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FUELLING DISCONTENT - TAXIS

10:01am Sunday 1st June 2008

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SOUTHAMPTON taxi passengers will see a hike in their fares in less than six weeks if cab companies have their way.

Taxi chiefs want to put up initial fares by ten per cent in the face of crippling petrol prices, rising road tax and car loan repayments.

They will ask the council to add 20p to both the £2 daytime fare and the £2.75 nightime fare as part of a move to do away with an old fashioned "accelerated start" to fares.

Fares last went up 18 months ago. The trade scrapped plans for rises last year amid a proposed shake-up of the fare structure that provoked outrage from passengers and many drivers.

Clive Johnson, chairman of the Southampton Taxi Consultative Council, said: "The lads have had to struggle with fuel costs. We are really in trouble out there. It's crippling.

"It's scary when you go to the pumps now. We've got to put in for fare increases."

Mr Johnson, who is also boss of Radio Taxis, the largest in the city with about 200 cars, said fuel made up about one quarter of the costs of running a taxi.

Taxi union rep Perry McMillan said: "Drivers are having to work longer hours, are hunting around for the best deals. It's causing financial difficulties for all of us."

The latest rises would see a one mile fare go up by 5.3 per cent, while a three mile journey would rise by three per cent. The new tariff structure will also remove the first of four charges applied every 110m before meters switch to charging for every 225m. The rest of the 110m "drops" will be phased out over the next three years.


Your Say YourThis is Hampshire

Condor Man, Southampton says...
10:04am Sun 1 Jun 08

During the day there are far too many taxis and mini-cabs around so it's no wonder cabbies struggle to make money.

Typical old labour views from McMillan. If he can't make a living why didn't he work harder at school and get a better paid job? I have no sympathy for unskilled workers, education has been free and easily accessable for 50 years, so no one should have an excuse for lacking the skills to do better.

Taxi Driver, southampton says...
11:56am Sun 1 Jun 08

Condor Man wrote:
During the day there are far too many taxis and mini-cabs around so it's no wonder cabbies struggle to make money. Typical old labour views from McMillan. If he can't make a living why didn't he work harder at school and get a better paid job? I have no sympathy for unskilled workers, education has been free and easily accessable for 50 years, so no one should have an excuse for lacking the skills to do better.
Whats being an unskilled worker got to do with it-how rude,simple facts are that fuel has risen 30p a litre since September,unlike any other industry we so far cannot pass the rising cost of fuel onto our customers,why do you think your bread,milk, eggs ect.... have gone up its because of the extra fuel costs for the truck delivering it to the supermarket.Since sepember its costing me an extra 20-25 ponuds a week in fuel.Plus its been 19months since the last rise-bet you have had a pay rise since then.

paul b, says...
12:36pm Sun 1 Jun 08

Condor Man wrote:
During the day there are far too many taxis and mini-cabs around so it's no wonder cabbies struggle to make money.

Typical old labour views from McMillan. If he can't make a living why didn't he work harder at school and get a better paid job? I have no sympathy for unskilled workers, education has been free and easily accessable for 50 years, so no one should have an excuse for lacking the skills to do better.
yup this is why i dont like the benefit lot, they had their chance but still sit in their tracksuits all day rather than trying to work for anything

Condor Man, Southampton says...
3:53pm Sun 1 Jun 08

I see the cabbies every day outside the central station. If they are not clogging up the pavement smoking they are effing and blinding to each other like the Self Righteous Brothers from Harry Enfield.

paul b, says...
9:41pm Sun 1 Jun 08

You never do the same cab trip twice at the same price, i dont know what all the fuss is about they can easily whack an extra bit on the fair to cover the increase in fuel costs. They seem to pluck amounts from the air

Darren, Sunny Soton says...
2:26am Mon 2 Jun 08

so all the Toyota Prius Taxi's that are saving fuel costs, will they be dropping their pricing to reflect their savings or just increase fares to make even more money?????

james, says...
7:10pm Mon 2 Jun 08

it`s riddiculus how much fuss is made about taxi fare rises you never hear about bus fare rises but they happen dont forget all taxis drivers are self employed tradesmen that face massive costs to run there cars most taxis that are rented cost more to rent than a house !and thats before the driver makes any wages there are alot of plate owners that have got very rich and ordinary drivers have a very poor deal as the echo investigated recently lower fares = more hours for the drivers a typical weekend shift is 15 hours through the night and a 65/70 hour week as a estimate it costs about £50 a day to put a taxi on the road £ 35 rent £15 fuel and thats before any wages ! the average takings are only £10 per hour

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