Taxi-drivers' fury at pay rise cut

CABBIES’ ANGER: Ronnie Melling on Morrisons taxi rank



By Richard Bean
Wigan's taxi drivers are furious that fare increases have been frozen following objections from what would only amount to a cab full of people.
Hackney owners thought they had won their battle to boost rates by between seven and 12 per cent. The rises were due to come in from yesterday.
But now they have been told that the regulation committee has deferred the introduction at the 11th hour.

And all because they have received just THREE objections from residents after the plans were advertised in the press.
Earlier, councillors accepted evidence presented to them that Wigan's cabbies have been forced to absorb significant hikes in fuel prices. The move by the Metro regulation committee would have meant that the borough's 136 black cab licence holders would have been able to put up the first mile rate from £2.80 to a maximum of £3.10 and the four mile journey rate up from £7.40 to a maximum £8.30.


The controversial formula adopted by the council to calculate cab fare increasesis
to remain, despite pleas by the cabbies union TGWU branch that it be scrapped – although it will be reviewed. Even if approved next month, it will still leave Wiganers with some of the cheapest rides in the region.
Average running mile rate in the county is now £1.69. The application had been deferred earlier in the month so that cabbies could present more evidence to back up their case.

Licensed taxi drivers Transport and General Workers Union branch secretary Ronnie Melling said: "There are 300,000 adults in the Metro borough and just three have objected to the rises but these three have the power to stop it.
"It just beggers belief and the lads are annoyed. Surely there are rules about the number of objections necessary to stop something like this."
The matter will be re-considered on March 5. A council spokesperson said: "We are legally obliged to consider every objection."