Fears over meters in taxis
Small taxi firms in Oswestry could close if proposals to fit meters to vehicles go ahead, firms warned today. The borough council's licensing committee is to consider the matter next week.
Small taxi firms in Oswestry could close if proposals to fit meters to vehicles go ahead, firms warned today. The borough council's licensing committee is to consider the matter next week.
The cost of putting in the meters combined with people shunning taxis because of the new systems would finish many operations, one driver in the town said. Another said he would give up part-time taxiing rather than install a meter.
The licensing committee is to decide on Thursday whether to recommend the compulsory installation of meters in taxis.
Oswestry Taxi Drivers Association has called for the move within the borough and the council has carried out public consultation.
It is claimed the meters and a table of fares would end overcharging, especially at night. However the public consultation saw 60 per cent of those who took part against metering.
Taxi drivers against the proposal include Geoff and June Hartland, of G and J Taxi of St Martins.
"In our opinion the cost of meters and fixtures plus any other cost would finish a lot of taxi firms in small towns like ours," they said in a letter to the council.
"We would have no alternative but to finish taxis as the local people would not pay any extra for fares."
Sam Evans, who is a part-time driver, said: "Meters do not work in a rural area like ours, where almost every journey consists of an outward leg with a fare on board, and a return leg, empty."