Taxi fares are too expensive
WHY are Guernsey taxi fares so high? My elderly sister, who has a limited pension income, was charged an outrageous £23 on bank holiday Monday for a taxi from the airport to her home in Vale.
It had taken her almost 24 hours to reach Guernsey from Gatwick after her Aurigny flight the previous day was cancelled because of reduced visibility at Guernsey Airport. My sister had been attending a family wedding in Bedfordshire, during which we took five taxi journeys, all of a longer distance than Guernsey Airport to Vale. Yet each journey cost no more than £12 for four people, despite it being a bank holiday weekend.
The Guernsey cab driver told my sister the high fare was fixed by the States. If that is true then the deputies responsible should hang their heads in shame. How can they expect pensioners and others with low incomes to afford expensive taxi fares?
On a more positive note, my sister received what she described as ‘fantastic support’ from Aurigny staff and from special assistance staff at Gatwick Airport after her flight had to return there. She was provided with a good hotel room, meals and compassionate service throughout what could have been a highly stressful experience. Well done Aurigny – your team should be proud of their excellent customer service.
RON MILLER
6, Saxon Way,
Sherburn-in-Elmet,
Leeds,
LS25 6PP.