A PUBLIC consultation on taxi prices in Conwy will go ahead after cabbies complained that the current rate is unsustainable.
But one councillor fears taxi fares increasing could hit those on low incomes who can’t afford a car.
A debate on the matter unfolded at Bodlondeb this week when Conwy’s licensing committee met.
There, the committee discussed the maximum rate Hackney taxis are allowed to charge.
Lisa Roberts, of Castle Cabs, wrote to Conwy County Council’s licensing department, requesting that taxi firms were allowed to increase fares due to inflation.
Speaking via video link, Mrs Roberts said whilst private taxi hire was still profitable, Hackney taxi fares – taxis plying their trade on the street – were no longer sustainable.
“The cost of running the business at the moment makes the public side, the community side of tourism, not viable,” she said.
“From private hire perspective, we do a lot of corporate work. We work for the Crown Prosecution Service. We do a lot of local authority work.
“That side of the business, we are able to set our own prices; therefore, we are able to make it viable.
“We are able to employ a large number of employees in this county, but I think if we don’t have a tariff increase, then the other side of the business, at this moment in time, is not viable to serve the community or tourism.”
Cllr Thomas Montgomery said he was concerned for people on lower incomes if taxi fares increased.
“I’m conscious about the impact on low-income families. There are some families I’m aware of that rely on these types of services because they find it difficult to get a bus or they can’t afford their own vehicle,” he said.
“So I’m conscious of those families when we are looking at these charts.
“But I do also appreciate the impact that inflation is having on the Hackney Licence Holders themselves.”
He then asked if the council could look at the possibility of lowering the cost of issuing a licence to Hackney drivers.
But council officers informed him that new fees for taxi firms had already benefitted from a reduction.
Under the proposed new charges, taxis will charge a maximum of £4 if the distance doesn’t exceed one mile, rising from £3.60, and 35p for each additional one-tenth of a mile, rising from 30p.
The charge of 30p for each minute of waiting time will remain, and all other charges will remain the same.
The proposed new fares will now go out to public consultation before they are re-debated.
