Islanders will have just 2 weeks to object to ‘significant’ rises in local taxi fares, but if no objections are made then the changes will come into force on 1st May.
The Isle of Wight Council’s licensing committee this week voted overwhelmingly in favour of a hike in taxi fees which will see a 2-mile journey, charged on the lowest tariff, increase by £1.10.
It follows consultation with the Island’s taxi trade who supported a fee increase due to rising running fuel, service charges and insurance.
Chair of the committee, Councillor Daryll Pitcher, said there were legitimate reasons to increase the fees and this was just the beginning of a complicated process. Not all members were in favour though, with Councillor Gary Peace saying the taxi charges on the Island were already ridiculously high. He suggested that, much like other businesses during the COVID pandemic, including his own, drivers absorb the added costs.
If prices did have to rise, Cllr Peace said they should be in line with inflation which would be a much simpler way of determining an increase and would probably have more support from the public.
Concerns had previously been raised by officers that it would be unlikely the public would support the ‘significant increase’ proposed.
Following the approval, a minimum 14-day consultation will start once a public notice is published in local newspapers and on the council’s website. If no objections are lodged, the new fees will begin on 1st May. However, if valid objections are submitted, the start date will be pushed back and the issue could end up back before the licensing committee.
What are the changes?
- The initial ‘flag drop’, or hire fee also covering the first half a mile of the journey increases by 50p
- Each quarter mile, after the flag drop, increases between 10p and 50p depending on the tariff
- Waiting time during a trip increases between 20p and 70p a minute.
- Sundays would be charged at the same rate as bank and public holidays becoming more expensive, moving into tariff 2
- The cost for transporting animals doubles from 50p to £1 per animal
- Soiling charge increases to £100, from £70
According to the draft table of fees, tariff hours are also set to change, pending approval, meaning travel will cost more from 20:00 through to 06:00. The higher tariff used to start at 22:00.
The fares set are the maximum amount drivers can charge, so some companies could charge less.
It won’t matter. The council will do as they please as they need the income. Councillors who never get taxis are making votes and unanimous decisions.
I heard from a source at the council there is also a plan to introduce a lot more yellow lines in residential areas too starting with East/West Cowes, as they know the residents have no option to park miles away or park illegally for the fine money. I think they said it would cost less than 10k to do all the highly controversial line painting in East Cowes and would generate more than that in income in its first year.
The taxis is just a new angle.
“However, if valid objections are submitted, the start date will be pushed back and the issue could end up back before the licensing committee.”
So is increasing the charge for animals by 100% (from 50p to £1 per animal) a valid objection?
Given that environmental objections for building on greenfield are often not considered valid enough is a 100% hike in price valid?
Who knows with this council?
Let Uber operate on the Island. I regularly use them in Portsmouth and Bristol.
They are reasonable and efficient.
If we had a half-decent public transport service the taxi operators could go whistle.
Taxi fares are already extortionate – I feel sorry for those who simply can’t use the bus “service” for whatever reason.
Since you can never get a cab when you need one (“be about half-an-hour, muissus” but might turn up within the hour if you’re lucky), perhaps the answer is to issue many more licenes and allow a little competition. Not that the cabies would like that.
Definitely need more taxi competition… Ryde Taxi’s are too big and never available at night….. unless you book early… Bring back min cabs !! Also get some set rates… I never get two prices the same for the same ride.. I travel about 11pm, from Ryde esplanade to top of Ryde, distance about 3/4 mile, have been charged from £4.50 up to £10 and everything in between. It should be a set rate. And why not just take the quickest straight route instead of going up all the side roads…. that anno0ys me most.. as I just want to get home..
Those prices listed, says the MAXIMUM they can charge… naturally they will charge maximum all the time and also get away with charging more, plus then EXPECT a tip !!
Free public transport.
Use the Beryl scooters. Cheapest form of transport out there – fact. I should know I use them all the time. Also I have seen some Beryl bikes out there, even better…..
Cue the down votes – probably a bit to “modern” for some here…..
how do i go about objecting
easy…don,t use em.
I very rarely use a taxi, no more than twice a year.
At these new prices, looks like i will NEVER be using then now.
With all the increases that this council is piling upon the general public, who can afford living here?