Taxi drivers in Blackburn call for higher fares
2:49pm Monday 11th February 2013 in News By Sophia Rahman, Reporter
Hackney Drivers’ Association Ltd chairman Charles Oakes, left, and drivers
ANGRY black cab drivers are calling for Blackburn with Darwen Council to let them raise their fares.
The demand comes after the Lancashire Telegraph revealed that last year almost half of taxis in the borough failed basic safety checks.
Although only a fraction of the taxis found unfit to be on the road were black cabs, the Hackney Drivers’ Association Ltd said its members were struggling to maintain their vehicles and turn a profit on the charge rates set in 2011.
However, another black cab group, Blackburn Hackney Carriage Association, said it was strongly against charging more.
The Hackney Drivers’ Association Ltd wants to charge an extra 20p per stretch. This would raise the first flag charge from £2.30 to £2.50, and increase the one, two, five and 10-mile journeys accordingly.
Chairman Charles Oakes said: “It costs us to maintain our vehicles and we can barely afford it. Just like everybody else, rising fuel prices and rising insurance costs affect us. Everybody needs to pay their mortgage and feed their kids.”
Mr Oakes has sought legal advice on whether he can take action against the council, which sets the tariffs, to implement his proposals.
However, the Blackburn Hackney Carriage Association said that raising fares in a time of recession would further drive away customers.
Chairman Mohammed Younis said: “We are all struggling to survive, with huge fuel and insurance bills and maintenance costs.
“But our drivers aren’t seeing enough customers as it is, and pushing fares higher would not be a clever move.”
Coun John Wright, licensing committee chairman, said: “An application to increase the hackney carriage fares was considered by the committee on Thursday.
“The members considered whether to recommend the request to the executive member for environment for an increase and to start the consultation process.
“On careful consideration, members of the committee said they would not recommend the current application.
“Members felt that any request should be brought jointly by all representatives of the hackney trade in Blackburn with Darwen.
“We will consider any new applications if and when they are brought.”
Comments(13)
roversjeff
says...
4:00pm Mon 11 Feb 13
A Darener
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4:00pm Mon 11 Feb 13
LittleMissKc
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5:19pm Mon 11 Feb 13
icannotrace
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6:35pm Mon 11 Feb 13
LittleMissKc wrote:If they don't raise their fares then their business will go down anyway. It doesn't sound that they have any choice to me.
If your fares are raised, your business will go down. FACT
buckoff
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6:47pm Mon 11 Feb 13
mark007
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7:20pm Mon 11 Feb 13
Paul The Octopus Lives!
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8:21pm Mon 11 Feb 13
KP2011
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8:27pm Mon 11 Feb 13
doggydog
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6:41am Tue 12 Feb 13
....find another job!
darren72
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11:14am Tue 12 Feb 13
kojak10
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2:18pm Tue 12 Feb 13
Private hire is almost half the price that they charge you would have to enjoy throwing your hard earned cash away!
They are the modern highwaymen ripping off people who know no different. Visitors to the town especially get ripped off when they reach the train station etc.. The black cabs are almost reliant on tis sort of trade! No-one in their right mind living in the borough would call a black cab! Funny they always seem to take the longest route too while the meters ticking away!
No fare rises for them i say they're getting enough as it is!
jandi56
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6:39pm Tue 12 Feb 13
marcusbrfc95 says...
2:56pm Mon 11 Feb 13