Private hire fares could rise by 500 per cent

FARES FOR private hire cars in Telford could go up by 500 per cent, it was revealed today.

A dispute has broken out between Telford Private Hire Drivers Association and Telford & Wrekin Council after it was revealed the cost for renewing licences could rocket – meaning the minimum fare could jump from £3 to £15.

The dispute also centres around a proposal to pay for marshals to escort nightclub revellers to waiting taxis.

The council currently charges £124 for a single operator licence but this could rise to £365.

The council's licensing committee proposed the increases, to include the cost of marshaling, which could see a private hire driver's licence for 12 months rise from £125 to £200 and the cost of a 12 month car licence jump from £134 to £225.

But today council bosses said nothing has been decided and a solution had to be found as council taxpayers were subsidising the service to the tune of £40,000.

Mohammed Zaman, chairman of the Telford Private Hire Drivers Association, said if the fees went up fares would also increase.

"We are very concerned with this increase of licence fees," he said. "An operator's licence has increased from £462 to over £15,000 for an average fleet of vehicles, a cost that will be passed on to the drivers and then ultimately the customer.

"If this increase is adopted there will be no option but to increase the fares by 500 per cent.

"Of further concern is regular taxi users during the day tend to be the elderly and disabled, a fare increase will directly affect their ability to travel freely, upsetting their lives, while nightclub revellers are put safely in taxis by marshals.

"If Telford & Wrekin Council have their way, Telford taxi fares will have to be increased to absorb the proposed increase in license fees. Hackney drivers will also see their costs rise by the same amount."

Council spokesman Russell Griffin said: "Nothing is decided on this issue and we are meeting the taxi forum today to stress that we will be extending our consultation, beginning with extensive pre-consultation talks with the taxi trade, which will allow more time for all views to considered and heard. However, this council must find a way to address the issue of the costs."

By Jason Lavan