Changes could hit taxi drivers
Sweeping changes to taxi services in South Holland could put independent companies and drivers at risk.
On Monday South Holland District Council's licensing committee will discuss proposals to change vehicle specifications, raise fares and increase taxi ranks in Spalding.
The most important change to taxi specifications is a plan to make all Hackney Carriages (council licensed taxis which sit on taxi ranks) wheelchair accessible within the next two years.
A council officer's report on the changes says it could reduce the number of licensed taxis in South Holland, with many likely to convert their vehicles to private hire.
Judy Brookes, Spalding Taxi Forum chairman and proprietor of Smart Cabs in Westlode Street, said it is likely that her firm would convert many of its cars to private hire rather than replacing an entire fleet for wheelchair access but added that independent drivers could lose out.
Councillors will also consider raising daytime meter fares by 12p per mile and night time and holiday fares by 24p a mile.
Spalding Taxi Forum suggested a day increase of 30p per mile and a night increase of 45p per mile but council officers say it is excessive.
Ms Brookes described the proposed rises for South Holland taxis as "disgusting" considering massive rises in the cost of diesel during the last 18 months, when the fares were last changed.
She said: "We are not going to be able to raise prices after this for at least another year. All the time the cost of diesel will continue to rise so I think 12p a mile is disgusting.
"Bearing in mind we have not even touched on maintenance costs going up, as has excise duty and the cost of running a taxi office. Taking all that into account, 12p per mile is a pittance."
Proposals to create 15 new taxi rank spaces in Spalding at a cost of around 2,500 will also be debated by the committee.
Extra spaces will include four in Sheep Market, one behind the South Holland Centre, three night time spaces near the Black Swan, New Road, and four outside Boots in Hall Placeplus three more spaces at an existing rank in Westlode Street.
Email to a friend
Print this page
Looking for...
Featured advertisers
Jobs
Search for a job
Motors
Search for a car
Property
Search for a house
Weather for Spalding
Thursday 24 May 2012
Today
Sunny spells
Temperature: 11 C to 18 C
Wind Speed: 17 mph
Wind direction: East
Tomorrow
Sunny
Temperature: 12 C to 21 C
Wind Speed: 24 mph
Wind direction: East
