Taxi Driver Online

Politicians to look at doubling minimum Watford cab fare


Taxi passengers in Watford could face a steep rise in the minimum fare under plans to shake up the town’s cab services.

Politicians are set to look at proposals to more than double the lowest fee from £2.20 to £5 as part of a raft of measures aimed at overhauling of the way hackney carriages and private hires operate in Watford.

In a report to Watford Borough Council’s licensing committee, which is due to meet tonight, officers said the proposed rise had broad support from taxi drivers.

However councillors on the committee have been told that if they are inclined to support the increase it would have to come as part of a fares review and the proposal would probably need to go to public consultation before final approval.

The proposed changes to Watford’s taxi service come after a long consultation by the council with drivers and passengers earlier this year.

The main initiative under discussion tonight is whether to cap the number of taxi licences issued.

Among some of the other proposals the council is looking at are bringing in age limits of 13 years and 15 years for cabs as well as introducing refresher training for drivers every six years.

source: http://www.watfordobserver.co.uk/

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

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IDFIMH

after that nasty mayor did what she did.

CC

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

Wasn't she under the illusion that in deregulated areas the fares would be cheaper?? Or is that just another myth captain??

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

Fares are set by councillors.

Interesting comment on the same day the trade are asking for re-restriction and a 100% increase in the flag.

Defo one for the Law Commission methinks.

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IDFIMH

So they've got cars older than 15-years-old in Watford. No wonder they've got a problem with numbers.

And now they want to double the flag because there's too many vehicles, which would make the queues infinitely worse.

No wonder it's a mess.

And even if you agree with the profiteers and carpetbaggers who want a cap, I suspect the horse has long bolted in that regard.

If the flagfall is doubled then the result will be one awful mess.

But it won't.

This is just Planet Zog stuff from the trade, and even if many councillors are not of this earth either they're not quite as parallel universe as some in the trade. The council is probably just going through the motions and this will never see the light of day.

so what was the outcome.

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C. Oakes


The Hackney Association Ltd
bbha@btinternet.com

Taxi service set to improve - but ultimately journeys will cost more



Politicians have given the go-ahead to an action plan designed to improve the service offered by taxis in Watford.

The 11-point plan, which includes refresher training courses, a requirement for drivers to issue receipts and a review of taxi ranks, was agreed at a meeting of the borough council’s licensing committee on Monday.

One of the points discussed at the meeting was to introduce an upper age limit for hackney carriages to improve the quality of the fleet. Politicians decided to apply an age limit of 13 years for cars and 20 years for traditional London style black cabs.

Jan Brown, who chaired the meeting, said: "Black cabs are made to take a lot of passengers and a lot of wear and tear."

Another of the points given the go-ahead at the meeting was for a review of fares to be held at the end of the year and a follow up in 2014. When the review is completed, taxi drivers have announced that they will propose a steep increase in the minimum fare from £2.20 to £5.

Shafiq Ahmed, chairman of the Watford Hackney Carriage Association, said the rise was needed to help drivers during a time when they are struggling to earn minimum wage.

He said: "Unfortunately Watford is not like London where the taxis are moving all the time. We are only getting a job every hour or hour and a half.

"With all the increases in insurance prices and petrol costs we can’t afford not to have a £5 minimum.

"When you are in a trade that doesn’t earn the minimum wage we have got to look at a way to improve it."

http://www.watfordobserver.co.uk/news/9 ... cost_more/

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

They are required to do this already, surely?


Well that will make a huge difference


That'd got to be the most ridiculous statement yet......

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http://wingsoverscotland.com/ http://www.newsnetscotland.com/

Watford must make Blackpool look cutting edge.




£5 flag for a 20-year-old motor? Remind me not to get a cab the next time I'm in Watford.

It might if they're currently running round in 20-year-old saloons and 30-year-old black cabs

After all, it does say that this will "Improve the quality of the fleet".

The mind boggles

Well now we know where the black cabs go when Blackpool have finished with them.

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Grandad,

Bit slow with that one grandad , but do keep trying all the same