Taxi Driver Online

Cabbies threaten strike over fares


TOWN chiefs were today warned that further strike action by Ipswich cabbies remains on the cards today unless demands for fare increases are met.

Hackney carriage drivers in the town stopped working for 24 hours earlier this month in protest at what they claim is an inadequate increase in fares.

Council bosses have proposed increasing base fares from £2.60 to £2.80, claiming it is their final offer.

The Ipswich Station and Lloyds Hackney Cab Association wants base fares increased to £3 plus a 20 pence fuel supplement charge.

Association chairman John Williams-Davies said cabbies will write letters of complaint which will be presented to a council transport committee meeting next month.

If a deal is not reached he warned that further action is likely.

He said: “We can't rule out further action. The association's membership is very keen to let the council know that we mean business.”

Paul West, responsible for transport at the authority, said: “I won't pre-judge the points raised in the letters because they may be new points or different arguments.

“If there are issues raised we will answer them in a proper way. I think the decision we have made at the moment is a fair one.”

Last year the council bowed to cabbies' demands for an increase in the daytime initial distance charge from £2.40 to £2.60.

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Think of how stupid the average person is, and realize half of them are stupider than that.
George Carlin

Council bosses have no right to propose anything, in my view. They either allow a fare proposal or they set their own.

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IDFIMH

I don't understand the differences in the fares for HC's throughout the country. Surely it costs just as much to go 1 mile in a HC in Liverpool as it does in Bogna, from the point of view of the HC driver, so why all the different prices. I understand why PH companies do it because of competition within areas they work but HC are regulated by councils and there is no competition as such between councils. It surely costs the same to purchase a cab wherever you live in the country, they must all consume fuel at a fairly standard rate per mile so those costs must be similar throughout the country, roadtax is the same wherever you are and tyres and maintenance is pretty standard costs throughout the country so why are HC fares so different throughout the country, is it depending on the mood of the council. With the exception of London where there maybe extra costs incurred due to the inner city charges. I believe a standard charge for taxis should be implemented throughout the country then if there are extra costs for running HC's in certain areas for things such things as innercity driving charges etc they can add an element to the basic fare to cover such things. That way when costs for buying and running HC increase then fares can increase keeping up with inflation and the like.

Surely this would eleminate the need for HC's to apply all the time to councils for fare increases and they will not be dependant on the 'good mood' of councillors who may have altererior motives for keeping the fares as low as possible.

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Note to self: Just because it pops into my head does NOT mean it should come out of my mouth!!

why expect a standard fare across the UK when there is no unity/parity on anything else (colours/vehicle ages/WAV's/etc/etc)

for a nationally fixed fare you would need a nationally controlled and regulated HC service, and councils make too much off the back of the trade to let go easyily

I suspect it cost more to live in Bognor than Liverpool.

But there are many other reasons why fares differ.

Good trade working relationship with LO/councillors.

Good trade representation.

Not having many cut-throat idiots.

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IDFIMH