Taxi fares rise to absorb fuel costs

TAXI fares are going up for the second time this year. The Environment Department announced yesterday that it had approved the Guernsey Taxi Owners' Federation's May application to increase them by an average of 4.84%.

It is the first RPI-related increase in a year, but follows a 6p-per-mile rise in January to compensate for the increased duty on fuel. It means that a standard fare from the airport to Town will now be a guaranteed 40p more, based on mileage alone. Federation secretary Mike Mauger (pictured) said the increase would help, but not necessarily to the level needed due to the ever-increasing price of fuel in recent months.

'It helps us come back into line to where we needed to be on 31 March, but from 1 April there has been a huge increase in the cost of fuel and we are hoping to be able to speak to the States about whether there is any other way we can cover costs apart from adding it onto the fare.

Two of the most noticeable changes passengers will see are the starting tariff during the day increasing from £2.40 to £3 and after 10pm going up to £4.20. However, this increase has been softened by the fact that the meter will not start running until the taxi has travelled 900 yards rather than the current 625. The night-time surcharge has gone down from 50% to 40%.