Taxi Driver Online

June 20, 2007 Wednesday

Taxi fares on the rise

Echo

TAXI fares in the Rochford district are set to rise from September.

Members of Rochford District Council's executive board will be recommended to agree the proposal from the Rochford Hackney Carriage Drivers' Association, which was made in January.

Three changes are proposed to the existing taxi fares:

- Increasing the initial charge by 20p from £2.40 to £2.60, but with no further increase in the normal fares.

- Increasing the extra charge for the night rate, Sundays and Bank Holidays by 40p from £1.60 to £2.

- Starting the night rate at 10pm rather 10.30pm.

A report by head of transport Shaun Scrutton said the last fare increase was in March 2006 and scheduled to last for 18 months.

He said because the association represented less than 25 per cent of the drivers in the area, the council had also published the proposed increases in its newsletter for drivers.

This was distributed to all 320 drivers in the district, but only 12 took the opportunity of commenting on the proposed fare increase.

Mr Scrutton added: "The general opinion was that they were in favour.

"Although a very small number of drivers responded, it is assumed the majority were in favour of the proposal and had no further comments to make."
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