A DECISION to increase taxi licence fees in Burnley rather than cutting them has been slammed by the group representing local private hire operators.

Councillors last night opted to put up fees for hackney carriage and private hire operators and use the extra money to employ a part-time taxi enforcement officer.

An alternative suggestion that fees could be cut by 2.5 per cent failed to get the green light.

The increase means the licence for a private hire cab more than four years old will rise from £266 to £275 and a hackney carriage of any age will rise from £218 to £226.

A private hire cab less than three years old will also pay £226 (from £218) and a driver's licence will rise by £2 to £48. The increase will cover the £7,688 cost of employing the officer, who will work 15 hours a week.

Duncan Allen, secretary of the Burnley Private Hire Association, said there was no need for the enforcement officer, and the council's move would force him to consult his members.

He said: "We consider the current level of enforcement to be sufficient at this time.

"We also consider the creation of this new post unreasonable, unnecessary and unfair.

"I've got to go back and consult my members on the situation.

"As far as I'm concerned I'm absolutely disgusted they're employing another enforcement officer.

"It's being manufactured to create employment."

Mr Allen said the council should have waited until they knew the full effects of a change in the rules which will ban any private hire car over seven years old from the roads come into effect in 18 months time before taking on extra staff.

Asked if the increase would mean drivers going out of business, he said. "We're facing increases in fuel costs and insurance.

"This move to take cars over seven years old off the road will put people out of business.

"The licence increase won't help all that."

He would not comment on what, if any, action drivers could take to fight the increase. Councillor Tony Lambert, a member of the council's licensing sub-committee which agreed the increase on Wednesday, did not expect fierce opposition from taxi drivers as the decision had been taken for the right reasons.

He said: "We think it's a good thing to take on this extra officer.

"It's for the safety of the public. We realise the operators won't be pleased but I don't think they are strongly against it.

"They are responsible people and they want the situation right themselves.

"At the end of the day it amounted to less than 50p a week either way. We only have one full-time officer and they do other work as well as the taxis."