Angus taxi drivers have raised concerns that their fare system could soon be forced into alignment with prices in Dundee.
A 6% increase in fares across Angus was voted through by members of the council’s civic licensing committee on Thursday a decision which will see prices increase by roughly 10p across most tariffs.
The percentage increase was suggested by the council’s head of legal and democratic services, Sheona Hunter, and was favoured ahead of an option to have no fare increase, or increase prices by 7% suggestions made by local drivers.
Mitch Murray, a Forfar taxi driver, said the decision by the council’s committee did not reflect the desires of local drivers and has left operators worried that fares could soon be aligned with Dundee after a new tariff mirroring the city’s prices was ushered in by Angus Council for use in testing out recalibrated taxi meters.
Mr Murray said: “We didn’t want an increase this year but the committee opted for their own option.
“They have never done that before and we think they have only done it because they brought in this tariff five, which mirrors Dundee’s prices.
“The police garage has closed in Forfar so we now need to drive to Dundee to get our meters changed and they’re using the Dundee tariff as the test for that.
“We’re worried that we’re going to be asked to go by Dundee’s fares the next time.”
The Angus fares are dearer at £3.50 for the first 1,160 yards but the Dundee fares increase by 16p from a starting fare of £3.02 every 176 yards, after the first 704 yards.
This means that the Dundee fare would still be cheaper over the first 1,160 yards, but would eventually top the Angus fee after slightly longer distances.
Convener of the civic licensing committee, Alex King, said drivers will have an opportunity to make representations once the committee decision is published.