Taxi Driver Online

09 Feb 2008

Taxi-drivers' fury at pay rise cut

Wigan's taxi drivers are furious that fare increases have been frozen
following objections from what would only amount to a cab full of people.

Hackney owners thought they had won their battle to boost rates by
between seven and 12 per cent. The rises were due to come in from
yesterday.
But now they have been told that the regulation committee has deferred
the introduction at the 11th hour.

And all because they have received just THREE objections from residents
after the plans were advertised in the press.
Earlier, councillors accepted evidence presented to them that Wigan's
cabbies have been forced to absorb significant hikes in fuel prices. The
move by the Metro regulation committee would have meant that the
borough's 136 black cab licence holders would have been able to put up
the first mile rate from £2.80 to a maximum of £3.10 and the four mile
journey rate up from £7.40 to a maximum £8.30.

The controversial formula adopted by the council to calculate cab fare
increases is to remain, despite pleas by the cabbies union TGWU branch
that it be scrapped – although it will be reviewed. Even if approved next
month, it will still leave Wiganers with some of the cheapest rides in the
region.
Average running mile rate in the county is now £1.69. The application had
been deferred earlier in the month so that cabbies could present more
evidence to back up their case.

Licensed taxi drivers Transport and General Workers Union branch
secretary Ronnie Melling said: "There are 300,000 adults in the Metro
borough and just three have objected to the rises but these three have the
power to stop it.
"It just beggers belief and the lads are annoyed. Surely there are rules
about the number of objections necessary to stop something like this."
The matter will be re-considered on March 5. A council spokesperson said:
"We are legally obliged to consider every objection."

Source: Wigan Today

TDO Related Topic(s): Taxi Fares could Rise 10p-a-mile in Wigan

Oh no there are not.

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IDFIMH

Oh yes they are

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Justice for the 96. It has only taken 27 years...........repeat the same lies for 27 years and the truth sounds strange to people!

Nope disagree 100%. The objections should be viewed and assessed on their own individual merits to see if they are valid, and made by someone who is effected by any increase.

i.e. Mr Sussex couldn't have an objection classed as valid for a fare review in Sefton.

I also think the trade should be able to make a claim against any objector for loss of earning. But that's a separate issue.

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IDFIMH

I think the word "consider" is the key. The council are obliged to read and "consider" if the objection has merit. The council are not obliged to give every objection consideration when making their decision. Just a subtle difference in the way the English language is.

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Grandad,

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Justice for the 96. It has only taken 27 years...........repeat the same lies for 27 years and the truth sounds strange to people!

Any objections must be first made to the council before the closing date that has to be published in the press, then to the traffic commissioner who will then hold an enquiry with the council and all those who objected, this can take up to 6 months

Only a what if - what if the taxi trade objected to licence fee increases imposed upon us by the councils, if there was three or more objections would that stop it.

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if you cannot be yourself, then who can you be.

They have to consider the objections but they don't need to slow things up. They could be looked at and rejected by the same committee which approves any increase (or denies it). If the objectors are unhappy they can appeal to the traffic commissioners, as can the trade.

Same goes for trade objections.

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http://wingsoverscotland.com/ http://www.newsnetscotland.com/

I think our procedure is slightly different down here.

No Traffic Commissioner lark, just clueless councillors.

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IDFIMH

And you

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Justice for the 96. It has only taken 27 years...........repeat the same lies for 27 years and the truth sounds strange to people!

Surely you don't think that a PH could have anything to do with the fare review?

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IDFIMH