Taxi drivers in Cheltenham could get 20 per cent rise in base fare
Demand: Taxi drivers want an increase of 80p on standard fares
TAXI drivers' hopes of a 40 per cent fare increase have been dashed by council bosses.
Hackney operators have vowed to fight on after licensing officers said their request to put up standard rates in Cheltenham from £2 to £2.80 should be rejected.
Members of Cheltenham Borough Council's licensing committee have instead been advised to approve a 40p rise next week.
Drivers' representative Paul Luke, of Mason Road, said: "If the committee approves this then we will go back and ask again.
"Fuel has gone up by 10 to 15 per cent since November and it's the way of the world, with train companies putting up their prices and other prices going up.
"But we have to go cap in hand to the council and we will have to keep going back until they listen."
The basic rise would be for the minimum rate charged for accepting a ride during the day.
But the cabbies want further 40 per cent rises for evening and bank holiday rates, which are currently charged at £2.50 and £3.50 respectively.
They are demanding a minimum extra charge of £3 for all five and six seater vehicles. But the authority is offering £3 for evenings and £4.20 for holidays, with a standard extras charge of 60p.
The authority says it made the decision using a special formula which takes into account petrol prices.
But Mr Luke questioned the method.
He said: "They've supposedly used this software to take into account our costs and they've met us halfway.
"The council uses all these figures and comes up with the figure of £2.40.
"What they've done is absolute codswallop."
Father-of-two Paul said licence charges had gone up by 50 per cent in the past two years, while insurance costs had risen by 30 per cent.
He added it was not fair taxi drivers had to absorb the increases while other businesses raised prices.
Hackney drivers cannot put up their rates without applying to the council.
Regular taxi user Freya Leng, 24, of Christchurch Road, said: "I think 20 per cent is more than enough.
"It's unfair the charge is already so high when I get in the taxi because it means even short journeys are expensive at night time."
In November the Echo revealed the drivers wanted the increase. The campaign was initiated by drivers at Cheltenham railway station but the rise would apply to all.
The council committee will make a decision on the rises on February 4.
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