Council considering fare increase for Taxi drivers who claim they are having to survive on as little

Taxi drivers in Neath Port Talbot say that they haven't had a fare rise in eight years and are now having to survive on as little as £2.40. Some drivers have even considered selling their taxi, claiming that some days it wasn't worth them even going to work. The council has now said that it is currently considering a proposal for an increase to the minimum hackney carriage fare. However, as reported by the Wales Online, it was revealed that a majority of taxi drivers themselves had voted against a fare increase in 2017, but taxi driver Jeff Callaghan thinks one is needed. He said this was their eighth year without a pay rise.

"It is killing us" he said and claimed that he's sat in his taxi for hours, sometimes making as little as £2.40.

"I started at about 9.30am and I have only made £15 or £16 [by 1pm]" he told the Wales Online.

Taxi drivers are now saying that the council needs to do something because it is crippling for them at the moment.

Drivers are facing mostly bad days now in the cab, they have said, with the last year and a half being particularly hard. With the rise of fuel and insurance, drivers are having to work extra long hours to try and make a living, which sometimes still isn't enough.

One driver has said that the minimum fare needs to start on £3 between 8.30am - 1pm, to help with the increased running costs.

Another taxi driver of 23 years has said that he felt the council had lost touch with people and claimed that there are too many taxis on the road and that the council seems to be licensing everyone.

The council has said that is currently considering the proposals for a minimum fare increase in accordance with the statutory process.