether to raise the fare rate from 6am to 10.30pm by 10 per cent.

"We’ll know the results of this consultation soon and will take action once we have considered the feedback."

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IDFIMH

He's obviously been taking your advice, and has smartened up a bit

Hasn't changed his mind on the tariff increase, though.

But, as I said in the more recent thread about the rise, it's just the running mile on T1 that's going up, and only by 10%. So in the grand scheme of things it doesn't seem worth getting het up about


Salisbury taxi driver outraged at increased tariff charges for customers

https://www.salisburyjournal.co.uk/news ... customers/


Image: Salisbury Journal

A LONGSTANDING taxi business owner has said the increase in the cost of a taxi will make for "a most miserable Christmas".

Giles Harries, 58, owns Salisbury Executive Cars and says he's "not interested in money" after Wiltshire Council introduced a 10 percent rise to tariff 1.

The change comes into effect on Thursday, December 1 and it follows a consultation with drivers in the area.

Mr Harries said that he did not take part.

Wiltshire Council said the tariff 1 cost has been increased to help cover the higher price of fuel.

Even though Mr Harries' business will benefit financially from the price increase, he says it's "not the point".

He added: "People will be more likely to walk and everyone is going to be worse off.

"It's the last thing the taxi trade needs."

His main concern is that the price increase will deter customers and "hit those who can least afford it in the pocket hardest".

"It will make for the most miserable Christmas for the people who really need taxis and won’t be able to afford them," added Mr Harries.

Daytime customers will have to pay more once tariff 1 goes up.

Councillor Mark McClelland, Wiltshire Council cabinet member for transport, said this is so that people can safely make their way home after a night out.

In repsonse to this Mr Harries said: "If they’re looking after the nighttime trade they should be looking after the daytime trade too, not trying to kill it."

A recruitment campaign is being carried out for local taxi firms as Wiltshire Council looks to boost trade.

Cllr McClelland said last week: “It is never an easy decision to increase taxi tariffs and there is no perfect solution to this issue, but we felt that this change was the best compromise to support taxi drivers, while also protecting customers.

“By raising Tariff 1 but keeping all other tariffs as they are, we are able to help drivers and operators to meet the rising fuel costs, while also ensuring that customers – particularly those that take taxis at night – do not have to pay more and can safely make their way home after a night out.

“In our Business Plan we have committed to have vibrant, well-connected communities and growing economies, and we need a public transport network that works for our communities as part of that.”

Wiltshire Council has been contacted for further comment.