Taxi Driver Online

Taxi rides in Rushmoor could be getting more expensive and here's why

https://www.getsurrey.co.uk/news/hampsh ... g-14728863

The average cab ride in Aldershot and Farnborough is cheaper than the surrounding boroughs

Taxi companies in Aldershot and Farnborough have requested to increase the cost of fares by a flat rate.

After three years of dialogue, the submission was discussed and passed for public consultation at the council's cabinet meeting on May 29.

During that three year period, there has been no increase in taxi fares and the average cost of a journey in Rushmoor is lower than surrounding area.

Now, taxi companies are asking for a 30p rise on the base rate in order to combat the additional costs incurred from the uptake of card usage in cabs.

It is estimated that the average cost to each driver for accepting card payments is roughly in the region of £240 but could be a lot higher than this for some drivers.

If the proposals go ahead there would be no percentage increase on the running mile during journeys. The proposed price increases are based on the pull off charge (the price already on the meter before the journey begins).

The pull off charge for a daytime cab journey would increase from £2.70 to £3.00.

The pull off charge for an evening cab journey (6pm to 10.59pm and weekends 7pm to 3.59pm) would increase from £3.35 to £3.60. The 25p increase rather than a 30p increase because taxi companies want to remove the "silly" 5p from the fare totals.

The pull off charge for a night time cab journey would increase from £4.00 to £4.50.


Shaun Orris of A-Line taxis (Image: Aldershot News and Mail)

Shaun Orriss, manager at A Line Taxis and a member of the Taxi Trade Board, said: "This increase is mainly to cover our loss of earnings from introducing card payments.

"The fleet we have in Rushmoor is second to none and none of the surrounding boroughs offer the quality of service that we do.

"We don't think what we have asked for is unreasonable, in fact we think it is very reasonable."

Independent cab drivers representative, Graeme Marshall, said: "Where we are behind is that is that we haven't been able to raise the cost of fares for three years now.

"We have lost a quarter of our taxis in Aldershot and Farnborough during that time. It's hard to get people to see the need for us to increase our charges.

"We have to be competitive. The increase will go towards paying for the card charges which reduce our profits by 2% annually."

The next stage of the process will be a public consultation.

The cost of a two mile taxi fare for each of the surrounding boroughs and districts

•Hart = £6.80

•Surrey Heath= £6.40

•Guildford = £6.40

•Waverley = £6.20

•Rushmoor = £5.90

iZettle charge 1.75%.

That means each driver is going to take £13,700 (ish)in card payments a year.

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