Taxi fares set for hike
Buck's News!
Taxi fares in the Chilterns are set to rise by as much as 15 per cent after drivers negotiated an increase with Chiltern District Council after several months of discussions.
CDCs licensing committee sanctioned a 15 per cent fare increase after councillor Vera Head intervened and urged a solution just as things appeared deadlocked.
The vote in favour of the 15 per cent increase, equivalent to an average of £1.80 pence a mile, was achieved by a margin of six votes to five.
As well as voting for or against the 15 per cent price hike, councillors also had the option of recording a vote for or against a 10 per cent increase.
Jim Tilbury, a representative of the Chiltern District Drivers Association, which has more than 80 members, said his members were pleased a solution had been arrived at.
"We are considerate kind of guys and we wanted to find a solution in everyone's best interests, which we have now done, " he said.
Mr Tilbury said a national taxi fare survey, which comprised a total of 103 councils, showed that cabs in the Chilterns were amongst the least expensive nationwide.
"We are 101st out of 103 councils in terms of cost, " he said. "Colchester is the most expensive with a two mile charge of £6.80, " added Mr Tilbury.
The Chiltern Taxi Drivers Association has specified that it's two mile rate will be going up to £5.20, a 15.6 per cent increase, and its three mile average rate will incease from £6.10 to £7, a 14.75 per cent hike.
Councillor Martin King, a member of the licensing committee, said the settlement was passed after a protracted discussion.
"It was a bit of a struggle but we got there, " he said. "The choice, in the end, was between a 15 or 10 per cent increase. I thought that 10 per cent was a bit too low and voted in favour of the 15 per cent rise."
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