Taxi drivers are facing the brunt of record high petrol prices and urging the council to raise fares.

Today unleaded petrol cost 190p a litre in Carterton while diesel was nearly £2 a litre.

Daniel Clarke, owner of Ace Taxis in Carterton, said it was difficult to gauge how much more journeys were costing as each of his vehicles was different.

But he said: “I suppose it should go up. The price of petrol has gone up and the margins have gone down so there needs to be a rise, it hasn’t gone up since 2014.

"As the price of petrol goes up, we are affected just as much as domestic motorists."

Local authorities, who license taxis, are responsible for setting the maximum fares that can be charged to passengers.

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The taxi drivers must get together and propose a fare increase that must be approved by West Oxfordshire District Council.

Tammi Hamid, owner of Tammi’s Taxis in Witney said: “It used to cost £60 to £70 to fill up a tank and now it’s more like £130.

"The council has not put up their fares for six or seven years but the price of a taxi is still the same. 

"Now taxi drivers are not even following the meter. They just can’t afford to do it. They’ve got to personally put the price up. You can’t do that job at that price any more. Everything is going up."

And self-employed taxi driver Abdul Mubin said: “I think they should raise the fares. Everything is going up, it’s now £120 to fill the tank and with the journeys we do it used to last a few days but now it runs out quicker.

"Business is still OK, we still have customers, but they need to do something or this business just won’t be profitable for us and we have to earn a living.”

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However, there was good news today as the council confirmed that it is looking at a proposal to increase fares.

A spokesperson said: "We will be looking to consult with local taxi drivers shortly as part of the correct process to potentially change fares.”

And Cllr Michael Brooker, newly elected chair of the licensing committee, said: "I am sympathetic with the plea of taxi drivers and understand their position on this matter.

"I am sure that this is something the new West Oxfordshire Alliance is keen to work on with our taxi drivers and to help and give support wherever possible.

"I am currently in discussions with the officers to fully understand what support can be given in these challenging times."

 

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