Taxi Driver Online

For a change, this looks like fairly substantial increases proposed by the trade, which have been waved through by councillors rather than watered down a bit.

And not just fairly hefty hik..., er, I mean rises in the basic tariffs, but other significant changes, as will become clear.

I mean, T2 flag of £5.25, £3.75 per mile, and it'll now apply all day Sunday, and after 6pm Friday and Saturday

Not saying they aren't justified, but it's the usual daftie comments from officials and councillors. I mean, I'll start charging £10 per mile to the airport, and I'll make a fortune. Obviously


Full details of proposed rises in Denbighshire taxi fares as costs increase

https://www.dailypost.co.uk/news/north- ... e-23264179

Councillors voted in favour of tariff increase

Taxi fares could go up in Denbighshire after councillors voted in favour of setting higher tariffs.

At a licensing committee meeting on Wednesday, councillors voted on new tariffs proposed by taxi drivers.

The Local Government Act allows councils to fix taxi tariffs, which were last set four years ago.

The increases will first go to public consultation but, if they get the go-ahead, new tariffs will see fares immediately increased from £3 to £3.50 at the start of a journey.

Charges will be increased from £2 per mile to £2.50 per mile between 7am and 11pm, and waiting times will also be charged at 30 pence per minute. Start fares include the first 0.7 miles travelled.

After 11pm, start fares will rise from £4.50 to £5.25, together with a rate of £3.75 for every mile travelled, an increase of 75 pence per mile.

It's proposed this more expensive tariff will come into effect between 11pm and 6.59am, as opposed to the current 12am and 6am premium time, with waiting times increasing to 40 pence.

It’s also proposed that the premium fare will apply all day on Sundays and after 6pm on Fridays and Saturdays. There will be a surcharge for more than four passengers.

The higher tariff will apply on public holidays. But one thing that will remain the same is the £100 charge for passengers who "soil" the cab. Pets will still be charged at 20 pence each to travel.

Cllr Arwel Roberts said he felt for customers who would struggle to meet the increase.

“If it’s come from the licenced drivers, then we’ve got to support them, but I do feel for residents who are facing a very difficult period financially, so I’m not really sure what to think,” he said.

“I understand why it needs to be done. Everyone needs to live. What’s the advantage to Denbighshire County Council please?”

Council officer Ian Millington responded: “You are right. It will affect residents and anybody who wants to use a taxi.

"But we have to remember that if taxis are not cost-effective for the operator, then they will not be a taxi. They won’t be in the business.

"It does drive some operators from actually working, which reduces the competition. We have to remember the charges will be the maximum that a taxi driver can charge.”

Cllr Barry Mellor said: “I think it is quite sensible, looking at this.

“You’ve only got to see now it’s £1.50 for a litre of diesel. You’ll find taxi drivers are not turning out as much as they should do.

"If you try and phone a taxi, half the time you’ve got quite a considerable wait. In the quieter times, they won’t do it because of what they are getting back for the tariff.

"It is hard for us all. Prices are going up. But I really think we’ve got to look right across the board here."

Cllr Merfyn Parry added: “I think we are going to have to support this.

“It puts a top line on it, not a bottom line on it, as I understand. They (taxis) can charge less if they want to but can’t go more.

"Operators have got costs like making sure the vehicles are kept safe; there is maintenance on them, things like tyres and fuel. Everything is going up. So we obviously have to make sure we have a standard of a service that is being offered by the county.”

Cllr Huw Williams proposed councillors supported the recommendation, and Cllr Barry Mellor seconded it. The matter will now go out to public consultation.

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IDFIMH

What we have to take into account when looking at any current fare review process is that the vast majority of the trade hasn't had an increase since before the end of 2019.

In that time RPI has increased just under 10%.

So given the way things are going in respect of fuel, any trade that requests less than 10% is really applying for a drop in disposable income.

Which is hard to lobby for but who said this trade was an easy one?

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IDFIMH

Don't think we've seen the word 'spike' much before, but at least it's a variation on 'hike'

They're going for broke here, though. Think they started from quite a low base when they last raised fares in the spring, but they're now proposing a £6.20 T2 flagfall, I think, but looks like it covers a mile.

And with lots of the extras doubling, extra charges for more passengers, and extending the timings for T2 etc, some of the increases must be through the roof compared to last year

Don't think that's good for the trade, and the cynic in me thinks that's why the council are doing it, rather than because they think it's a positive thing for drivers.

Would be interesting to do some sort of detailed analysis on how much some of these runs have gone up, but can't be bothered


Taxi fares in North Wales county could spike in another cost of living hit to hard up households

https://www.dailypost.co.uk/news/north- ... y-25435316

Alongside proposing new rates, the council also plans to up the cost for travelling with more than one passenger and pets

Denbighshire County Council is proposing increasing taxi fares for Hackney Carriages licensed by the council, less than six months after a controversial price hike. The proposed new rates could see the cost of some trips increase by 50%, compared to what they were at the start of this year.

Cabbies have faced a spike in costs in recent months as fuel prices surged. But this will add on extra costs to households already facing a cost of living crisis due to spiralling energy and food prices.

Under the current tariffs, a one-way trip from Rhyl to Ysbyty Glan Clwyd (around 5 miles) between 7am and 11pm costs up to £13.50, but the same trip could cost up to £16.50 under the new rates. Prior to the previous price hike on July 1, this trip would've cost just £11.

The cost of a five mile journey between the hours of 7am and 11pm could increase by more than 50%, depending on the number of passengers. Not only do the council's proposed rates see fare increases after 11pm and on Sundays, they also suggest upping the cost for pets and extra passengers by more than double the current rate.

Currently, there is a 20p charge for pets (excluding guide dogs) and 20p surcharge per passenger if there are more than four passengers. This would double under the new rates, with an additional 50p added for each passenger if more than one person is travelling, and 50p per animal.

Previously, four people in a cab would incur the same cost as one person, but the new rules mean drivers could add on an extra £1.50 if there are three additional passengers. For day trips between 7am and 11pm Monday to Saturday, the council has proposed increasing the rate for the first mile from £3.50 to £5 (this was increased from £3 in July.) The rate of £2.50 per mile thereafter will stay the same, after increasing from £2 in July.

On Sundays and from 11pm to 7am Monday to Friday, the first mile will cost £6.20 rather than the current £5.25 rate. The proposed starting charge of £6.20 is a marked increase from £4.50 at the beginning of this year.

Based on these proposals, a 5 mile one-way trip after midnight would cost £21 - the same trip would've cost £16.50 less than six months ago, prior to the price hikes. The proposed changes are following a recommendation for review from the Licensing Committee in May 2022 which divided opinion among local drivers.

When it comes to the Christmas period the proposed rates for between 11pm December 24 and 7am December 27 and 11pm on December 31 and 7am on January 1 are £10.10 for the first mile and £5 for each mile thereafter.

he consultation period on the proposed amendments runs until November 11. You can find out more about the proposed changes on the Denbighshire County Council website here. People who want to have their say on the proposed changes have been encouraged to contact Denbighshire Council's licencing team via email on licensing@denbighshire.gov.uk or by completing their online form here.

You can also submit your comments in writing to Licensing Section, Caledfryn, Smithfield Road, Denbigh, LL16 3RJ.