Report calls for more taxis in Bath
A new report says more taxis are needed in Bath - particularly at night.
An investigation on behalf of council officials has concluded that more licences should be issued in the city and that extra space should be found for taxis at the railway station and in Milsom Street.
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It also reveals that more than half of taxi drivers felt at risk when working in Bath at night.
The biggest firm in the city, however, says it can see no justification for the issuing of a batch of new licences.
Senior councillor Charles Gerrish will now have to decide whether to accept recommendations from Bath and North East Somerset Council officials, following a survey by consultancy firm Halcrow.
The recommendations from officials are:
* to increase the number of licensed vehicles in Bath from 113 to 122
* to start talks with rail firm First Great Western over an increase in the number of taxis allowed to operate outside Bath Spa station
* to approve a new taxi in the Milsom Street/George Street area
* to consider bringing in more taxi marshalls to police queues at ranks after dark.
Halcrow, which has 18 years of experience in researching the taxi market, said there was evidence of what is called unmet demand.
It said more than half of taxis were hired at ranks, and that the public felt there was a need for more spaces at ranks.
The firm's report said drivers in Bath worked fewer hours at night than the national average, with more than half of them saying they felt unsafe while working at night.
Halcrow - whose investigation was carried out last November - said increasing the gap between day and night fares could encourage more taxi drivers to work after dark, and that boosting the numbers of taxi marshalls might also help.
But John Innerd, chairman of Abbey Taxis, said the economic downturn had brought more drivers onto the streets at night, despite their fears over crime.
"There are loads of drivers who have come out at night because of the recession - they have to if they want to survive.
"I would say that there are enough people working to meet demand at night."
He said the recession had "eaten into" the taxi trade, with many people now regarding taking a taxi as a luxury.
This week's hot weather has also hit the trade badly.
And he claimed the only ranks where drivers could be sure of enough business were those at the railway station and the area around the abbey.
Mr Innerd - whose firm's headquarters were torched by arsonists last year - said the taxi marshalls did a great job.
But he added: "The problem is you never know what's going to happen when you are in the car. It's like Russian roulette - you never know who you're picking up."
21 Comments
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by bathlion
Friday, October 07 2011, 9:02PM
“Well as for more taxis in bath we have too many at present. who are not only extremely expensive!! and as for customer service maybe the the council should send them on a training course. well the above article says it all no more buses and cars and coaches in bath maybe we should all become taxis drivers and may a dishonest livelihood.”
by anil, sg
Tuesday, July 07 2009, 10:41AM
“Forgot to add this to previous post:
Bristol - London single on Megabus = 3.00
London - Bristol single on National Express = 3.00
Bristol pkway to Swansea single on First GW = 5.00
Swansea - Bristol TM single on First GW = 6.00
Total =17 gbp
All tickets booked online about 4-5 days in advance.
Travel within south glos, bath and bristol on buses only paid for by annual First Avon plus ticket costing 1400. This is the most expensive element. Although the ticket gives unlimited bus travel in Wiltshire, Somerset, Bristol, Bath and south glos, you have to use it a lot to make it pay. This is proof that First bus companies locally have no idea to market their services or offer competitive pricing. As a colleague in London said;"...if I'm paying 1400 per year for a bus pass, I'd expect to use it for an occasional trip to Hong Kong...." ;-)”
by anil, south glos
Tuesday, July 07 2009, 9:56AM
“There's little doubt taxis are expensive in Bath. I try not to use them. Bristol ones are cheaper and I can almost always negotiate the fare before using them.
Having said that, taxi drivers also have to pay mortgages, food bills, bring up families and so on. They seem to work very hard and tolerate a lot of nonsense from users.
Living in Bath is as expensive or more so than London with none of its benefits. Transport for London regulates hackneys and minicabs and as far as I know, does a good job with an even spread of services. Taxis are expensive in London, but it's one of many transport options, often competing with 24 hour bus services. In Bath, often it's the only one. Given that, surely, a more equitable solution can be found? Perhaps it needs more radical thinking like, for example, making sure that people with no public transport options have access to taxis.
Some time ago, I tried to book a taxi from bath to south glos at a busy time and was told I had to wait 2 hours. I walked the distance in an hour and 20 minutes. The 17 quid I saved paid for a return trip to London and another to south wales.”
by Sam, Bath
Monday, July 06 2009, 6:58PM
“Why are the taxis in Bath so expensive compared to other cities?”
by rogerh, Bath
Monday, July 06 2009, 6:02PM
“Couldn't the Council set up a taxi rank outside the station (or threaten to if First don't reduce or abolish their fee)?”