Raising the price of taxi journeys divides opinion in Denbighshire - BBC Wales Live

2022-07-22 22:00:15 By : Ms. Vanessa Feng

Some Denbighshire taxi drivers are worried that elderly and vulnerable customers will stop calling due to price increases.Like many other authorities in Wales, Denbighshire County Council has agreed to raise the prices of taxi journeys to help drivers with the increase in fuel costs.The initial price of the trip will be higher, and the cost per mile will also increase.But, the decision has divided opinion, with companies worried that people will avoid using the services.Shân Rowlands owns a taxi company in St Asaph and has concerns about vulnerable people who need to be taken to hospital."The taxi meter is installed by the county, every county in the country, and they are raising the tariff now and the price is just ridiculous," he said."We start at £3 - that's the starting price - and that runs for the first mile."It's four miles from St Asaph to Ysbyty Glan Clwyd, the people can't park, so they get a taxi."He said the journey currently costs £8.70.But, after 1 July, the price will reach almost £12.Denbighshire County Council's Licensing Committee made the decision to raise the prices, as some of the county's taxi drivers had asked for the increase to tackle rising living costs.The situation is not unique to Denbighshire.Authorities across Wales have already or are in the process of changing the maximum meter price.Last week, Cardiff Council decided to raise the prices and the majority of drivers were in favor of that.But for more rural areas such as Denbighshire, people are more likely to rely on services for short journeys for hospital appointments or to go shopping.Shân's concern is that her customers who rely on her service will stay away."'Til we are friends with our customers, 'til we look after them, 'til we take the shopping into the house," he added."It's a worry because I'm going to be embarrassed asking them for £3 more.""They are trying to help us with the increase in the price of fuel and whatnot, but it is too much."The council will gather additional information following a consultation, and there will be a review in 6 months.Snowdonia taxi drivers worried about their livelihoodThe challenges facing taxi drivers in a pandemicDoctors' salaries to rise at a lower rate than inflationMore patients paying for private surgeriesDrakeford: 'I have to justify farmers' payments to taxi drivers'Five minutes with the Book of the Year 2022 winnerCelebrating a decade of the Aloud charityVictory in Spain for Pen Llŷn surferThe stories behind the Welsh sculptures150 years since the success of 'Côr Mawr Caradog'Gallery: Wales in the heat© 2022 BBC.The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites.Read about our approach to external linking.