Taxi Driver Online

The Sunderland Echo

October 4, 2006

HEADLINE: FARE DEAL?

TAXI fares are being hiked up - but not by as much as cabbies demanded.

Councillors have rejected cab firms' calls to top-up fares over the Christmas period so there will be enough taxis on the road to get revellers home.

Now bosses at the city's Hackney Carriage Association fear they won't be able to get enough drivers to work unsocial hours over the festive season. There was widespread disquiet over Christmas 2004 when many festive revellers said there was a shortage of cars.

City councillors oversee the cab trade and have agreed to a rise in daytime charges and a hike over the New Year celebrations. The decision means a standard two-and-a-half mile daytime fare that starts at £2 goes up from £4.60 to £4.80.

The same journey made at night costs £2.20 when the meter starts running and will cost passengers £5.80, instead of the current fare of £5.60. Dave Blyth, chairman of the Sunderland Hackney Carriage Operators Association, said the request to increase fares over the party season was made with a view to encouraging more drivers to work during unsocial hours, especially over the Christmas and New Year Bank Holidays.

Hackney carriage drivers wanted to increase the tariff between Christmas Eve and Boxing Day then between New Year's Eve and January 2 to £7 for a two-and-a-half mile journey.

Coun Peter Gibson, who sits on the licensing committee, said members had agreed an increase between New Year's Eve and 7am on January 2 - but not over the others parts of the holiday period. He said: "We thought that increase was out of line with inflation and would not encourage or attract more drivers out."

Despite the New Year hike, taxis for celebrations are still cheaper than in neighbouring Easington or nearby Newcastle.

Day and night rates now have to go out to public consultation.
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But if the taxis aren't working then does it matter?

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IDFIMH

another highly succesfull Association,being messed about by politicians,will they ever learn?
ORGANISE EDUCATE AGITATE!

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The views expressed by this contributor do not neccesarily reflect the policys of The GMB Nationally or of the GMB London Region.

I was in London last weekend, needed a taxi from Kings Cross to Paddington Station on the Sunday so I could catch train to Maidenhead. The fare was £12.20 for a journey which was less than 3 miles. Nice work if you can get it!!! Taxi driver told me he had been in the game 48 years and still enjoying it. Really puts the North-South divide into perspective I think.

Until licensing is taken out of council control there will always be a divide and it won't always be north and south. These councillors like to play God with the Taxi trade in more ways than one and the sooner we rid ourselves from their politically correct shackles, the better it will be for all.

Regards

JD

Don't forget that sunderland is not far from West hartlepool where they have the lowest HC fares in the country allegedly

And idiots driving cabs for peanuts.

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IDFIMH