Taxi Driver Online

A rare press piece from The Moorlander about the South Hams fare stuff mentioned yesterday

Which even contains a brief geographical description for those in the dark - but I think my description yesterday (bordering Plymouth) was a bit more meaningful to and more straightforward for those who don't know that neck of the woods too well

In fact, funnily enough the contact email at the end uses the domain 'swdevon', which I suspect means a lot more to most of us than South Hams. And presumably that's a historical thing.

Anyway, all that rambling nonsense aside, nothing too remarkable here. Although it's one of those with a slew of figures that won't really mean that much to anyone, except perhaps that the flagfall increases are clearly stated.

But we're told the yardage for the proposed increments, but not what's happening now, therefore impossible to compare now and the future.

Also noticed that T2 starts at 8pm - isn't the norm more like midnight at the other end of the south coast?

T3 seems to have gone AWOL as well...

(Although T3 is presumably the festive *day* tariff - T4 is the festive *night* tariff.)


South Hams residents asked for views on proposed taxi fare increases

https://www.themoorlander.co.uk/news/so ... es-9207281

Taxi fares across South Hams could change under proposals from the district council, with residents invited to comment on new maximum charges before a decision is made

South Hams District Council is asking residents, taxi drivers and visitors for their views on proposed changes to maximum fares that Hackney Carriages can charge.

The consultation covers licensed taxis, rather than private hire vehicles, and runs until Thursday, October 22.

South Hams stretches from the coast to Dartmoor, with communities including South Brent, Ivybridge, Ugborough and nearby villages sitting on or around the southern edge of the moor.

Under proposals, maximum charges for standard Hackney Carriage journeys would increase across several tariff bands.

For journeys starting between 7am and 8pm from Monday to Saturday, maximum flag-fall would rise from £3.40 to £3.90 for the first 880 yards.

A charge of 20p would then apply for each following 104 yards, or part of that distance.

For Tariff 2, which applies to journeys starting between 8pm and 7am from Monday to Saturday, as well as Sundays and bank holidays, the proposed flag-fall would rise from £4 to £4.60.

The same £4.60 maximum would apply to eight-seater vehicles where a customer has requested that size of vehicle.

A new higher Tariff 4 is also proposed for journeys beginning between 7pm on Christmas Eve and 7am on December 27, and between 7pm on New Year's Eve and 7am on January 2.

Under the proposal, Tariff 4 would start at £7.80 for the first 880 yards, followed by a charge of 40p for each 104 yards or part thereof.

South Hams District Council says proposed changes are intended to take account of increased operating costs and wider economic conditions.

It says maximum fares are designed to provide a safeguard against excessive charging while allowing drivers and operators to charge less if they choose.

A council spokesperson said: “We set maximum taxi fares to help ensure that taxi journeys remain fair, reasonable, and transparent for passengers, while also allowing drivers and operators to charge less if they choose to do so.”

Council officers say reviews of taxi fares have to balance passenger affordability and reliability with costs faced by drivers and operators, including fuel, vehicle maintenance, insurance and licensing requirements.

Additional charges included in proposals are 40p for each piece of luggage carried in a vehicle's boot and £1 for each animal, excluding assistance and guide dogs.

A £150 cleaning charge is also proposed where a vehicle needs cleaning inside or outside because of a passenger's spillage or mishap.

Proposed fares would only apply to Hackney Carriages, taxis with a 'TAXI' roof sign which can use taxi ranks and be hired on the spot.

South Hams District Council does not have the power to set maximum fares for private hire vehicles, which can only be pre-booked.

Residents, businesses, visitors, taxi drivers, operators and other interested parties can respond to consultation, whether they support or object to proposals.

If no objections are received, proposed fares would come into operation on October 23, 2026.

Written objections can be sent to Licensing, South Hams District Council, Follaton House, Plymouth Road, Totnes, TQ9 5NE, or emailed to licensing@swdevon.gov.uk.

As I said yesterday, there's a fundamental contradiction between enabling and encouraging fare discounting while claiming it all aids transparency and consistency


We don't have such a charge, but I've always wondered what constitues a 'piece of luggage' - I mean sometimes people pile lots of plastic bags and other very small items in the boot - are they charged the same as a 30kg suitcase? I'd be minted


Only a couple of times had to clean the *exterior* because of someone vomiting etc. But if I'd be getting £150 for it, then BRING IT ON, I say

Lost count of the amount of times I've had to wash (or part wash) the car after a massive seagull deposit

(Sometimes they can cover several panels, with literally a hundred or more small splatters).

But unfortunately it tends to cost me money, rather than making money out of it. So any passenger vomit on the exterior is welcome if I get paid £150 to clean it up

Usually 9 pm or 10 pm down here.

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IDFIMH

How much if they put it on the back seat?

I often wonder if there is a more pointless, a more issue to cause aggro, than a charge for luggage.

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IDFIMH