30p taxi fare increase approved
TAXI drivers in Eastbourne will be able to charge an extra 30p per journey due to rising fuel costs.
Their request to offset the rapidly increasing cost of petrol and diesel with a surcharge was put before the general licensing sub-committee of Eastbourne Borough Council on Thursday.
The sub-committee, which sets taxi fares and makes decisions on any proposed increases, took the decision to allow drivers to implement a 30p surcharge.
Kareen Plympton, licensing manager at Eastbourne Borough Council, said, "It is only for those who choose to implement it and it is an interim arrangement.
"It will be kept under review — it is not going to be unending.
"This will depend upon ambient economic conditions and/or any change to the council tariff."
Four representatives from local taxi firms attended the meeting on Thursday and put forward their concerns about the soaring cost of petrol and diesel.
Barry Morris, chairman of 720 taxis, said, "The council made the only decision it could make at the moment, given the rising fuel costs.
"Fuel prices may settle and this could be temporary during the crisis."
Mr Morris explained taxi firms had to make a commercial decision but said he expected the majority would be implementing the 30p surcharge.
A Sussex Cars spokesperson said, "We will be seriously looking in to it because fuel has gone up 35 per cent and every day there is a higher price at the pump.
"We run the best fares in the town but our drivers have got to cover their costs and they are pressurising us, as a company, to implement the surcharge."
Before the report was drawn up, 90 Hackney Carriage drivers were asked to respond to a survey.
Thirty-five replies were received, with 12 people saying they believed a surcharge should be levied and nine of the 12 opting for a 30p surcharge. Other options were 10p, 20p and 60p.
It is not just taxi drivers who have been hit by a the fuel crisis. Bus company Renown-Cavendish raised its prices earlier this month and last week Eastbourne Buses announced it would be increasing the Eastbourne area fare by 10p to 1.80.
The council will issue notices to be displayed in a prominent position in the taxi.
Any objections to the surcharge can be made in writing to the licensing committee at the council offices in Grove Road.
juliet.perry@trbeckett.co.uk
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Weather for Bexhill-on-Sea
Thursday 24 May 2012
Today
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Temperature: 15 C to 21 C
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