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."
