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PostPosted: Thu Jan 06, 2022 2:35 pm 
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Why some drivers of Hartlepool's yellow taxis want fares to increase

https://www.hartlepoolmail.co.uk/news/p ... se-3516355

Taxi fares could be about to go up in Hartlepool as councillors get set to meet to consider proposed increases.

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Image: Hartlepool Mail

Members of the town’s hackney carriage taxi trade have asked Hartlepool Borough Council to approve fare increases due to rising running costs and so they can make a decent living.

If approved, the cost of an average two mile journey in town would rise by 60p during the day and £1.40 on a night.

The council’s licensing committee is due to consider the proposed increases when it meets on Friday, January 7.

The increases are for Hartlepool’s yellow hackney cabs that use designated taxi ranks, and would not apply to private hire vehicles.

A report to the licensing committee states: “Members of the hackney carriage trade have submitted a request that hackney carriage tariffs be increased to reflect an increase in their running costs and to ensure they make a reasonable living.

“The proposed increase has been considered and approved by the Taxi Owners Working Group which is a small group of hackney carriage owners, elected by the trade.”

The report states that all 86 hackney carriage owners have been consulted with nine in favour, 27 against and the rest made no comment.

It is being proposed to shorten the distance before the meter increases by a further 20p, making each journey more expensive.

Currently, it costs £2.50 plus 30p for the first 160 metres between 9am and 5pm.

That is proposed to change to £2.50 plus 30p for the first 120 metres and then 20p for every 240 metres between 7am and 6pm.

It would result in a 60p increase for a two-mile journey.

Between 6pm and midnight it would cost £4.80 for the first mile and £2 per mile afterwards, equating to a two-mile journey increase of £1.40.

And from midnight to 7am the price would be £6 for the first mile and £2.60 afterwards, or a £2.80 increase for a two mile ride.

The report says drivers could charge less if they wished and Hartlepool would still have some of the cheapest tariffs in the country.

Friday’s meeting will take place at 1pm in the council chamber at Hartlepool Civic Centre.


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PostPosted: Thu Jan 06, 2022 2:36 pm 
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Hartlepool Council report wrote:
“The proposed increase has been considered and approved by the Taxi Owners Working Group which is a small group of hackney carriage owners, elected by the trade.”

Elected by all of the trade, or some of the trade? [-(

Quote:
The report states that all 86 hackney carriage owners have been consulted with nine in favour, 27 against and the rest made no comment.

Oh :-s

Anyway, looks like the usual scenario of some in the trade asking for quite a hike, and the eventual increase will probably be a bit more modest :?


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PostPosted: Thu Jan 06, 2022 10:11 pm 
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Quote:
The report states that all 86 hackney carriage owners have been consulted with nine in favour, 27 against and the rest made no comment.

](*,)

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PostPosted: Mon Jan 10, 2022 2:20 pm 
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Suprised this went through, but they're still very cheap, even with quite hefty increases.


'There’s no money in the trade' - Bid to increase Hartlepool taxi fares nears success

https://www.hartlepoolmail.co.uk/news/p ... ss-3519739

Councillors have unanimously backed proposals from a group of Hartlepool hackney carriage drivers to increase taxi fares to help ensure they can make a decent living.

The rise will see the cost of an average two-mile journey in town rise by 60p during the day and £1.40 on a night.

Hartlepool Borough Council’s licensing committee has unanimously approved the increase, ruling the rise is key to ensure drivers can make a reasonable living.

Councillor Stephen Picton, a former taxi driver, said the increase will be “absolutely fantastic” for the trade.

He said: “There’s no money in the trade at the moment, that’s why people are leaving.

"We need to make sure they’re getting that proper bit of money to keep the taxi drivers.”

It came after officers warned they are seeing a shortage of taxi drivers.

Cllr Sue Little said: “Everything is stacking against them, that’s why we’ve got such a shortage, they’re not getting paid correctly.”

Yet councillors did acknowledge the impact the increase could have on residents and officers noted hackney carriage drivers can charge below the new rates if they wish.

Cllr Jennifer Elliott said: “It’s a difficult balancing act where we’ve got to get the figures right for taxi drivers to be able to make a good living, to get people in the trade.

“We’ve also got to consider the people who are using the taxis and make sure they are getting value for money.”

According to taxi trade publications, Hartlepool’s new hackney carriage tariff, at £5.40 for a two-mile journey during the day, will still be among the cheapest in the country, with more than 200 council areas charging £6 or more.

The proposed increase was backed by the Taxi Owners Working Group, a group of 10 hackney carriage owners, elected by the trade, including the Blueline company, which own around 30 vehicles.

All 86 hackney carriage owners were consulted with nine in favour, 27 against and the rest making no comment.

The increases are for Hartlepool’s yellow hackney cabs that use designated taxi ranks and would not apply to private hire vehicles.

A public notice will now be issued informing residents of the rise.

If any objections are received within 14 days of publication then the issue will be referred back to the committee.


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PostPosted: Mon Jan 10, 2022 2:20 pm 
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Quote:
According to taxi trade publications, Hartlepool’s new hackney carriage tariff, at £5.40 for a two-mile journey during the day, will still be among the cheapest in the country, with more than 200 council areas charging £6 or more.

We're £6.80 in Fife :-o


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PostPosted: Mon Jan 10, 2022 6:00 pm 
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Councillor Stephen Picton, a former taxi driver, said the increase will be “absolutely fantastic” for the trade.

He said: “There’s no money in the trade at the moment, that’s why people are leaving.

"We need to make sure they’re getting that proper bit of money to keep the taxi drivers.”

Anyone who thinks this increase (from super poverty rates to merely poverty rates) is going to stop folks from leaving the trade is simply doolally. [-(

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