Weymouth and Portland cabbies want to put up charges (From Dorset Echo)
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Weymouth and Portland cabbies want to put up charges
1:30pm Saturday 2nd February 2013 in News
By Rachel Stretton
Cabs wait outside Weymouth train station
FARES for Hackney cabs in Weymouth and Portland are to rise if councillors give the green light.
Weymouth and Portland Hackney Carriage Association has requested an increase of 20p on the charge for the first mile.
The potential rise is set to be discussed at a meeting of the licensing committee of Weymouth and Portland Borough Council, which licences the vehicles, on February 7.
If approved, the increase could see the borough rise from 32nd position in a national league table of tariffs, to 15th position, depending on other rises across the country.
Ray Maslen, chairman of the Weymouth and Portland Hackney Carriages Association, said the ‘small’ increase reflects a rise in inflation.
He added: “Inflationary pressures are the same for everyone, whether you’re driving a bus, a train or a taxi. Everyone is suffering in this economic climate, and hackney carriage drivers are no different.
“Charges for public transport have increased, and buses and trains get subsidies that we don’t.
“Our drivers are getting squeezed, and these small increases are just because we are trying to earn a living.”
If given the go-ahead, drivers of Hackney cabs will be able to charge £2.40 for the first mile – up from £2.20 – but there will be no increase to the charge of £2.40 for a minimum distance of 230 yards, and no increase to the charge for subsequent miles.
The charges would mean an increase of 4.3 per cent on the charge levied for the first mile, or 1.7 per cent over a five-mile journey. The night-time rate for the first mile would rise from £2.30 to £2.50 – an increase of four per cent for the first mile or 1.5 per cent for five miles.
Weymouth and Portland Borough councillor and spokeswoman for transport and infrastructure Christine James, pictured left, said: “I do sympathise with the drivers and I’m sure that making this request is not a decision they have made lightly.
“Petrol prices are due to go up again this year, so that’s obviously a consideration, and they have to make a living.
“But there is a chance it may frighten passengers off and put people off using them.”
Comments(22)
I'mavoter
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6:13pm Sat 2 Feb 13
westendcat
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8:29pm Sat 2 Feb 13
EvilBunny
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9:22pm Sat 2 Feb 13
Oh and I assume you want the illegally parked vehicles to move away so you can illegally park there instead? nice.
knickerlessparsons
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10:35pm Sat 2 Feb 13
wessex-andy
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5:08pm Sun 3 Feb 13
There is a taxi rank in St Mary Street just outside the Royal Oak, but the taxis rarely stop there because the drivers, prefer to stop on the yellow lines outside their office in St Edmund Street. Too lazy to walk less than a hundred yards.
The one on the Esplanade near the statue only rarely has more than one or two taxis on it, yet there is space for a dozen or more of them.
This is just two of the instances that I have noticed. I have come to the conclusion that Weymouth council puts in the taxi ranks just to stop other motorists parking there.
EvilBunny
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8:37pm Sun 3 Feb 13
There are eighty licensed Taxis in Weymouth and rank space for about 1/3rd of them.
The Seafront is not full up during the day as the majority of fares use the ranks near the town bridge and or Railway station. check this rank on a Thursday, Friday and Saturday night and you will see Taxis waiting to get on the rank as its not big enough.
Also the vehicles parking in St Edmund street are NOT usually taxis - check the difference a Taxi has a sign on its roof and a Yellow Plate on the back; the once illegally parking are usually Private Hire vehicles and these have a blue plate on the rear and no sign on the roof.
Private Hire vehicles are NOT taxis, they cannot use the ranks or pickup fares off the street; in-fact it is illegal for a private hire to take any fare that is not given to it by a licensed office.
Your comments about the council putting ranks in to stop parking are unfound and illogical - the council would rather every foot of kerb space be available for paring so that they can charge for it.
knickerlessparsons
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10:38am Mon 4 Feb 13
stench
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11:16am Mon 4 Feb 13
Simple!
It has become near impossible for a taxi driver to make a living. Weymouth drivers have it easy, where a fairer game is played. but look at the big cities with turf wars and fighting over fares.
Then we get on to what a driver has to deal with. drunks are the worse! being sick, aggressive, refusing to pay.
If i was a Taxi driver, I certainly wouldnt renew my license once required. Even if that meant stacking shelfs for a living!
knickerlessparsons
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1:15pm Mon 4 Feb 13
As consumers, we are all very used to price increases on almost every scale imaginable and often without prior notice or justification, yet it doesn't seem to put the majority of us off paying out. I can see that taxi drivers are no different in that respect and like the rest of us are subjected to increased living costs and hikes in running costs linked with their trade. As WPHCA Chairman Ray Maslen also quite rightly pointed out "This small increase reflects a rise in inflation"
We are ALL victims of circumstance and It is very unfortunate that in this current economic climate Taxi usage outside of city centres is largely in decline regardless of the fares charged.
The Taxi trade as a whole is regarded by many as a non essential luxury. Because of this, it has been one of the first industries to feel the effects of the recession, and in stark contrast, will be one of the last to recover
EvilBunny
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10:46am Tue 5 Feb 13
Perhaps you don't realise that Taxi drivers have to pay all their expensenses which means the increases in fuel, insurance, parts, repairs etc all mean a PAY CUT for the drive themselves.
So before you go flapping about greed think of how you would feel if every time something increased in price your boss cut your wages?
tackleberry
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12:25pm Wed 6 Feb 13
bedpans
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6:00pm Wed 6 Feb 13
JamesYoung
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8:11pm Wed 6 Feb 13
tackleberry wrote:I'm not sure what it's like in Weymouth, but several Dorchester cabbies have commented that because there are no limits on the number of cabs on the road, there is not enough work to go around. The fellow who picks me up at 6.30am on a Tuesday morning used to work all night, sometimes for just 2 fares.
That horroble James woman fails to mention that Taxi fees from the Council has gone up over 32% this year. Tell the people that James, then tell them what a small fare increase the drivers are asking for. in realality taxi drivers are facing a pay decrease, with higher fuel, insurance and 20% VAT on every bill the car has. Its no wonder that our council is in such a poor financial state when we have people like James who cannot do simple sums.
knickerlessparsons
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9:19pm Wed 6 Feb 13
bedpans wrote:Exactly that... he was the previous Chairman and is so no longer.
Whats happened to Nigel Richardson, the previous Chairman of Hackney Carriage Association?
bedpans
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9:45pm Wed 6 Feb 13
knickerlessparsons wrote:Thanks for that informative post! It surprised me as I did not know he had left.
bedpans wrote: Whats happened to Nigel Richardson, the previous Chairman of Hackney Carriage Association?Exactly that... he was the previous Chairman and is so no longer.
connie68
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10:48pm Wed 6 Feb 13
knickerlessparsons
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12:23am Thu 7 Feb 13
bedpans wrote:Yes.. I heard he's now working in a Kibbutz as he felt under-appreciated.
knickerlessparsons wrote:Thanks for that informative post! It surprised me as I did not know he had left.
bedpans wrote: Whats happened to Nigel Richardson, the previous Chairman of Hackney Carriage Association?Exactly that... he was the previous Chairman and is so no longer.
Unless you are a member of WPHCA and attend their meetings, how could you of known prior to the Echo write-up?
knickerlessparsons
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12:43am Thu 7 Feb 13
connie68 wrote:FYI St Mary Street starts at Custom House Quay between the Royal Oak and the Ship Inn. The pub itself occupies a corner plot on both St Mary St and Custom House Quay with the main door being exactly on the corner.
I'm still trying to work out where the Royal Oak is in St Mary Street?
212 dorset
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8:49am Thu 7 Feb 13
knickerlessparsons wrote:Have you ever read the echo online or bought the echo from the shop? Funnily enough I have seen many articles where there have been quotes from the previous Chairman Mr Richardson. Weymouth is a small place and everyone knows everyone elses business most of the time!
bedpans wrote:Yes.. I heard he's now working in a Kibbutz as he felt under-appreciated. Unless you are a member of WPHCA and attend their meetings, how could you of known prior to the Echo write-up?knickerlessparsons wrote:Thanks for that informative post! It surprised me as I did not know he had left.bedpans wrote: Whats happened to Nigel Richardson, the previous Chairman of Hackney Carriage Association?Exactly that... he was the previous Chairman and is so no longer.
bobby1966
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11:38pm Thu 7 Feb 13
even one the drivers that picked me up the other day was bragging about how he can easy do 1200 in the summer .
i could only wish for a wage like that
knickerlessparsons
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6:39pm Fri 8 Feb 13
bobby1966 wrote:Firstly, is it 2 or is it 3 PRIVATE HIRE drivers that you know? This whole thread is in relation to a Hackney Carriage fare increase and nothing at all to do with PRIVATE HIRE who have the radio charges that you speak of. They carry out pre-arranged bookings ONLY and DO NOT work from the Council controlled Taxi ranks. FYI Bee Cars, Fleetline, and Weyline are ALL Private Hire operators who have their own offices NOT RANKS. If you believe and wish for yourself the Private Hire driver's earnings then perhaps you should join them. Even if the earnings were true, which they're not, prepare to be disappointed with the 70+ hour week you would have endure. You do the maths!
i know 2 or 3 taxi drivers and they all take home between 500-600 a week after paying out there fuel and radio charges.
even one the drivers that picked me up the other day was bragging about how he can easy do 1200 in the summer .
i could only wish for a wage like that
niceonecyril says...
5:25pm Sat 2 Feb 13