Taxi drivers welcome fares aiming for 'balance'

Taxi drivers in Guernsey say they are in of a 4.75% increase to the maximum fares.

The Committee for Environment and Infrastructure made the decision following a public consultation, from which it received 13 responses.

It rejected a proposal to increase drivers' tariffs on Friday evenings between 19:00 and 22:00, and during the day on Saturdays and Sundays.

The fare increases follow a rise last year of 7.67%.

Owner and driver of Donkey Taxis Ian Vaudin said he was disappointed that the fare increase was not accompanied by a change in tariff structure, but that "it's close enough".

He said: "Driving a taxi, especially at night, is not always easy, and you need to give people the right reward for actually coming into the industry."

He said increases in the cost of living and of running a taxi were reasons why the increase was "acceptable".

Mr Vaudin was in of a change in weekend tariffs, rejected by Environment and Infrastructure, which he said could "revolutionise" the taxi industry.

He said: "I'm really struggling to take on a part-time driver to work at the weekends, and the change in tariff would have made it much more attractive to enter the industry.

"If they can drive for a restaurant doing deliveries and get the same remuneration, they're going to do that because it's easier.

"You're always happy to see your pizza arrive at your door, but are you really happy to be delivered yourself and pay the price":[]}