Taxi drivers freeze fares in East Devon

EDDC licensing fees freeze prompts taxi drivers not to seek fare increase for 2011

TAXI fares in East Devon will not be rising this year – thanks in part to a freeze in EDDC’s licensing fees.

Last Thursday at a liaison meeting with East Devon District Council, representatives of the taxi trade in the district told councillors and officers they would not seek any increase their fares this year and wouldn’t be proposing a change in the fare table approved by the council.

Pretty much all the representatives of the taxi trade present agreed with this decision, which, they said, had been taken, in part, because of the council’s announcement it will not be increasing the licensing fees during the current financial year.

The announcement came during one of the twice-yearly meetings between district councillors and the taxi trade in East Devon.

It is hoped that, in the current economic climate, this will help the travelling public, particularly regular taxi users.

Both the chairman and vice-chairman of the licensing and enforcement committee, Councillors Steve Hall and Jim Knight, welcomed the decision.