A CAMPAIGN to prevent proposed increases in fare rates for hackney carriage cabs across the Uttlesford district has been initiated. Robert Page, vice-chairman of the Uttlesford District Hackney Carriages group, is planning to launch his appeal at a meetin

A CAMPAIGN to prevent proposed increases in fare rates for hackney carriage cabs across the Uttlesford district has been initiated.

Robert Page, vice-chairman of the Uttlesford District Hackney Carriages group, is planning to launch his appeal at a meeting of the Uttlesford District Council Licensing Committee on January 18.

"The licensing authority only last imposed hackney fare increases in March 2005," he said, "since that time we have had a very hard period of business against a backdrop of increasing competition from the continuous under-cutting of fares by private hire operators."

Mr Page also said that there was a conflict of interests with some larger hackney carriage operators, who would stand to make more money from increased fares as they could justify raising charges for their corporate account holders

He said: "The further dilution of business which will be caused by the imposition of fare increases may well prove to be the catalyst that will result in some hackney operators calling it a day."

Uttlesford District Council's licensing enforcement officer, Murray Hardy, explained that the proposed fare increases are a response to requests from the Taxi-Drivers Association, who say they are facing higher costs due to increases in fuel prices and operating costs.

He said: "The licensing authority will be making its proposal to the licensing committee at a meeting on January 18.

"The committee can either go with the proposed changes, reject them, or partially agree with them - for example by raising the fares by a smaller amount than proposed."

The proposed increases, which average between five and 10 per cent, will be discussed and finalised at the forthcoming meeting.