Burnley and Padiham taxi drivers bid to increase fares (From Lancashire Telegraph)

Burnley and Padiham taxi drivers bid to increase fares

7:49pm Wednesday 21st May 2008

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TAXI drivers in Burnley and Padiham are asking for a fares increase amid soaring diesel costs and rising insurance premiums for vehicles.

Cabbies say the price hike will be the first in 18 months - and comes as the bill for a litre of diesel has risen by as much as 30 pence per litre.

Burnley is currently rated among the cheapest places in Lancashire for hiring a taxi.

Presently the flag charge - the fare for the first 1,000 yards or so of a journey is £2 during the day and £2.60 for trips after midnight.

This compares to £3 daytime charges in Pendle and the Ribble Valley - and £3.50 and £4.50 flag rates respectively for night-time journeys.

Proposals put forward by the Burnley Hackney Carriage Association would increase the initial tariff from £2 to £2.50 and the midnight rate from £2.60 to £3.10.

An additional scheme has also been drawn up by Mohammed Ibrar, representing a smaller band of private hire drivers operating under the Taxicall banner.

As well as supporting the hackney fares rise, he also wants to see an 80p call-out charge brought into play for his members in the borough.

Council bosses have also received alternative submissions from the Bury-based National Private Hire Association which it wants to consider fully.

Councillors sitting on the borough's licensing committee are being asked to defer the price increase, for more detailed talks between council officers and the taxi trade.

Licensing officer Peter Henderson says in a report: "An increase in fares is necessary in order to offset increases in drivers operating costs.

"However the proposal from the hackney association does not address fundamental flaws in the way hackney carriage fares are calculated in the borough."

The issue would then be resolved at a future licensing meeting, to be held in July.

Elsewhere in East Lancashire and beyond, taxi fares differ across the boroughs.

In Hyndburn £2.50 and £3 flag rates are imposed, while Rossendale £2.30 and £3.45, depending on when the cab is hired. Blackburn with Darwen's prices are £2 and £2.10.

Neighbouring Chorley has rates of £1.90 and £2.85, while Preston's are £2 and £2.70, and Blackpool cabs charge a uniform £2.60 flag rate, regardless of when the journey is taken.

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