Taxi Driver Online

Taxi drivers fail to get a rise in fares

THE cost of cab journeys in Cardiff are being frozen because councillors say they are already high enough.

Cardiff’s public protection committee ruled out an appeal by taxi drivers for an increase because of the current disruption in the city centre. Fares last went up in December 2006, the first hike since February 2005, adding 30p on a two-and-a-half-mile trip from the city centre to Whitchurch.

The Cardiff Hackney Association (CHA) wanted rises that would have increased fares by 3.13 per cent during the day and 2.70 per cent a night for a three-mile trip.

In its appeal, the CHA said: “Since December 2006 there have been many substantial increases, mainly arising from fuel costs, vehicle maintenance, road tax and the cost of licensing and plating.”

Figures provided for councillors showed that a three-mile journey in Cardiff costs £6.40, cheaper than Edinburgh, Bath, Coventry, Carlisle and London but dearer than Liverpool, Newport, Carmarthen and Scarborough.

Councillor Bob Smith, chairman of Cardiff council’s public protection committee, said: “We turned it down because we felt that prices in Cardiff were already in the mid- range of charges in the UK. We also did not think it was the right time to put up fares in the run-up to Christmas, with the disruption in town, particularly with St Mary Street.”

Taxi drivers in the city were not happy about the freeze. Richard Cuffin, 58, of Culverhouse Cross, Cardiff, said: “It’s very unfair. To be honest I am trying to sell up because the council has finished this job with their deregulation. There are more than 400 extra taxi drivers than last year.”

Robert Benson 50, of Grangetown, Cardiff, said : “Why are they putting a freeze on and yet the council puts the charges up for our badges and plating every year?”

Mohammad Javaid, CHA chairman, said: “I did not know it was on the agenda for consideration by the committee. We weren’t informed so I can’t comment until I find out the facts. The matter will be discussed by the association.”

A £5 extra charge over the cost of hiring taxis between 8pm on Christmas Eve and 6am on December 27 and from 8pm on New Year’s Eve to 6am on January 2 will apply as last year.

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IDFIMH

And the fact that fuel is going through the roof matters not a bit.

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IDFIMH

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IDFIMH

I bet the rates go up in April. that is household rates not taxi rates.

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Grandad,

3.13 % is hardly a large increase especially when you consider what the differance in fuel prices is between the date of the last increase and today !

I think it is about time annual reviews of fares were brought in after all wages and councillors expenses are reviewed annually as are domestic and commercial rates

I would also suggest that October/november is probably the best time of year to introduce a price rise as it is the time of year customers are feeling the pinch least

I have just read this weeks local paper and our council have put our new increases in to come into effect from 1st April next year
they have kept the starting prices the same but reduced the distance for a 10p or 15p click from 132.24 yards to 127.95 yards.

But they have also reduced the unsocial hour starting times from midnight to 10pm, the association did not ask for this

They have changed the Christmas tariff also, that we felt was to much and we lost custom as it was all day 24th DEC right through to midnight on the 2nd of Jan, it will now be from 6pm Christmas eve to 6am on the 27th and then 6pm new years eve to 6am the 3rd of Jan.
If anyone knows how to find it its published in the Southern reporter