Taxi drivers say they are mystified by a letter from Fenland District Council inviting them to sign up to a new app ‘to compete more effectively with Uber’ just weeks after the same drivers successfully blocked moves for a massive fares increase.
Fenland Council’s decision to advance the merits of commercial operators –Tory Fenland councillor Gurninder Gill Singh of Swift Taxis of Whittlesey and Simon Stiff of Daddy Cabs Ltd of March – has infuriated many drivers.
It has thrown into doubt the council’s impartiality and taxi drivers are considering a number of actions in response.
The email has been sent out by the licensing department of the council with a copy of the email “from an operator in Fenland who is looking to launch a new concept”.
Tory councillors claim Fenland taxi drivers sound own death knell by refusing fares increase
Addressed to “all Fenland District Taxi and Private Hire Drivers” here is the full letter forwarded by the district council.
Are you tired of Uber dominating the ride-hailing market? Do you want to offer your services on a reliable, driver-focused app that prioritises fair fares and keeps money in your pockets?
We are excited to announce the development of a new passenger app specifically for Fenland District taxi drivers. This app aims to combat Uber and give passengers a better alternative with experienced local drivers.
Here’s what we’re offering:
• Strength in Numbers: By working together, we can offer a wider service area and compete more effectively with Uber.
• Fair Pricing: All rides will be priced according to the current Hackney carriage tariff, ensuring fair fares for both passengers and drivers.
• Driver-Friendly App: We’re committed to creating a user-friendly app that streamlines your workflow and maximises your earnings.
• Work alongside your current operator: We are focused on improving taxi accessibility for the general public, with an app that shows all available drivers within the area. Meaning you can sign up and continue working for your current operator.
• Reduce dead mileage: We will be rolling out in all the Fenland towns and villages meaning you will receive bookings within your vicinity, even if you’re outside your normal operating area, which means more revenue for you
• Flexible hours: Log on and log off whenever you want
• Driver Perks: Exclusive driver discounts on hundreds of brands from major supermarkets, established coffee shops and even Airbnb’s
• Introductory Offer: For a limited time, we’re offering 3 months free app fee and 3 months commission-free for all drivers who sign up!
• Transparent Fees: After the introductory period, there will be a monthly fee of £35 to cover dispatch system costs, along with a fair 15% commission on completed rides.
If you’re interested in learning more and taking back control of the ride-hailing market in the Fenland District, please reply to this email or contact us at TheSwiftDaddy@gmail.com.
Together, we can create a successful, driver-owned app that serves the needs of both passengers and taxi drivers in our community.
We look forward to hearing from you!
In recent months the row over a proposed fares increase has angered many in the taxi industry who feared the council’s action would drive them out of business.
Fenland Council – who unusually and for the first time decided Cabinet alone would determine the fares issue instead of allowing it to be debated at full council – postponed a decision for a year after numerous hackney carriage drivers and owners protested.
Many were also angered that the council refused to offer them a more modest rise than a rise of up to 50 per cent for many fares being the only option on the table.
The trade has been further angered by claims made by Cabinet members that hackney carriage operators could effectively charge as little as they liked, claiming the fare displayed on their meters was the maximum that could be charged.
However, as many operators pointed out this would lead to an unseemly complication of customers being forced to negotiate every fare – an impossible task.
Taxi drivers overwhelmingly reject fares hike proposed by Fenland Council
The wider trade has also questioned whether the row over hackney carriage fares a ploy has been to advance the cause of the private hire trade.
Cllr Gurninder Singh Gill, elected to Fenland Council earlier this year, is an expansionist mood, even to the extent of hiring a spot at Tesco Extra in Wisbech for a recruitment driver.
His advert even promised that “all drivers get exclusive discounts to big name brands from Tesco, Starbucks and even Airbnb for when you want to get away” almost identical to the wording of the letter sent out by his council’s licensing department.
But he has maintained that there was nothing political in the now scrapped proposal by Fenland Council to increase fares.
“If they wanted to do it for political gain then they would have been looking to reduce the tariffs to make it cheaper for the general public to get taxis which would obviously favour them for elections,” he said.
“From a personal business point of view, I hope the fares don’t increase because it’s going to benefit me and my company a hell of a lot more by restricting levels of competition.”
He said: “The purpose from FDC’s perspective is increase the number of new hackney carriage drivers applying and to cement foundations for the future of hackney carriage drivers allowing for the easy access to taxis.
“If we was to clear all the smoke and just look into the statistics, currently there is no financial incentive for hackney carriage drivers over private hire drivers.
“Firstly, right off the bat it costs more to get licensed as a hackney carriage driver than a private hire driver at FDC. Secondly the knowledge test for hackney carriage drivers is much more difficult and requires you learn the shortest routes from A to B.
“Thirdly the insurance for hackney carriage drivers is much higher than for Private hire vehicles and alongside that the initial cost for a hackney carriage vehicle is significantly higher than for a private hire vehicle.”
Cllr Singh Gill added: “So basically it’s harder and more costly to be a hackney carriage driver than it is to be a private hire driver and at the end of the day, private hire drivers are currently earning much more than hackney carriage drivers as private hires can charge what they like.
“When you put these facts together and ask a new driver whether then want to be licensed as a hackney carriage driver or a private hire driver, they’ll obviously opt for the easier and cheaper option that will pay them more.
“Therefore, as the older generation of hackney carriage drivers begin to retire, fenland will find themselves without any hackney carriage vehicles at all.”
But Cllr Dave Patrick, an independent councillor and taxi driver, said: “It is extremely difficult for new drivers to enter the trade. One person in his twenties was quoted £8000 for insurance alone, never mind all the other fees and the purchase of a reasonable vehicle.
“Setting an artificially high maximum tariff will damage the hackney trade and the amount shown on the meter will psychologically deter customers even if not charged. “Presently customers come to the Horsefair, Wisbech, get into a taxi and very rarely try and barter the fare.”
CambsNews has asked Fenland District Council why the letter – effectively an advertisement – was sent out by its licensing department.
