Spelthorne taxi drivers slam price hikes and say it will have a 'knock-on effect'
Taxi drivers have slammed price hikes that will see them charged more to operate in Spelthorne. One driver called the increases 'shocking' while another said the move was 'unfair'.
Spelthorne Borough Council licensing bosses agreed to increase taxi licences by 5% and other related charges to ensure taxi fees are cost neutral so taxpayers are not subsidising the service. However, taxi drivers say they have been ‘neglected and taken for granted’ by the council in asking for change.
Taxi fares per mile are set by the council but have remained frozen in the borough since 2015 with a planned review failing to go ahead. Drivers fees will now increase by £16 for driver's licence in a private car to £204, while one-year operating fees for taxi companies have increased by £17 to £366.
Read more: M25, M3, A3 overnight closures this week impacts Reigate, Wisley, Staines, Frimley
Read more: Cheapest petrol stations in Surrey this week
Jon Barlow of BlueStar Taxis said: “There’s nothing happening here. I don’t know why they want to increase the fee. There’s no [taxi] rank for us, no security for us, hundreds of drivers next to Heathrow [who make up traffic]."
Costs to change vehicles, which Jon said several drivers have done to avoid the extra ULEZ charges, have also increased by £8 to £175. The increases were confirmed at licensing committee earlier this month and will be introduced from April 1 this year.
The committee heard that fares have not risen in line with 2024's level of inflation, representing a 31% drop in value. Officers said the licensing department had intended to review fare tariffs in the financial year 2023/24 but due to issues with staff absences from long term illnesses and two vacant posts, this has not been possible.
Taxi drivers who submitted responses to the council's proposed fee increases claimed the service from the licensing department was ‘poor’, with one individual calling the department a ‘joke’.
Complainants also argued removing tinted windows and replacing cars when they reach 10 years old would restrict business and cause great expense to drivers and firms. Considering the feedback, the licensing committee decided it would review the restriction on 10-year-old vehicles with the taxi licensing policy in summer 2024.
The recent price hikes in Spelthorne highlight the growing financial pressures faced by taxi drivers across the UK. As local authorities strive to balance budgets, drivers are feeling the strain of increased operational costs while their fares remain stagnant.
Many in the industry are calling for a more comprehensive review of taxi policies, including fare adjustments that reflect inflation and the rising costs of compliance with regulations such as vehicle upgrades and environmental charges.
The failure to address these concerns could have a lasting impact on both drivers and passengers, as affordability and availability of services continue to decline.
Chris Richards, from Simply Quote Taxi Insurance, added: "The increase in fees without a corresponding adjustment to fares is unsustainable for many taxi drivers.
"At SimplyQuote, we see first-hand how these financial burdens affect drivers, especially when combined with additional costs like ULEZ compliance. The council needs to consider the long-term viability of the taxi industry and the knock-on effects for the public, who rely on these essential services."
Taxi drivers 'struggling to operate'
The main reason Jon said he liked working in the taxi industry was the ‘flexibility’ it provided. However, he said new ULEZ charges and council rules against tinted windows makes his taxi operating service increasingly constrained.
“We’re struggling but we’ll keep on going,” Jon said.
Drivers' comments recieved during the consultation labelled the price hikes as ‘an abuse of common sense’ and ‘unfair’. Dominic, another taxi operator, described the increase as ‘shocking’ and said it will have a ‘knock-on effect’.
Licence holders criticised the limited taxi ranks available in the borough, as well as the ‘poor’ condition of faded markings on the Gresham Road taxi rank in Staines causing confusion with other drivers. Councillors on the committee agreed to review the condition of Gresham Road taxi rank in the coming financial year. The licensing committee also suggested that Shepperton Train Station could benefit from having a taxi rank.
Get more news from SurreyLive straight to your inbox for free here.