Taxi Driver Online

Meeting sets in motion a bid to increase taxi tariff




A GROUP of taxi drivers met last week to vote on whether to address Adur District Council on the fact that the hackney taxi tariff hasn’t been increased since 2008.

A trade ballot carried out last year narrowly rejected proposals for an increase and a bid to increase in March was also rejected.

Steve Martin, 67, of Shoreham, has been in the taxi trade for 40 years and said that there has been no consideration given by the council to the increased costs to the trade over the last six years and this was causing increased hardship amongst trade members and unacceptable increases in their working week in an attempt to make ends meet.

At the meeting last Wednesday, Steve said 13 taxi licence holders turned up and that that was a poor representation.

Steve said: “A vote was called for a proposal to ask the council to work out how much we have lost since 2008, since the tariff hasn’t risen and then we can calculate how much the tariff should go up by.

“We will base this number on their figures.”

Steve added: “I was around before Adur was. I have seen a lot of change. Over the years we were steadily improving the position of taxi drivers but that’s not so any more.

“The matter has reached crisis point. We are not asking for a wage increase, it is the question of increased costs.

“At the time of the last increase agreed in 2007, petrol was 78p a litre and some drivers are now being asked to pay up to £3,500 a year for insurance.

“The council licence fees are £88 per year for a taxi driving licence and nearly £400 a year for a taxi vehicle.

“This year, due to my age, I have had to pay an annual fee of £150 for the medical just to drive the taxi.

“We have all invested early in more fuel-efficient vehicles but the maintenance costs are higher due to our mileage. Everyone is aware of the difficulties of financing which is common to most small businesses.”

The taxi trade has its fares controlled by the local authority.

On the other hand, unlike the taxi trade, private hire or minicab trade set their own prices and are, therefore, unaffected by the local authority.

Steve added: “It would seem that the taxi trade has been selected for harsh and unfair treatment.”

A spokesperson for West Sussex County Council said: “We consider any application made for tariff change.”

source: http://www.shorehamherald.co.uk/news/to ... -1-5730313

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

You have been in the trade 40 years and that still surprises you?

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IDFIMH

Interesting, as they don't license cabs.

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IDFIMH

Adur, are 14th in the fare chart, with a 2 mile tariff of £6.60, Borders position 205, £5.45
So what are they moaning about????

are you saying the cost of living in the scots borders is broadly the same as south east England?

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

It is £4.84 here.

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Grandad,

yeah but all this is prior to a massive discount if you pre-book with skippy cabs ffs

cant see why councils bother when no fecker seems to want to use the right rate.

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

Put your toys back in your pram CC, its up to the individual owner if they want to discount the meter rate, im doing it because one company who has around 10 cabs started doing it long before me,and is running about all day while other who charge the full rate are left sitting with their fingers in neutral, so im keeping up with the Joneses

That should read "keeping DOWN with the Jones'"

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Grandad,

bang on grandad ..wIth mugs like SKIPPY the ex mob philistine yer knackered...........reckon me self it ought to be illegal to CHARGE LESS REPEAT LESS THAN WHATS ON THE METER

AS FOR THE ADUR MUGS NO SYMPATHY FROM ME......ORGANISE OR STARVE YOU PILLOCKS

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All posts by this contributor are made in a strictly personal capacity

I AM PROUD TO BE A CITIZEN NOBODY'S SUBJECT http://www.republic.org.u

F88K EM ALL WHAT GOES AROUND COMES AROUND

BOOZE BOOZE BOOZE

It appears not all want an increase, including a firm that doesn't have extras at night or on Sunday.

Only in the cab trade can you find idiots working sh** hours for normal rates.

http://www.westsussextoday.co.uk/news/c ... -1-5755337

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IDFIMH

oops - I duped this!

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