A Blaenau Gwent taxi driver has called for an increase in local tariffs in the wake of soaring fuel prices due to the current conflict in Ukraine.
Stephen Giffard, 42, has run Giffys Taxi's in Abertillery for the last six years and says that allowing taxi services to raise their starting tariffs would make a big difference in the coming months, as the increased cost of fuel could make it almost impossible for them to turn a profit.
He said: "The jump in fuel costs is affecting us all massively, and as it keeps going up it's only going to get harder for taxi services around the borough. As it stands at the moment we're needing to put an extra £600 of fuel in the tanks each month just to keep ourselves going and if we can't increase our prices at all then that's coming out of our own pockets.
"When you look at the way gas and electricity prices have gone up as well this year the increases are coming at us from all angles, and as the current starting tariff for taxis hasn't risen for around six years from £3.20, we hope they can have a look at it now. We understand it's a tough time for all businesses with outgoings being so high and we know we're not alone, but we have to keep going and hopefully this change can come through for us soon."
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Stephen, who also runs the popular Celtic Pride Martial Arts school in the town centre, said that even if the increase was only temporary it would still help local drivers who are all starting to feel the pinch. He added: "Even if it was just 50p on each run for a certain period, when you're doing 40 runs in a day earning that extra £20 could make a huge difference to help drivers cover costs and break even. We know it's passing some of the cost on to the customer which is obviously never nice, but there's nothing else we can do with everything else going up.
"We currently offer a number of services, from fairs around the borough based out of Abertillery, as well as other council contracts such as school runs that are off the metre, so we really hope the council can get together and have a look at our situation from all angles and put something in place.
"Even if it is only a temporary thing it would help. If the fuel costs start to go back down in time we can obviously look to lower it again, but I'm sure at the moment all the taxis here would definitely welcome this idea."
Councillor Wayne Hodgins of Brynmawr said he has been contacted by a number of taxi owners in recent days who were all concerned about their ability to generate profit, as the costs at the pumps have risen to shocking new highs. It comes as cabinet members in Neath Port Talbot approved a 30% increase to the start rate of their tariff from £2.60 up to £3.40 in their area, with Mr Hodgins believing that similar increases in Blaenau Gwent could be the only way to keep many taxi services alive.
Mr Hodgins, 62, who has lived in Brynmawr his entire life, says he now hopes to put the suggestion to the council in a licencing meeting as a matter of urgency in order to hear feedback on the situation as soon as possible. He said: "It's no secret that the rising cost of fuel has hit everyone quite hard in the last few weeks but none more so than the taxi drivers around the borough of Blaenau Gwent who have seen a massive increase in their costs.
"As a council member I've asked the senior licencing officer and corporate manager to have a look at what we can do to support the taxi industry until fuel prices start to stabilise. It really is important to us to keep these services running in the area not only for the economy of Blaenau Gwent, but also because these taxi services help so many people with transport around the borough, from school runs, to services for the elderly and disabled.
"It's a crucial lifeline for some people and while we can't support them directly as an authority, if we could adjust their tariffs slightly I'm sure it would be a really big help. Even if it was just a few pence extra per mile it could make a lot of difference, and the aim is to make sure that nobody goes out of business during this time."
You can read more about how other taxi services in Wales have been struggling here.
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