City set for taxi fare hike to help tackle rising fuel costs

Published on Wednesday 4 June 2008 10:24

TAXI fares in Edinburgh may be about to rise in a bid to help struggling cabbies pay their massive fuel bills.

City councillors look set to order a public consultation on higher prices, following a plea from the trade.

Drivers have urged the council to introduce an "interim" increase of 20p on all starting fares while a full review is carried out on the incremental charges.

If a 20p hike is agreed in principle, it will take around one month to come into force to give people the chance to object. A full fares review is likely to take months to complete.

The last review took place in November, when prices were frozen at May 2006 levels.

Fares currently start at 1.50 before 6pm on weekdays, and 2.50 at night and at weekends, rising in increments of 25p based on time and distance.

The council has no legal obligation to carry out another review until May next year, but the convener of this Friday's regulatory committee, SNP councillor Colin Keir, today said he was "sympathetic" to taxi drivers' plight.

Taxi drivers have told the News their wages have plummeted by up to 3000 a year, as they pay for more expensive fuel.

Jim Muldoon, the Edinburgh representative of the Scottish Taxi Federation, said: "The increase in fuel costs is proving very difficult for the trade.

"The 20p increase will only go part of the way to cover the increased costs and we hope the committee recognise that this is a sensible first step. We are looking to share the burden, not put it completely on passengers.

"This is not a case of us being greedy, we are just trying to keep our heads above the water. We have not had a fares increase for two years now and we are calling for this review to be brought forward as a matter of urgency."

Raymond Davidson, secretary of the Edinburgh Taxi Association, added: "You only have to look at the way fuel prices have increased in recent months to get a feel for how taxi drivers are feeling the pinch right now.

"There is only so much of these price increases we can soak up."

The chief executive of the Edinburgh Chamber of Commerce, Ron Hewitt, has also called for an emergency council meeting to look at taxi fares. "These guys are in dire straits," he said.

Recent figures from the AA put the average diesel price at 124.17p a litre, with petrol at 112.55p in the month to mid-May.

Cllr Keir said: "I am sympathetic to a certain extent. If there has to be a rise, it has to be justifiable. But it would seem to be a good idea to have a review."