CALLING a cab in Slough will soon cost more because of the rise in the price of petrol.

Fares for hackney carriages, which are licensed by Slough Borough Council, are expected to go up on Sunday, July 6.

This means that a passenger who wants to use a cab from 6am to 10am on a normal day will be charged £6.40 for a basic fare, which is currently £6. The taxi meter will then increase the fare by 20p for every further 200 yards travelled.

From 10am to midnight the basic charge of £6.80 increases by 40p. The midnight-to-6am fares rise from £7.80 to £8.20

Slough Conservative leader Cllr Derek Cryer said: “I think this needs to be reviewed because at a time where everything is going up higher than the rate of inflation, this means the man on the street just gets hit harder. It is going to affect vulnerable people like the elderly or disabled who require a door-to-door service. ”

“I think this rise is not really justifiable because once again it’s the ordinary person who will suffer.’”

The rise comes after Slough’s hackney carriage drivers asked the council to approve the increase in fares due to the rising petrol prices.

Paramjit Badial, chairman of Slough Taxi Federation, added: “Petrol has doubled and with all the other rises in insurance and road tax, we end up taking very little home so it’s tough on everyone. I think the rise is not too high and even with this, it won’t compensate us fully for our losses recently.”

To see a full list of the rises see the Observer’s Public Notice pages. Taxi passengers have until Friday, July 4 to comment on the rises.

Anyone who wants more information should contact the Taxi Licensing Office at MyCouncil, Landmark Place, High Street, Slough, or call 01753 552288.

http://www.sloughobserver.co.uk/articles/1/3321