Taxi Driver Online

A very formulaic fare rise article, so nothing particularly exciting. Photos are even worse - in fact, that's the most interesting thing about the article

Don't normally bother putting the generic 'taxi' or 'driver' photos up here, but have included the one here because...


Taxi fare increase in Worthing as driver warns ‘it’s not sustainable’

https://www.theargus.co.uk/news/2059133 ... stainable/


Image: Google/The Argus

COUNCILLORS have agreed an increase to taxi fares in Worthing.

The suggested fares came from the town’s cabbies as they report rapidly increasing fuel costs and having to work longer hours to maintain income.

Worthing Borough Council’s Licensing and Control Committee approved the increases on Tuesday (26 July).

Richard Carrington, who has been in the trade for 22 years as both a lorry and taxi driver, was at the meeting to argue for higher fares.

He explained that the cost of filling his taxi with petrol had increased from £95 to £148 per week.

“That’s a massive increase,” he said, “We can’t sustain it any longer – it’s getting out of hand.

“We think this is a fair deal and it would help us towards some of the costs.

“The increase is just maintaining the same level [of income], as the cost of living is going up.

“There is the danger of having to work extra hours, along with that comes tiredness. It is a never ending circle down.”

Licensing officers pointed out that drivers have discretion over whether to charge the maximum fare- it is not a requirement.

Councillors on the licensing committee were keen to support cabbies and suggested the fare increases should have been higher.

Hazel Thorpe (LDem, Tarring) said: “It seems quite a low increase that you’re asking us to agree and I was wondering whether it actually will keep you in jobs.

“I think it’s well worth supporting our taxi drivers.”


Image: Google/The Argus

But Mr Carrington explained that a large increase could ‘scare off customers’.

“We don’t want to scare our customers off we just want to be reasonable and fair,” he said.

Trade magazine Private Hire & Taxi Monthly ranked Worthing taxi fares 131st in a league table of 355 areas. The front page of the July issue warns: ‘our trade is in crisis’.

What are the changes?

There are four main kinds of tariff depending on how many passengers are travelling, the time they travel, and if it is a public holiday.

The main day fare for up to four passengers will cost a minimum of £3.50 (up from £3.00) and the cost for distance travelled will also increase slightly.

The minimum night-time rate will increase from £4.00 to £4.50. This cost will also apply if travel takes place during a public holiday or if there are five or more passengers travelling during the day.

The night time and public holiday fare for more than five people sharing a taxi will rise to a minimum of £7.00, up from £6.00.

The minimum fare for five or more people travelling during the festive period will increase to £8.00 from £7.00 between 8pm on Christmas Eve and 6am on December 27, and from 8pm on New Year’s Eve until 6am on January 2.

The maximum soiling charge – which passengers face if they make a mess in the vehicle – will remain at £100.


Image: Pixabay/The Argus

Well people often refer to to both sides of the trade, but in Worthing it seems to include the trucking industry as well

But other than the flagfall increases, nothing in the article to indicate how the running mile charges have changed.

Maybe better to provide some indication on that rather than when the Christmas and New Year fares start and finish etc

When councillors are questioning the low level of the proposed increase, as a trade rep you know you have messed up.

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IDFIMH