D-day looms for Council 'taxi tax' in Sheffield

12.50.45pm BST (GMT +0100) Tue 13th Sep 2005

A 50p taxi fare increase will be imposed by the Council

Liberal Democrats in Sheffield are urging the Labour run Council to re-think their proposed extra charge on all taxi journeys in Sheffield. The Councils Cabinet are expected to rubber stamp a proposal which will see an extra 50p added onto all taxi journey fares to help finance new vehicles for drivers.

Cabinet will be asked to approve a report which will pave the way for the charge which has been deemed a 'stealth tax' by the Liberal Democrats. The Council believe that the charge is needed to help drivers pay for new vehicles needed to meet the 2010 low-emission requirement, however the blanket charge doesn't account for existing low emission taxis or have any requirement that the extra revenue must be used for a new vehicle. The charge also doesn't take into account journey length.

Even withstanding the flaws of the policy, the Lib Dems believe that the Council are in the wrong. They believe that the business cost should not be forced onto the customer by the Council. They believe that the move, coupled with the rising price of petrol, bus fares and tram fares in Sheffield, is fuelling a transport crisis.

Significantly the move to an extra levy has lead to taxi drivers voicing concerns over how customers will react to the increase. Lib Dems believe the Council should be doing more to help taxis and customers by placing more ranks and increasing the quality of existing ranks.

Cllr Paul Scriven, Leader of the Liberal Democrats, said: -

"Labours policy simply doesn't make sense and, in my view, the policy is little more than a stealth tax on the people of Sheffield who are becoming increasingly frustrated at the rising costs of getting around our City. Labour must have a re-think and rule this extra charge out"

"Liberal Democrats are against this crude levy, and significantly even taxi drivers have voiced concerns over how customers will react to this extra charge. The way to help our taxi drivers is to increase their customers by making to easier for customers to get taxis. This means more taxi ranks and ranks in places outside the City centre where there is significant demand"

"Once again the people of Sheffield are the scapegoats as this Labour Council puts the interests of the people second. The lack of joined up thinking in Labours transport policy is alarming, rather than trying to solve our transport crisis the Council is adding to the problem"