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    20

    Mar 2023

    Last Updated: 20/03/2023
    Transport
    Transport

    Planned Harrogate district taxi licence fare hikes 'far too much'

    by Calvin Robinson

    | 20 Mar, 2023
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    0

    screenshot-2022-06-21-at-15-59-22-2
    The taxi rank on Station Parade in Harrogate.

    A Harrogate district taxi driver has criticised new taxi fare and licence fees planned for North Yorkshire.

    North Yorkshire County Council unveiled the new charges as part of its new licensing policy for cabs under the upcoming North Yorkshire Council.

    It will see the fixed start fee for a district cabbie increase from £3.60 to £4.00.

    However, the night time and Christmas tariffs would remain fixed at £5.40 and £7.20.

    Meanwhile, the council is also proposing increasing licence fees for new drivers from the current Harrogate rate of £319 for one-year to £350.

    It is also planning a renewal fee increase from £249 to £280 - a hike of 12.5%.

    The proposed table of tariffs are due to go before a county council executive tomorrow.

    Richard Fieldman, who runs a taxi firm in Ripon, said the new tariffs would not help those who work night shifts.

    He criticised the policy and added that the licence fees increase of 12.5% was “far too much”.

    Mr Fieldman said:

    “They have put their hand in a lottery bag and thrown it in.”





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    The move comes as North Yorkshire County Council will introduce a single hackney carriage and private hire licensing policy from the spring.

    The existing seven district councils, including Harrogate, currently have their own hackney carriage and private hire licensing policies. However, under the new policy, drivers will be able to operate in any area of the county.

    Cllr Derek Bastiman, executive councillor for open to business, said:

    "The proposed licence fees ensure we can provide the administration of vehicle and operators’ licences, carry out essential inspections of vehicles so that passengers can continue to travel safely and maintain hackney carriage stands, as well as the enforcement of the licences, without creating an additional cost to the taxpayer.
    "With the launch of a single local licensing authority for North Yorkshire, the proposed fees also ensures hackney carriage and private hire licence holders and taxi operators across the county are treated equally, and will hopefully encourage them to continue to invest in and maintain high-quality and safe vehicles.
    "The setting of taxi fares is also a statutory duty for the licensing authority and our aim is to strike a balance between setting a fare that is acceptable to the customer and to the taxi driver, and not create confusion by varied fares in the licensed area.
    "The proposed fares are the maximum hackney carriage drivers can charge. They can of course charge a lower fare, should they wish to do so."