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Southampton taxi drivers say they are 'discriminated' against for paying Itchen Bridge toll

https://www.dailyecho.co.uk/news/205986 ... dge-tolls/


Image: Southern Daily Echo

TAXI drivers have said they feel discriminated against for being charged to cross the Itchen Bridge.

Adrian Bridger, 61, a Southampton taxi driver, told the Echo he feels the taxi trade is part of the transport network of the city and should not have to pay a toll.

Bus operators currently do not pay a toll to cross. The toll is 70p for cars non-peak, and 80p at peak times. Residents pay 40p or 30p.

He said: “I think we’re part of the local transport system, so we shouldn’t be paying that toll.

"We pay our licence fee, if buses aren’t paying the toll then why should we?

“When we’re on a job and we drive through the bridge, we pass that charge to the customer but when we drive back, we’re paying out of our own pocket.

"At the end of the year, we spend around £400 on tolls.

"This is discrimination against the taxi trade."

Uber driver Kenny Ratcliff, 62, said: "If we’re in Woolston and there’s a cruise terminal with passengers arriving into the city, the quickest way to get there is through the Itchen Bridge.

"If you go around through the Northam Bridge you're adding 10 minutes or up to half of an hour at rush hour to your journey."

Currently, saloon car-style taxis are charged 80p to cross.

A concession for larger taxis - such as vans - is available and drops what would have been a £1.40 toll to 60p.

Ian Hall, 69, chair of the association for Southampton taxis and hackney drivers, said: “I can’t understand why we’re still being charged for using the Itchen Bridge, and why we can’t use the bus lane on the Itchen Bridge when we can use the bus lane everywhere in the city, it’s just ridiculous.”

A spokesperson for Southampton City Council said there are no plans to reduce tolls for taxis.

The spokesperson added: “The council does provide a concession for larger taxis to bring the charge for these vehicles down to ensure a level of parity with other taxis.

“One of the primary reasons for maintaining the toll is to manage traffic using the crossing and when assessing any potential concessions, the council needs to give consideration whether it would result in an increase in traffic."

The council added that it has no plans, at this stage, to introduce any further concessions for taxis.

get used to it most councils see taxis and PH as "big business" and therefore a cash cow for them to milk

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Taxis Are Public Transport too

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We and numerous others have had included on the tariff table payable extras,

All tunnel, bridge and road tolls to and from the destination.

Surely, if you have to pay a toll on a journey you charge for the toll on the way back as well (irrespective if you have a passenger or not) we do with the Mersey tunnel or Runcorn bridge)

Factor it into the taxi tariff next time it's reviewed.

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IDFIMH

I suppose the council's argument is that the driver could get a fare on the way back, or they may end up not going back over the bridge at all, so they're trying to avoid the driver levying double the toll charges they're actually paying