Cabbies told 20 per cent fares hike 'is too high' Taxi drivers who called for a 20 per cent increase in fares have been told to aim lower.
Wokingham Borough Council bosses are hoping to reach a compromise after the licensing and appeals committee sent proposals to increase Hackney Carriage tariffs back to the drawing board.
Councillors have suggested reducing the yardage so that fares are increased by five per cent instead of 20 per cent.
Committee members feared the higher rate would damage trade and affect competition with private hire drivers.
Muhammad Arshad, secretary and chairman of the Wokingham Taxi Association, says his members are likely to fight for an increase of 10 to 15 per cent when negotiations reopen.
On Tuesday, January 10, Councillor Chris Singleton, ward member for Emmbrook, was one of three representatives to vote in favour of keeping the rates as they are.
He said: “What image would that [the increase] portray in the borough? I think drivers would actually be leaving themselves vulnerable and liable for criticism and it would clearly cause competitive problems with the private hires.”
Cllr Chris Bowring, ward member for Evendons, said: “If they put the rates up too high they will lose business, but if we don’t put them up they won’t make enough to make a profit.”
Cllr Barrie Patman, committee chairman, said: “We, as a licensing authority, have to take into account the residents of Wokingham and also have to take into account the wellbeing of the drivers and their livelihood.
“It is a delicate balancing act because we have to balance the context of the economic environment. I think we need a compromise.”
The proposals put before the committee last week would have seen the cost of a two-mile journey increase from around £6 to around £7.60.
Despite opposing an increase Cllr Ken Miall, ward member for Lower Earley, proposed a five per cent rise because he was “conscious” of the fact motoring costs continue to soar.
Last year the committee and drivers agreed no changes to the pricing structure were necessary. But licensed drivers now say profits are being eaten up by ever-increasing fuel and insurance costs.
Of 103 cabbies consulted, 78 called for changes to the tariffs, while just two said they were happy with the pricing structure at present.
Many drivers say they need to pay for more expensive wheelchair-accessible taxis instead of the saloon cars.
After the meeting Mr Arshad, whose association represents 70 of the borough’s 310 Hackney Carriage and private hire drivers, rejected the argument of stifled competition.
He said: “Private hire companies look at the tariffs used by Hackney Carriages and in Wokingham the rates are pretty much the same.
“Private hire companies usually use the same meter system used by Hackney Carriages. We should have been looking at an increase of at least 10 or 15 per cent because running costs have gone up 40 per cent in the last two years.”
http://www.getwokingham.co.uk/news/s/21 ... s_too_high
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